A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN TUCKER DAVIS
AND HIS WIFE LETITIA ANN GEORGE
by their daughter, Martha Helen Davis Moore
(1862-1946)
Captain John Tucker Davis was born in Langam, Pembrokeshire, South
Wales, March 3, 1806. His parents' names
were Henry Davis and Elizabeth Tucker Davis.
The early part of his boyhood days has never been related to me, but in early
manhood he married a young lady by the name of Hannah Thompson. Unto them were
born four children, namely, Jane, Elizabeth, Henry and James. Jane being Mrs.
Jane Finch, a great many of you will remember. My father was not at home at the
time of his first wife's death, but he always said he had a presentiment at the
time. When he arrived home they came to tell him about it, but he said,
"Wait, let me tell you." He then related the details concerning the
affair.
He said he was also away at the time of his mother's death but he knew the
exact time it happened. He always said he had a guardian angel who followed him through life.
While I am relating these incidents, I will also relate another one which I
have often heard Father relate. Most all of you know my father was the captain
of a ship. One night when he was on board and had been at the wheel for about
twenty four hours, he was tired. He called for his first mate to come and take
his place while he rested for awhile; he instructed him to be very careful and
not let the ship drift. He had been gone only a few minutes when he heard a
voice say, "Captain Davis, it's time you were on deck." He said he raised up, thinking to himself, "Who are you to command
me!" He said I watched the "man" leave the room but just before
leaving, he turned back to see if I was coming. I got right up and went on
deck. It was a good thing I did as the ship had drifted until it had almost
reached a reef of rocks and if it had, we would all have gone to Halifax together.
He always said the same voice and face followed him all through his life.*
Some years after his first wife died, he met and married Letitia Ann George at Liverpool, England
in 1842.** She was one of a family of sixteen
children. Her father's name was John George and her mother's name was Ann
Harris George. We have often been told that she was a relative of Lloyd George
of Wales***, but none of my mother's or father's people came to this country,
excepting them, so we have never known anything definite concerning them. I
have never seen Grandparents, Uncles or Aunts of either side. My mother died
when I was nine years of age, so I really have but little recollection of her.
About all I know concerning my mother has been told to me by my father. I often
heard him tell about her gathering wild greens and salaratus to supply us with
something to eat. The salaratus was used in place of soda in bread. My mother
was very religious. She was president of the Relief Society of Spanish Fork for
twelve years.
She was the mother of eight children. Three being born before she left the old
country; one was born on the plains, the other four
were born in Utah.
Their names were: William George, John George, Alma
Charles; Ephraim George was born on the plains, and Mary Sophia, Letitia Ann,
Sarah Jane, and Martha Helen. Two of them died while real young. I am, at this
time, the only living child of the John T. Davis family.
There was an incident I often heard my father relate concerning his first
acquaintance of my mother. He had just returned from a sea voyage, and happened
to run on to an auction sale. When he went in, they were auctioning off a leg
of mutton. As he was the highest bidder, he received it, but didn't know what
to do with it. He was a jovial sort of a fellow and said when they passed it to
him that the first pretty girl he met, he would make
her a present of it. My mother was the pretty girl. He offered it to her, but
she was an entirely different type of person than my father, he being very
jovial and full of fun, and my mother a very proud and dignified lady, she was
really insulted. However, my father soon won her over. She invited him to go
hom with her and they roasted the leg of mutton, and all had a delicious supper
together. From then on, they kept company until they were married.
My mother lived and died a faithful Latter-day Saint. She died at the age of 57
years, January 26, 1872, leaving six children. All of them were unmarried at
the time.
My father was always considered a man of thorough education, and he had a
classical knowledge of navigation. He was a very jovial, plain-spoken man. He
had a gruff way of speaking and was often mistaken for a very grouchy person,
which he certainly was not. He was a very hospitable man. Before railroads were
built between Southern Utah and Salt
Lake City, people often had to travel back and forth
for provisions. It was not unusual for them to make our home their stopping
place. I can never remember my father taking a penny from anyone for staying at
our place. My mother not knowing sometimes how to make enough beds, used
everything she had to cover them, including homespun yarn.
I have often heard Uncle George Hicks, a very intimate friend of my father, say
that it was once his privilege to listen to a lecture given by the Captain, on
navigation, and he certainly did deliver a very intelligent lecture on the
subject.
For thirty five years of his early manhood, he followed a sea-faring life. Part
of that time he served as a sailor on a British Man-of-War. During that
service, the English overtook and captured a pirate ship. The Captain told of
the fight between the two crews of the ships in very eloquent language. The
English had to board the pirate ship before the real battle began. The scene
was terrible, for the pirates made a bold and bloody stand, knowing what their
fate would be when conquered. Most of the pirates were killed in the battle. The
pirate Captain, who was supposed to be a Spaniard, claimed to be an Englishman,
and spoke to his captors in English. This made no difference to them, for they
swung him off the yardarm which they had a right to do.
There were two women found on board the pirate ship, who had been taken from a
merchant ship, which the pirates had robbed a couple of days before the fight.
The old Captain was of the opinion that no animal is more savage in a life and
death struggle than the genus Homo Sapiens.
Many times, he as a sailor, visited the East Indies in a trading vessel. My father was
shipwrecked and spent eighteen days and nights in an open boat, driven here and
there at the will of the wind. His oldest son, Henry, who was less than twenty
years old, was with him. He contracted a cold which he never got over, and died
of pneumonia. While they were adrift their water supply was limited. My father
told me many times while he was sleeping he often dreamed of quenching his
thirst at a spring of cold water near his boyhood home. In all earnestness, the
dream seemed to allay partially his burning thirst. At the end of the
eighteenth day they were picked up by a Spanish ship, and taken to land in
safety. They were well treated by the Captain and crew.
My father was the Captain of the ship that brought a company of Saints over.
With him was my mother and their five children.**** I
was named after one of the ships that my father was captain of, called
"Helen". Two of the children of the five that accompanied my parents
across the plains were the children of father's first wife, Jane Finch and
Lizzie Douglas. The company they crossed the plains with, was known as the
"Captain Daniel Jones Company".***** My
father being a man of considerable means was able to furnish the team of oxen
that brought them across the plains. He paid five extra dollars to the men he
bought them from to tell their names. He said he did not know whether to put
the yokes on their heads or tails.
It was rather hard for them to settle here with nothing after having home with
plenty. They first settled in Salt
Lake City where they lived for four years. Brigham
Young told Bishop Hunter to give the Captain a good job as he would soon go
back as he had been used to a different life, but the Captain never returned
(to England). In 1866, he moved his family to Spanish Fork. The house is still
standing one block west of the Orem Station where three children were born,
including myself. After he arrived here, he helped
make roads, ditches, bridges, in fact, he helped build the first bridge across
the Spanish Fork River.
He helped do everything to build up a new country. He supervised block and
tackle work on the Salt Lake Latter-day Saint Temple. He often told of taking
bran biscuits and dried sucker fish for lunch while working on the bridge.
The first year they were in Spanish Fork, their grain crop burned to the
ground, also the little shack they had to live in. This fire burned everything
we had except a trunk full of fine broadcloth and silks.******
As my mother was very proud, it was hard for her to have to accept any
donations. My father and brothers did not let this discourage them, but went to
work with a will and replanted their crops the next season, and built a new
home which still stands.
I can never remember my father as working for anyone. He always liked to think
he was his own boss.
He filled many responsible positions in church and civic affairs. He was
president of the West Field Farming District for ten years. He never remarried
after my mother's death, but made his home with his children. After I was
married I lived with him several years, or until I got a home of my own. He
always kept his own home, but spent his time amongst his children. He died a
devoted Latter-day Saint, at the age of eighty-three years, on December 20,
1888, at Spanish Fork, Utah.
At this time, the year of our Lord 1927, there are the following descendants:
forty three grandchildren, one hundred sixty five great-grandchildren, and
sixteen great-great grandchildren.
Today we can point with pride to the Davis Strait which leads down to Quebec, Canada,
which was first navigated by Captain John T. Davis. Following is the story
which he has often told concerning the strait: "We left Liverpool,
England, to sail to Quebec, Canada.
While at sea, we ran into a calm and were unable to
make progress. Captain Davis issued the order that they were to let him know
when the first breeze came immediately. They were at a standstill for fourteen
days when suddenly a strong wind came up and blew them off their course. When
they were able to sight land, they discovered they were much further north and
west than they should be. Captain studied his maps and used his general
knowledge of navigation, and decided they could save many days' time if they
could pass through a strait which was supposed to be impossible to sail safely
through. His crew went into mutiny, and refused to do his bidding while they
still had other commanders. This made it necessary for
him to put his second and first mates in irons, and take full command himself.
He went on deck and directed and steered his ship through the strait, thereby
saving much time, and effecting a successful
voyage."*******
Following is a testimony he bore at a meeting of high priests, December 6, 1888,
just two weeks before his death: "John T. Davis spoke of his advanced
years, and said he looked for a turn in the tide. He expected to lay down his
body in death before very long and desired to leave in peace with his brethren
and his God. He gave several examples of the power of prayer. Among others he
spoke of a time when all human help was in vain, where death and destruction to
himself, to his crew, and to his ship, seemed close at hand. He did all he
could, and he lowered his head in prayer for help from God. That help was
given. The ship was saved and also the lives of all on board. He acknowledged
these blessings, and was thankful for them. He expressed his hope and desire
that he should endure in truth to the end."
========================
footnotes by Karen B. Keeley:
*this apparently refers to his guardian angel, who had commanded him to go back
on deck.
**she was mistaken on the date and place; John Tucker Davis and Letitia Ann
George were actually married 9 Apr 1839, in Burton,
Pembrokeshire, Wales.
***probably no truth to the rumor that they were related to
David Lloyd George, who lived from 1863-1945, and served as Prime Minister of England from
1916-1922. Martha Helen doesn't specify who told her that she may have
been related to him, but this speculation was apparently based merely on the
fact that he had the surname George and was a Welshman.
****it hasn't been confirmed that John T. Davis captained a ship which brought
a company of Saints to America.
There was a ship called the "Susan Pardew" captained by a John Davis
in 1864 which brought 18 Latter-day Saints over, but this was 13 years after
Capt. John T. Davis and family had already immigrated to Utah. He may have gone back to sea from time
to time and therefore may possibly have been the John Davis who captained that
ship in 1864, but it doesn't seem likely that he captained the ship in 1851 on
which himself and family came over, for he probably would have had to captain
the ship back to its home port and would not have been free to abandon the
vessel once they arrived in America.
*****this is an error; they didn't come in the Daniel Jones Company, but in the
Easton Kelsey company, Isaac Allred's fifty. See www.lds.org and click on the
"Church History" link in the left-hand column, then on the
"Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel" link at the bottom right. Clicking on "chronological company list" shows that Dan
Jones led two companies across the plains, one in 1849 and one in 1856.
John Tucker Davis is listed in the Easton Kelsey company of 1851, although his
wife and children's names were left out of the record. The authoritative
reference to John Tucker Davis being in that company comes from his obituary
(1888) in the "Millenial Star". We know for certain that the entire
family came in 1851, because 17 Aug 1851 was the date
that J.T. Davis' son Ephraim George Davis was born near Laramie, Wyoming
on their way across the plains.
******from another account of the fire (written by a
granddaughter): "The fire took everything they had except a large chest of
fine broadcloth, silks and paisleys. This left them pretty poor. At this
time Grandmother was in bed in a wagon with one of her babies. She was thankful
that her children were not harmed......At the time they had the fire and lost
all but their fine clothes, Grandmother wouldn't go to church. She said they
were too poor for her to don fine silks and paisleys with everyone else also so
poor. But Grandfather didn't let it hold him back. He put on his broad cloth
clothes and high silk hat and went to church barefooted."
"It was rather hard for both of them to be living as the pioneers had to
live, as they had always had plenty."
*******The Captain was apparently fond of telling tall tales or spinning yarns.
This story about the Davis Strait appears to
be such a tale, because it was actually named for another Captain John Davis,
who lived in the 1500's.
********some more information written by a granddaughter of John T. Davis, the
same granddaughter who wrote the account in footnote 6 about the fire:
"One thing I failed to mention and it means a lot to me. As the Captain of
a ship, my Grandfather possessed a Queen Pomar. This is a metal container made
waterproof to hold the valuable ship papers. In case of ship wreck it would be
thrown out in the sea. It would not sink and would float until it was picked up
by others. I have this in my possession and I prize it very much.
I would also like to add that he at his old age gained his second sight and was
able to read without the help of glasses. Also, when he was quite old and wore
false teeth he cut wisdom teeth and his dentures had to be remade to find room
for them. (His history) is all very interesting to me and although I was very
young, I can remember walking with him and riding in his buckboard."
(I don't have the name of the granddaughter of J.T. Davis who wrote these
words. I got some papers from the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum, but some
of the pages were missing).
