David, Rachel - Biography

History of Rachel David Chambers

Rachel David Chambers, my Mother the daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth Bowen David was born in Llanely, Wales March 3-1842 (sic). At the age of five her father being desirous of coming to this country worked to that end and they set sail for the States of (sic) the 14th of February 1849. They sailed on the Troubador from Swansea to Liverpool. On arriving at Liverpool they found that the ship James Hartley on which they were to sail was not ready and would not sail for three weeks.

They were permitted however to live on the ship during the time. On the second night an unfortunate accident occurred. Betsey (sic) the nineteen-year-old sister fell from the top deck to the bottom of the hold. She was severely cut ant bruised and unconscious (sic) when they found her.

She was taken to the Hospital but did not regain conciousness (sic) until the next day. Little hopes were held for her recovery but through the prayers of the Elders she was made well again.

The boat left Liverpool March 9, 1849. The way over was without any mishap is (sic) the weather was very calm. After seven weeks and five days on the water they landed in New Orleans. From New Orleans they journeed (sic) up the Mississippi River to St. Louis arriving their (sic) May 12 1849. The dreadful plague of cholera broke out at this time claiming many of the Saints. MotherÕs mother was stricken with the disease and died in (sic) the night they landed in St. Louis. The grief stricken family were not allowed to see her or know where she was buried. Their father then moved his family to Day hill where he worked in a coal mine. Nine days after the death of their Mother the hand of death reached out to them again claiming their sister Mary, wife of David Bowen, and soon after, her nine months old baby.

Some time later a Welsh family by the name of Williams who were living at Blue Ridge, four miles from Day Hill, hear of the Morgan David family also being from Wales and came over to see them.

In the spring of 1852 the family started for Utah. They stopped in Council Bluffs, Iowa where they remained for five (?) weeks. During this time their Father was busy preparing for the big journey with two oxen, two cows, and a wagon, The family consisting of ten people started to the West. We have all heard of that memorable journey across the plains by our Fathers and Mothers of the many things they endured for the sake of their religions and we know they suffered much. They arrived in Salt Lake City September 19, 1852 where they remained for three days. Then they moved to Palmyra during the winter.

At this time the Indians were still very unfriendly to the white people. The family thus far had been living in dugouts but it was now necessary to build a house for the coming winter. During the building of this two room adobe house, Mother's (sic) sisters Hannah Hughes and Emma Reese tended mason carring (sic) the adobes in a basked on their heads.

For three years they resided in Palmyra. In 1856 Brigham Young gave the orders to move to the present site of Spanish Fork. Their early pioneer life was fought (sic) with many hardships. Their first crop of wheat was among the many to be destroyed by the grasshoppers. Following the catastrophe the family lived on rations. Their bread was made from corn which was grated over a pan with holes driven in it

The next crop of wheat was a little more profitable. As patches her and there would ripen they would cut it, dry it, and thrash it with a flail. The early morning wind from the canyon would blow away pound of flour from the first grinding and the rest was distributed among friends and neighbors. Even the bran and shorts were given away. The soap they used was made from saleratus which was gathered from clay beds, and grease. For light they used a cloth dipped in greased which was kept burning a pan. This was called "bitch light".

In the summer of 1858 many people went to Provo and camped for three days for the purpose of picking manna a sweet substance like sugar which they found on bushes. Many said it was a direct message from Heaven and had been sent by God.

The pioneers were generous and unselfish with what little he had sharing with all alike and in spite of the many trials and worries they were all happy.

At the age of twenty one Mother married George Harrison Chambers in the Endowment House. Father then took up the property on Main St. He built a two room dobe house of the dobes he made. Mother cooked by a fire place for fourteen years before (sic) she had a stove. She had to dip the water from the ditch that is still their till they had a well dug. It was one time befor (sic) the well was dug in the winter. Mother had to go out and and break the ice over the ditch. That (sic) Martha was ten months old she was in the chair that she fell backwards on the fire place with her head. Mother said some thing told her the baby was on the fire so she ran and found her. She got hear and happen (sic) to have a bottle of hop yeast ant that was what saved her life but she still had that scar till she died.

Their (sic) was no Doctors at that time, she knitted all the stocking for the children and made pants for Father out of wagon cover cloth, and she saw the time they had to pay five dollars a pound for tea. But when Father took up sheep and cattle they go so they were a little better off. He built the large brick home from the brick he made. She often wondered why he built such a large house. Father said he was going to have some more women. Mother said you better not bring them here. I will have some scalding water for them all.

She kept the neighbors in yeast so she told them to bring tablespoon of sugar for it. Then she took up making bread and she loved the work and kept many old people in bread for nothing pie and cake (sic) for thirty five years till her health started to fail she only raised a family of eight out of the sixteen.

She had forty two grand children and twenty five great grand children. The family consisted of four girls and four boys. Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Hanna, Joseph, Morgan, William and Frank. She was always happy and cheerful and loved to have company. Her home was always open to any one that wanted to come. She died at the age of seventy nine, September 28, 1920 of a throat infection.