JOHN PARRY
John Parry was born on 22 October 1801, at Marion,
Newmarket,
Flintshire, Wales. He was the fourth of eight children born to
John Parry and Winifred Barker Parry (Mary: 1796, William: 1798, Margaret: 1799,
Elizabeth: 1806, Sarah: 1808, Winifred: 1811, and Jane: 1813).
He married Elizabeth Parry on 7 September 1834, at Newmarket. John was a stone mason by occupation. John and Elizabeth become the parents of six
children: Mary (1834), Jane (1836), Winifred (1838), John (1841), Edward (1843)
and Elizabeth Louise (1850). Jane died
when she was about four years old.
John and Elizabeth and their family were taught the Gospel
of Jesus Christ and were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. John was baptized on 30 March 1841. Leaving the Church of England made them
'non-conformists.' They were deprived of
certain civil rights. They could not
serve on a jury or hold public office or enlist in the armed forces. Becoming members of the church also made them
objects of persecution.
The family, consisting of Winifred (18), John (14), Edward
(12), and Elizabeth Louise (6), decided to emigrate to Utgah. The oldest daughter, Mary, had emigrated in
1852. They left for America
in 1856 on the ship 'Curling.' They
arrived in Boston and then took the
train as far west as it went - into Iowa. Part of the time they rode in cattle
cars. They arrived in Iowa
City, Iowa, and were assigned
to the Edward Bunker Handcart Company.
They left Iowa City on June
30. They were detained in Florence,
Nebraska, from July 19 to July 30 to make
repairs on their handcarts. They then
continued their journey arriving in Salt Lake City
on 2 October 1856. They were met by their daughter and sister,
Mary. She had married Elias Morris at
Winter Quarters when she was 17 years old.
Mary and Elias lived in Cedar City
and so the family went there to settle.
John Parry helped build many homes and public buildings in
the area. He died on 23 October 1881, at Cedar
City, Iron, Utah,
the day after his 80th birthday.
