Pioneer's Information
Type of Pioneer: Early Pioneer
Pioneer's Name: Davis, EdwardWilliam (more stories about this Pioneer)
Birth Place: Tower Hamlets, London, England
Date of Birth: Sat, 01 Feb, 1794
Date of Death: Wed, 02 Oct, 1878
Father: (more stories with this pioneer)
Mother: (more stories with this pioneer)
Spouse: Sarah Drabble (more stories with this pioneer)
Other Spouses: (more stories with this pioneer)
Arrived in Utah: Fri, 03 Sep, 1852
Education:
Profession:
Honors:
Civic Activities:
Church:
Authentic Mormon Pioneer: Yes
Excerpt from Pioneer Story
With Sarah's support Edward followed his trade as a weaver in the Salt Lake Valley. His daughters made some of the cloth into men's neckwear. Some of them were sold through ZCMI.
Full Pioneer Story
THE LIFE OF EDWARD WILLIAM DAVIS
Submitted By: Joan Wallace Weston (more stories by this author)
Edward William Davis was born February 1, 1794 and Sarah Drabble was born January 16, 1802 in Tower Hamlets, London, Middlesex, England.
"Nothing is known of his childhood or young manhood, except that he had a fine profession as a silk and cloth weaver. A story that has come down through the family was that Edward made curtains for Queen Elizabeth of England. They were interlaced with gold." (Day)
He married Sarah Drabble at St. Antholins, London, England. (record, 1822) He must have been pretty well established in his trade by then because he was 28 years old. (Day) The 1841 Census lists him as a weaver. (1841, ) The 1851 Census lists him as a foreman of a Silk House. (Census, 1851) To this couple were born 9 children: Sarah Ann 1823-1842, Edward William Jr. 1826-1896, Lydia 1828-1869, Hannah 1830-1896, Samuel 1832-?, Martha 1834-1913, Theophilus 1835-1841, Josiah 1838-1857, Theophilus 1841-1842 (Day)
The family was baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in 1849. In a diary written by George Benjamin Wallace it mentions many times how he visited the Davis home while he was a missionary in England. Later history indicates why these are interesting. Here are just a few:
- Dec. 31, 1850 After the meeting met with the Davis Family. I blessed Edward Davis, Thomas Smith...
- Jan. 7 then I went out to Sisters' Davis and spent the evening. Lent Sister Davis one of my books...
- Jan. 15 Came down to Sister Southerland's and dined with them. Came on to Sister Davis' and stopped a few hours...
- Jan. 17 Lunched at Sister Davis'. In the evening was at home with Brother Pratt...
- Feb. 6 Tea'd with Sisters Davis and spent the evening with them.
- Feb. 10 Wrote to…and Sister Hannah Davis.; March 18 wrote to…Hannah Davis; March 19. wrote to Martha Davis...
- Feb. 21 Brother Lorenzo Snow was in London. He left Italy the first of February. We went to Sisters' Davis to tea and spent a few hours very happily together.
- March 1 I have been up to Brother and Sister Davis'. Hannah is quite unwell. I have sent Brother Davis four pld. He was in difficulty; and I helped them in other ways.
- Mar. 10 Brother Kelsey and myself spent the evening at Brother Davis' and we had a very agreeable time. (Wallace, 1844, 1845)
"It is mentioned that Edward had published some works in Welch. His father came originally from Wales. One other thing is interesting and gives information about the family. At one time George Benjamin Wallace mentions that he 'found Samuel Davis, son of Brother Edward Davis. He has been away about 2 years at sea. I advised him to go home to his parents and stay with them'. It would appear that the 19 year old son of Edward was seeking some excitement as a crew member of some ship." (Day)
In 1852 the Davis family left London for America on the ship Ellen Maria.
Voyage
"Fifty-seventh Company – Ellen Maria, 369 souls. The ship Ellen Maria which the year previous had brought a company of Saints safely across the Atlantic, was again chartered by the presidency at Liverpool to bring another company to New Orleans; and on the seventh of February 1852, she cleared, but owing to adverse winds, did not put to sea until the tenth of February.
Her entire complement was made up of Saints, numbering three hundred and sixty-nine souls; one of which was born during the detention. (Both mother and child were remarkable comfortable at the date of departure.)
Among those who sailed with this company were a number of prominent Americans and native elders who had performed efficient missionary work in the British Isles, such as James D. Ross, Gland Rodger, Haden W. Church, J. W. Johnson, E. Henry Evans and Louis Robbins; these brethren had all acted as presidents of the conferences. Elder Isaac Cup Haight, an American elder, was appointed president of the company which included one hundred and eighty-two Perpetual Emigration Fund emigrants.
After a very pleasant and prosperous voyage, the Ellen Maria arrived at New Orleans on the seventh of April. There were three births, four marriages and one death during the voyage. The person who dies was a Sister Rolph, aged eighty nine years.
Captain Whitmore, as a very kind and considerate man, treated the emigrants with all due respect and consideration.
From New Orleans the journey was continued by a river steamer to St. Louis, Missouri, where the company was met by Abraham O. Smoot, who acted as agent for the P. E. Fund Company, and who purchased supplies for the Saints who immigrated to Utah through the agency of that company, to make the overland journey. After co-operating with Elder Smoot in this connection according to instructions, Elder Isaac Cup Haight, who had led the company to St. Louis returned to England, and Elder Smoot conducted the emigrants to Council Bluffs, and subsequently led the first British company of P. E. Fund emigrants across the plains, consisting of those who had crossed the Atlantic in both the Kennebec and Ellen Maria." (Index M. I.)
Listed on the ships record were Edward Davis (Silk Manufacturer) Sarah Davis, Lydia Davis, Hannah Davis, Samuel Davis (Sailor), Martha Davis and Josiah Davis.
Another member of the company, James Thomas Wilson wrote of his experiences.
"We held meetings on Sundays and enjoyed ourselves first rate. At night all lights had to be out by 9 o'clock. We kept a guard up all night to keep the sailors from coming downstairs for some of the girls would associate with them if not under strict surveillance. Our ship was ballast with railroad rails. In one storm it was thought she might capsize or go down, fearing the rails would shift to one side so as to unbalance her. One day we got in a trough of the sea. She ricked sometimes from side to side till she nearly lay on her broadside, her masts nearly touching the waves. We were 6 weeks without seeing land."
Later Years
The Davis family went with the Abraham O. Smoot Company and headed west traveling by ox team. Three months and 1200 miles later they arrived at Salt Lake City September 3, 1852. Because they were the first Perpetual Emigration Company, they were met by the First Presidency, leading citizens and a brass band. (Day)
The Davis family was welcomed into George Benjamin Wallace home by his wife, Melissa and remained there until Elder Wallace returned from his mission later that year.
When George arrived home from England he was desirous of taking Hannah Davis as a plural wife. But father Edward said no. Lydia was the oldest. She must marry first. Well, George loved Hanna and Martha too. President Brigham Young advised him to marry the three Davis sisters and take care of their parents. (Day)
On Oct. 15, 1852 Edward William Davis and Sarah Drabble were sealed in the Endowment House.
With Sarah's support Edward followed his trade as a weaver in the Salt Lake Valley. His daughters made some of the cloth into men's neckwear. Some of them were sold through ZCMI.
Records show that Josiah went to the Utah Indian War in 1857 at age 19 and never returned. Edward William Jr. was a carpenter on the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle. Edward and Sarah lived on what is 300 West now and between North Temple and 1st North streets in Salt Lake City. Sarah died at age 74 on October 29, 1876. Edward dies October 2, 1878 at the age of 84. They are both buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Patriarchal Blessing
G. S. L> City, August 1, 1853, 1246 A Blessing by John Smith, Patriarch upon the head of Edward Davis, son of William and Elizabeth Davis, born in London, England, Feb. 1, 1794.
Brother Edward in the name of Jesus Christ, I place my hands upon thy head, and seal upon you a Patriarchal, or a Father's Blessing, even all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Thou art of the blood of Abraham, through the loins of Joseph; and a lawful heir to the everlasting Priesthood which shall be conferred upon you in due time, teaching you all the (many?) stories which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, giving you power and wisdom to rebuke the waves of the sea, or do any work or miracle which shall be for the Salvation of Israel. You shall be a Councilor in the house of Israel, preside over a stake of Zion, have wisdom that none will be able to gainsay or resist. You shall be blest in your family with all things that are calculated to render life agreeable. Your posterity shall increase like Jacob. None shall excel them in power and Priesthood. You shall have plenty of the fruits of the earth and possess the riches of eternal lives. Angels shall minister unto you, which will make your Heart glad. You shall live if you desire it, to see the Earth cleansed from wickedness, your age shall be renewed. You shall see your Redeemer stand upon the Earth with his twelve Apostles on his right hand, clothed in pillars of fire. You shall bring many to a knowledge of the truth, and inherit all the blessings and glories of Zion with all your Father's house, even so, Amen.
Sources:
1841, C. ( ). Middlesex, Shireditch, St. Leonards, Hoxton Old Town.
Census, 1. (1851). Middlesex, Bloomsbury, St. George.
Day, K. S. (n.d.). History of Edward Davis and Sarah Drabble. Daughters of the Utah Pioneers file .
Index, M. I.
record, M. (1822). St. Antholin's Marriage Records. London, England.
Wallace, G. B. (1844, 1845). Missionary Journal.
Virtues: Endurance, Faith, Leadership