HARRIET DAVIES
HUGHES
A BIOGRAPHY
“The Welshman,” has been variously
described as being; quick-witted, tenacious, adaptable, resilient, ready for
adventure, hospitable, and warm hearted. Also as; an expert bowman, a fighter,
able to seize opportunity, timid, revengeful, domineering, disputatious,
eloquent, brave, treacherous, and dishonest. He is also said to be; a lover of
music, particularly the harp, the violin, the pipe, singing, and as a writer, a
poet, and a statesman. He is also said to be able to, “thrive where others
perish, and have a strong longing for home.”
It is not difficult to understand how
these attributes came about when one considers the climate, which has been
described as, “changeable—smiling and stormy,” and the tough wildernous, “rain
washed mountains not yielding a living of ease.” Also, the long turbulent
history of Wales had made its contribution.
It has also been said; “to be born in
Wales of Welsh parents, is to belong to the oldest race of British People.
There is e evidence of the existence of man in Wales prior to 6500 B.C. There
is also evidence that people existed along the coast of Wales immediately after
the ice age, when they were forced into the hills, caves, and forests by the
rising waters of the melting ice. These were the people who gave rise to the
stories of: “The Little People, The Trolls, and The Goblins.”
During the Stone Age, settlers came from
Asia Minor bringing with them an advanced culture with weaving, pottery, rope
making, and ship building. Next came the Beaker Folk with their pottery, and
fine metal tools.
A race of superior traders came in 1500
B.C. with Geodelic language, superior weapons, and they supplanted the natives
with wars of extinction. The Celts invaded in 500 B.C. The Estracians in 390
B.C., and of course the Roman invasion of 227-238, and the Irish Raiders of
250-350 A.D.
St. Patrick was born in 420 A.D., and
later captured and taken to Ireland, and for the next thousand years, the Welsh
had a very lively, and colorful history of : religious, political and economic
wars. Not only with the British Saxons, and the Vikings, but also among
themselves.
The Welshmen were not only survivors of
these turbulent times, but they rose to great heights in literature, music, politics,
mining, manufacturing, commerce, and economics. This was in spite of the fact
that; “The climate, terrain, and geology of Wales is very unforgiving, and
enough to challenge the most hardy and resourceful people, and that the Welsh
would survive where the British would perish.”
In 1643, after the Welsh captured
Bristol, and the appearance of Oliver Crommewell and King Charles I, there was
a period of 100 years that was known as the, “Cultural Doldrums.” In the
1700’s, “A new wave of religious enthusiasm overwhelmed them, with the arrival
of the Chapel Religion: Methodist, Baptist, Congregational”, and of course the,
“Mormons.” “The simplicity and poverty they advocated suited the hardy
peasants who flocked to their services. The ministers did not exact tithes or
rents. The
Humble gave little money, and much labor
to build houses of worship that provided the center of activity for the next
100 years.
It was into this setting that Harriet
Davies was born on January 24, 1839 in Rhyd-y-fro, Glamorgan, Wales. She was
the daughter of Theophilus Davies and Catherine Jones, who in turn were
descendants of several generations of Welsh ancestors.
Rhyd-y-fro is a small village on the
ford of a river in the Swansea Valley. It is located two miles northwest of Pontardawe,
which has a railway station, a post office, and a telegraph office. Pontardawe
is about five miles northwest of Neath, and about eight miles northeast of
Swansea, a city of 6,000 in 1800 and about 170,000 today. Its sudden
prosperity was based upon tin plate, Swansea china, and porcelain. It has
three miles of beautiful beach that was used by the city people, and it now
boasts of many industries including oil refining, six miles of quays, and
University College, which excels in fine arts and music.
Theophilus Davies was a weaver by trade,
and he operated a mill with his brother in Prentre Guenlais, Carmathen, Wales.
He married Catherine Jones in Llanguick, Glamorgan, Wales, on August 1, 1834,
and this union had five children. The children were: John James Davies was born
on October 25, 1835, Elizabeth Davies was born on December 17, 1836, Harriet
Davies was born on January 24, 1839, Elen Davies was born on December 10, 1841,
and Angharod Davies was born on November 5, 1846. In addition to the one
brother and three sisters, Harriet had ten aunts and uncles on the Davies line,
and there are many indications that they were a very closely-knit family. All
of them residing in the same general area and very active in the church.
An 1841 census record reveals that the
family lived in Rhyd-y-fro when Harriet was two years of age. Another census
of 1851 taken in Alltween, a hamlet one mile south of Pontardawe reveals that
at the age of twelve, Harriet was dusting tin plate in a tin plate mill. The
same census lists Harriet’s mother, Catherine as a weaver.
About this same time, the records of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints branch in Alltwen, show that the
following were baptized: Kitty (Catherine) Davies in June 1848 at the age of
42, Harriet Davies on November 22, 1849 at the age of 11 by John Davies, Elen
Davies on May 22, 1851 at the age of ten by James Davies.
There is no readily available
information relative to Harriet until she and Francis Davis Hughes met in the Alltwen
Branch of the church while Francis Hughes was serving on a mission for the
church and presiding over one of the “Conferences.” It is reasonable to assume
that they came into frequent contact, because of the many references in
Francis’ diary to the meetings held in the Davies’ home.
There are reasons to believe that
Harriet’s experiences of dusting tin plate in the mill had an adverse effect
upon her health, as the first reference to Harriet occurred in Francis’ diary
dated June 1863, at Alltwen: “I attended a saints meeting in Alltwen at the
James Davies house. I and Elders David Morgan, and James J. Davies confirmed
six members that had been baptized the night before, and we administered the
ordinance of anointing of oil and laying on of hands to Sister Harriet Davies.
After we administered to her, she said that this was the first time for her to
draw her breath without feeling some pain for seven years. We had an excellent
meeting, and our hearts rejoiced in the truth.”
Then again, 26 days later on June 28,
1863 at Alltwen, Francis records: “About 2 ½ p.m. I attended a sacrament
meeting at Brother James Davies house, and it was a very good meeting. The
spirit of the Lord w2as poured out upon us. Some spoke in tongues and some
prophesied. In the evening, I and Brother David Morgan administered the
ordinance of anointing with oil and the laying on of hands to Sister Harriet
Davies who was sick in bed. After we had rebuked the disease and prayed to the
Lord to bless her, she came with us downstairs and joined in a little
amusement. I stayed the night with Brother David Morgan’s house.”
It seems as if a romance was developing
between Harriet and Francis, because on Monday, July 13, 1863 at Swansea,
Francis wrote: “In the evening I went by train to Mumbles in company with
Sister Harriet Davies and her brother John. We went to the top of a mountain
and explored a cave. Afterwards, we visited the Old Castle. It is a large
construction, and a powerful testimony to the ingenuity of the ancient Welsh
inhabitants of this place. The view from the top of the mountain was
delightful, as it was a clear day. The sea layed out before us and several
pleasure boats were ploughing its smooth surface. We could see the country all
around. And our vision across the water extended as far as Devonshire in
England. About—we returned to Mumbles which is a little village beautifully
situated by the seashore and a place where a great many city people resort to
in the summer. For amusement at 9 1/2 we took our seats in an open
Carriage. We were not seated there long
before the whistle blew, the horse pulled and the train moved slowly towards
Swansea. Our train was pulled on a railway by horses. After stopping at
several stations, we arrived at our destination. Afterwards, I went along with
Sister Harriet Davies and John Davies to Mrs. John Thomas’ house, No. 33
Bathurst Street, and I took supper there. I made my way to Brother John Hughes
house and stayed there for the night.
Harriet and Francis spent the following
day in company with President Jeremy and Livinia Robbins. Then on the 18th
of July at Neath; “ I spent some time in walking around with her and Sister
Emma Trout, and Harriet came here today with a new shirt she had made for me.”
This was the first indication that Harriet was a dressmaker.
Again on August 27th, Harriet
and Francis again spent some time together with Emma Trout and they “took tea
at Sister Webster’s house.”
Harriet and Francis took a train ride to
Aberavon on September 6th, and attended a sacrament meeting at the
home of Brother Thomas Richards. Evidently a little more occurred in Aberavon
on September 6th, as Francis records in his diary dated September 26th
at Morristown: “In the evening I wrote a letter to Sister Harriet Davies with
a piece of poetry that I had composed, (see letter attached), and the poem
follows:
The rejoicing of
my heart is to see the countenance
Of a certain
girl who lives in the town of Neath
I learned to
love her without knowing why,
And I shall love
her forever, in spite of her mother.
When I saw her
she won my love,
And I had not
even thought of women.
She is virtuous
and loves the truth
She gave her
heart to me without skipping a beat.
When I disclosed
my feeling the two of us were one.
We fell in love
on a Monday afternoon.
It was in the
town of Aberavon where I declared my love
Cheerfully and
happily to dear, gentle Harriet.
She said happily
and cheerfully in her way
That she loved
me too. Oh what rejoicing!
May the Lord’s
blessing always be with the two of us,
And may our love
continue for eternity.
“Near Swansea,
by a poet in his poetic gift.”
Francis again anointed Harriet with the
help of Brother Hornsby, and apparently Harriet had moved to Neath as Francis
mentioned, "Harriet, late of the Alltwen Branch.” The two of them were in
Swansea on December 26th, and they went to Morristown.
There was not further word about Harriet
until Francis was in Morristown on January 29, 1864, when Brother Richards
requested that he go to Neath as Harriet was dangerously ill. Francis wrote:
“I went to Neath by rail train, and found Brother Hornsby very low hearted in
consequence of his wife and Sister Harriet being very ill. He said that when
he saw me he felt as if a great burden had been taken off his shoulders. I
went upstairs and I found poor Harriet as pale as death. She could hardly hear
nor speak. I anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord and layed my hands
upon her and blessed her and rebuked the power of death (because it was there)
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the Priesthood.
Afterward, she felt better and began to talk to me. I sat up all night waiting
upon her, and I got everything that I could think of to make her comfortable.”
It seems as if about this time there
were rumors of an impending marriage between Harriet and Francis, as his sister
Ann mentions this in a letter dated January 12, 1864. Francis wrote to Harriet
on February 18th, and Harriet replied on February 21, and told him
that she was bringing him another shirt, and that she had reserved rooms for
him at the Crows Inn. (Copies of these letters are attached).
Brother David E. Jones wrote in a letter
of February 29, 1864 that he had been in Machynlleth three weeks ago, and had
learned from Francis’ parents that, “it is about time for me to bid farewell in
your single state, and also to wish you joy and a long life in your new
intended state,….I understand it’s Sister Harriet Davies is you intended.”
Brother Jones also mentions the possibility of , “their going to the valleys”
and that Francis’ parents had: “eight or nine pigs” and he asked “how many
Francis was going to have, and that he should have one for bacon on the road to
the valleys.” (Letter attached)
Shortly after this, on March 9th,
Francis returned to his home in Macynlleth where he told his family about his
forthcoming marriage and intentions to go to the valleys. His parents were
heartbroken to think that they were not only going to lose a son, but that they
would not be able to meet his wife and have the privilege of having the newly
weds near to them while they were rearing their family.
When Francis left Machynlleth, his
mother gave him: “a lot of bags that were required by sea, also a pail of bed
sheets, a pillow case, a piece of ribbon to give to my intended wife, and some
money.” Other relatives also gave him some money.
Francis records in his diary dated April
24, 1864: “After attending a General Conference of the South Wales Conferences
in Merthyr Tydfil, I went to F 5 Union Terrace, and married Harriet Davies, of Alltwen.
President Thomas E. Heremy officiated. Several Elders were present upon the
occasion.” The couple then went to Swansea on the 28th, and in the
evening returned to Alltwen where they had a party at the home of Harriet’s
brother, and where: “We enjoyed ourselves very much.”
The happy couple went to Aberavon, where
they became engaged, on May 1st and stayed a week. The next three
days they spent in Morristown, and Alltwen, and on Wednesday, May 11th,
they went to Swansea, where Francis transacted some business, and settled some
accounts for the previous purchase of paints and supplies.
This young couple, true to their Welsh
heritage of; a strong religious belief, and being warm hearted, brave, loving,
and a strong sense for adventure, sailed from Liverpool, England on May 21,
1864, on the ship General McClellan, on which there were 802 persons. They
landed in New York City, New York, and a little over four months after they
left Liverpool, they arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 4, 1864 with
the Captain William S. Warren Company of 400 people and 65 wagons. There is
not much information concerning their travel across the ocean and the plains,
but there is a letter dated October 15, 1865 from Harriet’s brother. The
letter mentions; “Frank’s glowing description of your travels through North
America, especially Detroit with its beautiful villas, and the route from there
to Wyoming, and that you have been such an expert fisherman on the banks of Le
Plat (Platte River), but did you catch anything equal to the eel you caught
when you and I was fishing at Dolgan?” And, “Don’t agree with you that your
vegetables are so far superior to our own in Europe.”
It would surely be interesting and
enlightening to have the diary or journal of Harriet and Frank’s journey across
the ocean and across the plains come to light. It would be sure to contain
many stories of Harriet’s courage, resiliency, adaptability, love, tenacity,
hospitality, and willingness to be of service to those in need.
Harriet must have become pregnant
shortly after their marriage, as the first five months of her pregnancy were
spent in crossing the ocean and the plains, as her first child, Catherine Ann
was born on July 28, 1865, four months after she arrived in the valley. In a
letter of August 9, 1864 from Catherine Hughes to her son and daughter-in-law,
she mentions her heartfelt sympathy for the lady’s who had so much sea
sickness. Surely the rough seas were only a part of the cause for their
indisposition.
The four months between the time of
their arrival in the valley, the time Catherine was born, must have been
particularly trying. Living on the frontier is not easy under the best of
conditions. To be in new surroundings, among new friends and situations during
the cold winter months can be especially difficult, but the two of them must
have handled these circumstances quite well, as they were both active in the
church and community. Frank was an excellent painter, and there must surely
have been a need for his expertise in this area.
Harriet’s second child, Elizabeth, was
born on June 1, 1867, and passed away a year and a half later on December 9,
1868. She conceived again and her third child, Ellen Jane Hughes was born on
December 10, 1869, just a year later.
In the meantime, Elen Davies, Harriet’s
younger sister, arrived in the valley having left Wales on June 30, 1868 on the
ship Minnesota, which landed in Buffalo. She crossed the plains and arrived in
the valley in 1869, and she and Francis were married on May 3, 1869, and sealed
in the Endowment House on May 31, 1869.
It seems appropriate to mention here,
that in order for a male member of the church to enter into a polygamist
marriage, he had to first convince the General Authorities of the church that
he was a member in good standing. Also that he can surely provide for another
wife and family, and have the consent of the previous wife or wives. Harriet’s
devotion to the church, and her love for her husband and her sister must have
surely made this decision easy. Surely Harriet enjoyed having her sister with
her during her pregnancy with Ellen Jane. Elen’s companionship and the sharing
of responsibilities of maintaining a home and rearing a family must have surely
been welcome.
It also seems appropriate at this time
to mention that Harriet and Elen Hughes’ families were more like one family
rather than two, and the following chart may help emphasize this:
Francis Davis Hughes
Married:
Harriet Davies on 24 April 1864 Elen
Davies on 3 May 1869
Children: Children:
Catherine Ann Hughes, 28 Jan. 1865
Elizabeth Jane Hughes, 1 June, 1867
Ellen Hughes 10 Dec.
1869
Harriet
Lorena Hughes, 10 May 1870
Francis Davis Hughes, 2 Feb. 1872 Carolyn
May Hughes, 2 May 1872
John Davis Hughes, 6 Jan. 1874 Miaiam
Amelia Hughes, 1 Apr. 1874
Hilda
Hughes, 1 Dec. 1875
David Hughes 3 Jan. 1876
Theophilus
Hoffman Hughes 16 Jan. 1878
Oliver Hughes, 8 June 1878
Olive
Elizabeth Hughes, 1 March 1880
Florence Louise Hughes, 15 Nov. 1882
All of these children grew to maturity
with the exception of two of Harriet’s: Elizabeth and Oliver, who passed away
in infancy, and one of Elen’s: Carolyn May, who passed away at the age of three
and a half years of age.
There was never any distinction made
between the families, and many instances can be shown to demonstrate the love
and affection they had for one another, and how they helped one another during
their lives.
Several letters were exchanged between
the family in the “new world”, and the families back home. In one, Harriet’s
brother John referred to pictures of Harriet and the children, and included a
request for assistance to help his family immigrate. Another one from Frank’s
mother in Machlynlleth referred to: “Dear Children” and mentioned Frank and
Harriet’s building a new home, and in which she mentioned sending a lock of her
hair, “that is turning gray.” In another letter, she thanked Harriet and Frank
for offering to pay her expenses to immigrate.
It seems as the opportunities for work
slowed down in Salt Lake in late 1870’s, or the picture looked better on the
west coast, as Frank went to Sacramento to find work. There is no way of
telling how traumatic this was for Harriet, but she seemed to handle it very
well, as evidenced by an exchange of letters with her husband. Frank had
written about a proposition that had gone sour with a Mr. Jarman, and had asked
how his wives would feel if he acted mean to Mr. Jarman. Harriet wrote that
she was happy to learn that he would probably be home for Christmas and stated:
“You wanted to know if we would approve of you to act mean to Mr. Jarman. No,
my dear husband, do we not teach to repay good for evil? If he has acted mean
to you, he will have his reward, for if we were to advise you to act a
gentleman to him and do what you promise him. You had the things, keep them
and pay him for them honorable. That will have more affect upon him then if
you were to act another way and you shall see that and you will feel better
yourself, and Lord bless you.” She also wrote, “We are proud that you got
clothes. Do not sell them if you can help it. Bring the tick of the mattress
with you. You can throw the straw away, try to bring all you got and your
pillows because we need all of them. If you can bring them, let up know what
you got and then we will tell you what to bring. If you can buy a cheap broken
glass tray and one you can put between your clothes there is nothing here for
you to shave. When a man dress like a gentleman, we are afraid that we won’t
be able to know Mr. Hughes when he comes home. This letter certainly reveals
the loving, trusting, understanding and practical nature of Harriet, and she
has surely passed these characteristics on to her children.
The family lived in the Sixteenth Ward
and records reveal that they were active members who attended all their
meetings and took advantage of all the activities. They later lived in the
fifteenth Ward, and still later in the Eleventh Ward.
I remember as a young boy my father
showed me a home on Second South just below Ninth East where his father lived.
Also, a home on the East side of Tenth East just south of Second, where his
family lived. This was in the Eleventh ward, where my father played the fiddle
and my mother played the piano for the dances.
A few years after we were married,
Laura’s Mother took Laura and me over to visit a friend of hers, Mrs. Pearce,
who lived on the west side of Tenth East, just across the street from where the
Hughes family lived. Mrs. Pearce told me of knowing the Hughes family and
spoke very highly of them, particularly of Harriet and of course my father.
She also mentioned that Harriet was always the first one to go to the
assistance of anyone in need, and was a very kind and gentle woman. I have
also heard Aunt Mabel Sears voice this same opinion.
It may also be interesting to note that
Elizabeth Hughes Petersen, in quoting Aunt Martha Hailstone, and Natalie
Parsons describe Harriet Davies Hughes as: “A wonderful wife and mother who
loved her husband and family. Who encouraged her husband to enter into a
polygamous marriage with her younger sister Elen. She was a dressmaker, a
homemaker and she cared for the sick in the neighborhood, and assisted families
at child birth. She had an engaging personality who had many friends who loved
and respected her, and was a very special person.”
It has been said: “By their fruits ye
shall know them,” and “The time to start training a child is when the
grandmother is born.” These two quotations certainly apply to the children and
progeny of Harriet and Elen Davies Hughes. I have met and known all of their
children, some better than others, and I can truthfully say they have been
honest, sincere, hardworking members of the communities in which they lived.
They have been successful in rearing their families, and achieving success in
their fields of endeavor without ever a hint of a scandal or offense to anyone,
and to my knowledge this holds true to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,
and sixth generations.
There are two other instances which will
help us get to know and love Harriet just a little better, both are recorded in
her husand’s diary.
One is a revelation on the Law of
Celestial Marriage and was printed in the “Women’s Exponent for July 15, 1885,
No. 4, Vol. 14: “While in the vision she saw herself in the midst of a large
forest. The trees appeared to be withered up, there was not a leaf on any tree
and the dried up remains of flowers and grasses also added to the desolation.
While she was pondering upon the cause of this calamity, a personage of
exceeding pleasing countenance stood by her side and pointed her to look in
another direction. Immediately a most heavenly scene presented itself to her
view. Large forests of trees extended on every hand. Their ample foliage
waving in response to the gentle breeze. She beheld a beautiful land filled
with verdure and the perfume of flowers. On every hand were the gentle murmurs
of gently rippling booklets while the sweet singing of birds with their
variegated plumage awakened in her heart the most heavenly feeling she had ever
experienced. While yet gazing with wondrous admiration at this heavenly scene,
her guide touched her and pointing to the desolation said this is a true
representation of the monogamy system of marriage, here is represented the end
of their increase. Pointing to the other he continued, this represents the
Holy Order of Celestial Marriage. The new and everlasting covenant are in
peace and everlasting joy, here is eternal increase.
The other vision occurred a few days
before Harriet passed away from pneumonia, and is recorded by her husband as
follows: “My oldest daughter, Kate, while watching over her, fell asleep when
all of a sudden she heard the most beautiful singing. She was so enamored of
the singing that she sat up in bed and awoke. The singing died away, but her
mother was still singing. She told Kate she had been in Heaven. In the Spirit
World there was a grand hall filled with distinguished women all having obeyed
the patriarchal order of plurality of wives, and as she entered this magnificent
apartment, they all received her with salutations and singing, and she felt a
heavenly influence that she also joined the singing. She told us there were no
differences there between the first, second and third wife, but all was a
perfect paradise of love and peace. She saw many things concerning the spirit
world. Her faith was firm, angels administered and watched over her.”
At this point, Francis relates in his
diary: “I know that my wife is all right, and that her exhalation is sure, but
still I mourned her loss and felt greatly grieved and depressed in spirit after
her departure. Until on the night of July 24 (Pioneer Day) while I was lying
in bed, the spirit of my beloved one came to me. I was conscious to the
outward things, but still under the influence of a spiritual power. I was not
asleep. She told me she had been to a meeting, that they sing and pray the
same as we do and that they have hymnbooks. She told me to go to the temple
and attend to the ordinances for our dead relatives, and also to have another
wife sealed to me. She smiled and looked full of peace and happiness. When
she left, I was able to awake up my wife Elen and relate the vision to her, but
the sweet influence and gentle heavenly power that accompanied this vision is entirely
beyond my power to portray. Suffice it to say that I felt as if I was near the
portals of Heaven. The spirit of mourning left me, and I felt a calm happy
influence fill my soul. I felt in my heart that death had forever lost its
terrors for me, and that my dear Harriet only passed to the paradise of god,
just a little before and that I should soon follow. I composed the following
in memory of her.”
Farewell dear
faithful wife and mother
God has called
thee to his rest
Though we mourn
to live without thee
Yet we know that
thou are blessed.
Soon we’ll meet
beyond the valley
Where pain and
sorrow is no more
How happy will
be the greeting
On that peaceful
blessed shore.
“Death has not terrors to me. I look
forward to the time when I shall pass away with pleasure for I know by the
revelations of Jesus Christ to me that in the paradise of God there is
happiness beyond the conception of mortal man. I want to remain in the earth
to finish my mission and to raise my children.”
“On the first day of June 1885, Harriet
died leaving me six of her children: Catherine Ann, Elen Jane, Francis D.,
David, John, and Florence. My other wife, Harriet’s sister, also has six
children: Harriet Lorena, Miriam Amelia, Hilda, Theophilus, James and Olive.
Francis then concludes with a stirring
testimony of the gospel, and a strong admonition to his children to: “Sustain
the servants of God who preside over you, and listen to their counsels. Keep
the Word of Wisdom, pay your tithing, attend your meetings that you may be fed
with the spirit of the gospel, so that you may enjoy the sweet influence of the
Holy Ghost.”
And in consequence of the above, I can’t
help feeling the power and influence of a good women, who had a tremendous
influence upon a good man.
J.W. Hughes
1987
