Henry Gillard

History of Henry Gillard & Ellen Trimnell On August 2, 1799 AT Bristol, Glouchestershire, England Great-grandmother Elizabeth was born. She married Arthur Trimnel when she was but a young women and became the mother of a large family. Among them was Ellen born January 1, 1842 at Bristol, England. In September 1866 she crossed the plains for religious purposes with Henry Gillard and company. She was then 66 years of age. On June 2, 1872 at the age of 72 years and 10 months she died, and she was buried in the Ogden City Cemetary, lot 3 plot B #18. Calmly she sleeps in the bed of the grave, Released from earths sorrows and strife, The storms and the struggles of earth are no more. Her spirit is safe on the heavenly shore Rejoicing in glorious life. This short epitaph was the verse written on the memory card at the death of Elizabeth Trimnell. In 1865 Ellen married Henry Gillard. Henry was the son of Simeon Gillard and Tamsin Gillard and was born at Lopen Summersetshire, England on September 4, 1840. Shortly after their marriage (1865),they immigrated from England to New York. Grandfather was very interested in farming, but was a shoemaker by trade. His chief job was finishing the heels on ladies shoes. He was short in statue being only 5 feet tall and had brown eyes and black hair. In 1866 Grandfather Gillard, his wife and six month old baby and company crossed the plains with a ox team for the sake of the gospel. They settled in Ogden, Utah where the next five children were born. He ran the city cow herd here for a number of years. Later they moved into Utah County. Here Henry Gillard was baptized into the Latter Day Saint Church; then had his endowments done in the Salt Lake Temple. On September 12, 1882 he, Henry Gillard, became a United States Citizen. Two years later on the Provo Bench my mother was born. She was the youngest child of a family of eleven. When mother was nearly five years old, her mother died. She lived at home for about five years and then stayed at the home of her oldest sister for a while. Later she lived with another sister. She was baptized into the Latter Day saint Church by Andrew Hartley and confirmed by James Clayton. Grandfather Gillard died March 13, 1903 at the home of a daughter, Johanna, in the old Dobbie house that stood just south of the present home. Two years later on June 7, 1905 Mother was married to Frank Jones in Provo City by Judge J.E. Booth with Mrs. Elizabeth and Mary Borrowman acting as witnesses. Mother had six children all of whom are living. 10 month child was Elizabeth Tamsen Gillard born 19 Mar 1866 at Williamsburg Erie, New York. The five children born at Ogden Weber County, Utah are: Ellen 16 Dec 1867 Hester Ann 8 Jul 1870 Henry 13 Jul 1873 Johanna 8 Aug 1774 Edith 25 Dec 1876 The next four children were born at Provo, Utah. Caroline P 25 Jun 1879 Symeon 1880 Samuel 7 Sep 1881 Lillian Eliza 25 Sep 1884

Henry Gillard was born November 16, 1838 at Lopen, Somerset, England, the fourth child and third son of Simeon and Tomasin Best Gillard. He was christened December 25, 1838 into the Church of England at the All-Saints Church in Lopen.  Other members of the family included a sister, Edith Best, christened November 19,1829; brothers, Samuel Best, christened March 10, 1832 (buried October 12,1834);Samuel, christened March 8, 1835; and a younger brother, John who was born May 22,1841 and christened on July 22 of that year.   Somersetshire was chiefly agricultural and much of the land was devoted to the raising of sheep.  The making of woolen cloth was aprincipal industry.  Henry’s father was a weaver, like many of his neighbors.  It was often necessary for the wife and children to help make a living and they would generally also become weavers, warpers, spinners, of cloth finishers of some sort.  Many were also agricultural laborers, Henry being one of them at the age of 11.  His brother Samuel at 16 was a warper, and his sister Edith no longer lived at home. Probably she was apprenticed to a family to learn a trade or was living away from home to help with earning a living for the family.   Henry’s mother,Tomasin, died November 13, 1842 in Lopen of scarlet fever.  She was 37 years of age.  At this time Edith was almost 13, Samuel was just past 7, Henry was 4 years old, and John was a year and a half.   Simeon, Henry’s father, remarried on April 27, 1845 in the Independent Chapel in South Petherton, a small parish near Lopen. His second wife was Caroline Gardner, a weaveress.  Apparently she had a daughter, Ann, at the time of her marriage to Simeon.  To them were born 7 other children, 2 girls and 5 boys.   Henry was apprenticed to a farmer as a laborer (or allowed to live with a farm family) while still a young boy and he remained there until he was about 20.  Sometime during his youth, he learned the trade of a shoe-maker, as did his brother John. Perhaps it was about this time that Samuel and Edith left England and went to Australia.   Simeon Gillard,Henry’s father, died in Lopen on June 30, 1858, at the age of 54.  Cause of death was Anasarca (generaliz ededema) a disease of the kidneys.  Henry would have been almost 20 at this time so apparently he remained in Lopen until after the death of his father.   The London Conference Records, British Mission, show that on September 4 (probably November 4) he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Bristol by Sam’l Tucker and confirmed November 4, 1860 by Richard Rawle.  At this time he was 22 and was residing in Peverell, Somerset, England, a small town a short distance south and a little west of Bristol.  This record also shows that his brother John, and John’s future wife, Ann Flower, were also baptized and confirmed in Bristol about the same time.   Henry Gillard and Ellen Trimnell were married in St. Michael Parish Church, Bristol, on November 1,1864 and a few months later they took Ellen’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Hooper Trimnell, and left England to join the Saints in America.   (For remainder of story, see combined history of Henry and Ellen Trimnell Gillard)   Henry’s brother John Married Ann Flower at St. Philip & Jacob Parish Church in Bristol on March 22, 1863.  He was a boot and shoe maker at the time.  They came to America about 1865-66 and probably lived close to Henry and Ellen after their arrival in Utah.  They had several children, all of whom died soon after birth.  John died on March 15, 1879 at Provo.  After his death, Ann lived with Martin and Annie Buckner (Henry and Ellen’s daughter) and was called “Auntie Ann”.  She died on October 2, 1888. Both John and Ann are buried in the Provo City Cemetery. Henry and Ellen Trimnell Gillard   Henry Gillard, son of Simeon and Tomasin Best Gillard and Ellen Trimnell, daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth Hooper Trimnell were married in St. Michael Parish Church, Bristol, England on November 1, 1864.   Six months after their marriage, Henry, Ellen, and her widowed mother, Elizabeth, left England to go to America because, as converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in England,they were anxious to gather with the body of the Saints in Zion. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship “Belle Wood” with Thomas William Freeman as master.  It left Liverpool, England about 2:30 p.m. April 29, 1865.  Previous to its sailing, on the day of its departure, President Daniel H. Wells went aboard the ship, organized a company to take care of the Saints, appointed William H. Sherman as president and William S. Willis as counselor.  Later they consecrated the ship.  The Saints were well and happy, all feeling as though the Lord had blessed them. There were 636 people aboard the “Belle Wood”, where they were listed on the register as:                         Betsy Trimnell           59        F                         Henry Gillard            24        M         Shoemaker                         Ellen Gillard              22        F They had a wonderful journey which lasted about 31 days, and arrived in New York Harbor on May 31, 1865.   The Gillards and Elizabeth Trimnell, like many of the Saints were obliged to remain in New York for about a year because of the increased immigration fares to Utah and the fact that there were no church teams being sent from New York to Wyoming.  Henry was a shoemaker by trade and while in New York worked at finishing the heels of ladies’ shoes and Ellen, who as a tailoress, make buttonholes in ladies’ coats.  Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Williamsburg, Kings County, New York on March 19, 1866 and about 3 months later, in June, they left to cross the plains to Utah by ox-team.   Ellen walked all the way so that her aged mother, who was not in the best of health, could ride and hold the baby.  Henry took his turn at guard duty.  Captain John Halliday had charge of the company in which they traveled and in the Journal History in the Church Historian’s Office it tells that the company had a good trip across the plains, arrived in good condition, made good time, and reached Salt Lake Valley September 25, 1866.  There were 8 deaths in the company, the last one occurring the night before arriving in the Valley, so the body was brought to Zion for burial.  The company was met by Bishop Hunter who was very hospitable to the Saints and so intent on seeking after their welfare that in a few hours all had a place to stay until they could get settled permanently.   Henry Gillard and Ellen Trimnell were sealed in the Endowment House on June 1, 1867.   They and her mother,settled in Weber Valley for a while, later going to Ogden to make their home.  They purchased 10 acres of ground on the west side of the street that is now known as 32 nd and Washington Boulevard,and it was there that Elizabeth Trimnell died on June 2, 1872 at the age of 72 years and 10 months.   Henry worked as a fireman on the Union Pacific Railroad between Ogden, Utah and Evanston, Wyoming for several years.   Ellen and William S. Willis of the “Belle Wood” often sang together in England and while in Ogden he renewed his acquaintance with Ellen through meeting her daughter Elizabeth in Sunday School.  Ellen also sang in the choir in England and Henry played the flute both in England and in Ogden.   Five children were born to them while living in Ogden.  Ellen and Henry Trimnell died as infants and were buried in the Ogden City  Cemetery.  The other three, Hester Ann (Esther), Johanna(Annie) and Edith lived to maturity.   About 1878 they sold their property in Ogden and moved to Provo where they rented a farm in Lake View, living in a dug-out and using a yoke of oxen to help with the farm work.  While here, Caroline Phoebe was born.  She lived one day.  The next move was to a home belonging to Henry A. Dixon, near Provo Canyon, where they lived for 5 years.  Two boys, Simeon John and Samuel Trimnell were born while they lived here.  Simeon John died in infancy.  While here Henry received his papers declaring him a citizen of the United States on September 12, 1882.  He was re-baptized by Bishop Myron Tanner 5 days previous to this, on September 7, 1882.   The Gillards then purchased a 20 acre farm from Henry Davis which was situated on the corner of 8th South and Main in Orem,then known as Provo Bench.  While waiting to get a house built, they rented from Dr. James J. Talmage, who owned a place just south, across the road.  It was there on September 25, 1884, exactly 18 years from the day they entered Salt Lake Valley, that Lillian Eliza, their 11th and last child was born.   Henry was always interested in farming, said he liked to see things grow, but farming didn’t pay too well, so whenever possible he was obliged to take other work.  One of these jobs was firing the molasse smill in the fall.   He was a firm believer in old fashioned remedies and many a cup of tea made from leaves of bitterbush which grew on the sand hills of Lake View and vineyard, also of sagebrush which was altogether too plentiful on Provo Bench at that time, we were obliged to drink.  It was good for whatever ailed us or as an ounce of prevention.   Ellen was considered good at nursing and when there was sickness among the neighbors, was generally called on to help, for she was always willing to do what she could.  As a result of one of these nursing sessions, she got typhoid fever.  Dr. Talmage did all he could for her, but at that time there was very little that would help those who got typhoid.  She died on Sunday June 23, 1889 at the age of 47 years, 6 months, and 22 days.   After Ellen’s death Henry seemed to lose a lot of interest in life. He did the best he could to keep his children together, but the home finally broke up and he went to live with his daughter Johanna Buckner.  Then on March 27, 1900, the Buckner family,Henry and his two youngest children, Samuel and Lillian, moved from Provo Bench to Driggs, Idaho. The trip was made by team and wagon and took 16 1/2 days.  They remained there for 2 years and 2 months and then they returned to Provo, Utah.   Henry Gillard died on March 13, 1903 at the age of 64 years, 3 months, and 25 days.  He is buried beside Ellen in the Provo City Cemetery.   Henry and Ellen Trimnell Gillard were the parents of 11 children.  The oldest was never named as it was stillborn.  Ellen, Henry Trimnell, Simeon John, and Caroline Phoebe died while very young.  Those who lived to maturity were Elizabeth Tamsen G. Clinger, Esther Ann G. Skinner, Johanna G. Buckner, Edith G. Buckner,Samuel Trimnell Gillard and Lillian Eliza G. Jones.   (Part of this history was taken from the one written by Lillian G. Jones, the youngest child of Henry and Ellen T. Gillard.  Her mother died when she was less than 5 years of age and her father died when she was 18 1/2.  Her history was based on what her father told her as a child and what she gleaned from talking with her older sisters later in life.  She did not know many of the dates that research has brought to light.  It has also been necessary to make some small corrections because in re-telling events, they often are unknowingly altered.  This history is as correct as her story and researched name, dates, and places have been possible to make it.)                                       Edith J.Dawson   Henry Gillard and Ellen Trimnell Gillard   Henry Gillard, my father, was born September 4, 1840 in Lopen, Somersetshire, England,of English parents.  He was one of four children left when his mother died.  These were Samuel, Edith, Henry and John.  At this time Henry was about 3 years old and when he became 5 his father consented to let him go to the home of a farmer to live, where he remained until he was twenty.  His brother Samuel and sister Edith went to Australia to live, while Henry and John came to Utah.   When Henry was about 20 years old, he met Miss Ellen Trimnell. Ellen was born in Bristol, Gloucester, England on January 1, 1843.  Her father was English, her mother Irish.  Ellen and Henry were married later at Bristol, joined the Latter-Day-Saint Church in England and came to America for their religion.  My grandmother, Elizabeth Trimnell, who was born August 2, 1799, came with them as her husband,Arthur Trimnell, who had been an invalid the last 12 years of his life, had died several years previous.    They crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship “Belle Wood”, which left Liverpool, England about 2:30 p.m. April 29, 1865.  Previous to its sailing, on the day of its departure, Pres. Daniel H. Wells went aboard the ship, organized a company to take care of the Saints, appointed William H. Sherman as president and William S. Willis as counselor.  Later they consecrated the ship.  The Saints were well and happy, all feelingas though the Lord had blessed them. There were 636 people aboard the “Belle Wood”.  They had a wonderful journey which lasted about 31 days, and arrived in N.Y. Harbor on June 1, 1865.   My parents and grandmother, like many of the Saints were obliged to remain in N. Y. for about a year because of the increased immigration fares to Utah and the fact that there were no church teams being sent from N.Y. to Wyoming.   Father was a shoemaker by trade and while in N.Y. worked at finishing the heels of ladies’shoes and mother made buttonholes in ladies’ coats.   Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Williamsburg, N.Y. on March 19, 1866 and about 3 months later, in June,they left to cross the plains to Utah.   Mother walked all the way so that her aged mother, who was not in the best of health, could ride, and father took his turn at guard duty.  Captain John Halliday had charge of the company in which they traveled and in the journal history in the Church Historian’s Office it tells that the company had a good trip across the pains, arrived in good condition, made good time, and reached Salt Lake Valley September 25, 1866.  There were 8 deaths in their company, the last one occurring the night before arriving in Salt Lake Valley,so the body was brought to Zion for burial.  The company was met by Bishop Hunter who was very hospitable to the Saints and so intent on seeking after their welfare that in a few hours all had a place to stay until they could get settled permanently.    My parents and grandmother settled in Weber Valley for a while, later going to Ogden to make their home.  They purchased 10 acres of ground on the Westside of the street that is now known as 32nd and Washington Boulevard, and it was there that grandmother died on June 2, 1872 at the age of 72 years and 10 months.   Father worked as a fireman on the Union Pacific Railroad between Ogden and Evanston, Wyoming for several years.   Mother and William S.Willis of the “Belle Wood” often sang together in England and while in Ogden he renewed his acquaintance with mother through meeting her daughter Elizabethat Sunday School.  It may be well to mention that mother sang in the choir in England and father played the flute both in England and in Ogden.   Five children were born to them while living in Ogden.  About 1878 they sold their property and moved to Provo where they rented a farm in Lake View, using a yoke of oxen to help with the work. While here one child was born. The next move was to a home belonging to Henry A. Dixon, near Provo Canyon,where they lived for 5 years and where 2 more children were born.  While here father received his papers declaring him a citizen of the United States.   The Gillards then purchased a 20 acre farm from Henry Davis which was situated one half mile west of what is now known as the Lincoln High School and while waiting to get a house built, they rented from Dr. James E. Talmage, who owned a place just south.  It was there on September 25, 1884, exactly 18 years from the day they entered Salt Lake Valley, that I was born.   Father was always interested in farming, said he like to see things grow, but farming didn’t pay too well,so whenever possible he was obliged to take other work.  One of these jobs was firing the molasses mill in the fall.   Mother was considered good at nursing and when there was sickness among the neighbors, was generally called on to help, for she was always willing to do what she could.  On one of these occasions, while not at all well, she caught a bad cold, which finally resulted in her death on June 23,1889, at the age of 47 years, 6 months, 22 days.   Father was a firm believer in old fashioned remedies and many a cup of tea made from leaves of bitterbush which grew on the sand hills of Lake View and Vineyard, also of sagebrush which was altogether too plentiful on Provo Bench at that time, we were obliged to drink.  It was good for whatever ailed us or as an ounce of prevention.   After mother’s death father seemed to lose a lot of interest in life.  He did the best he could to keep his children together, but the home finally broke up and he went to live with his daughter Johanna Buckner, or Annie as she is now called. Then on March 27, 1900, the Buckner family, father and his two youngest children moved from Provo Bench to Driggs, Idaho.  The trip was made by team and wagon and took 16 and a half days.  They remained there for 2 years and 2 months and then returned to Provo, Utah,where on March 13, 1903 father died, at the age of 63 years, 6 months, and 9 days.   Henry and Ellen T.Gillard were the parents of 11 children. The oldest was never named as it was stillborn.  Ellen, Henry, John and Caroline Phoebe died while very young.  Those living are Elizabeth Tamsen G. Clinger, Esther Ann G. Skinner, Johanna G. Buckner, Edith G. Buckner,Samuel Trimnell Gillard, and Lillian Eliza G. Jones.   Written by Lillian Eliza Gillard Jones, 1948.

Ellen and Henry's youngest daughter, Lilian wrote a very graphic account of the time her parents and grandmother (Elizabeth age 65) spent on the pioneering trail and of their life as settlers in the New World. "They crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship 'Bell Wood' which sailed on April 29th 1865...There were 636 people aboard...the journey lasted about 31 days, arriving at New York on June 1st 1865. My parents (Ellen and Henry Gillard) and grandmother were obliged to remain in NY for about a year. Father was a shoemaker by trade and whist in NY worked at finishing the heels of ladies shoes and mother made buttonholes for ladies coats. Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Williamsburg, NY on March 19 1866 and about three months later, in June, they left to cross the plains to Utah. Mother walked all the way so that her aged mother who was not in the best of health could ride and father took his turn at guard duty. Records state that the company had a good trip across the plains, arrived in good time, reaching Salt Lake City on September 25th 1866. The company was met by church officials who quickly found them temporary accommodation. My parents and grandmother eventually settled in Ogden where they purchased 10 acres of ground and it was there that grandmother died on June 2 1872, aged 72. Elizabeth is buried in Ogden City Cemetery but unfortunately there is no record of where she is buried. Father worked as fireman on the Union Pacific Railroad between Ogden, Utah and Evanston, Wyoming for several years. 5 children were born while the family was at Ogden and two more later at Provo Canyon where father received his papers declaring him a citizen of the United States. They then bought a 20 acre farm and it was here that on September 25th 1884, exactly w18 years since their entry into Salt Lake Valley that I was born. Mother was considered good at nnursing and was called by neighbours to help. On one of these occasions she coaught a bad cold which resulted in her death on 23rd of June 1889, aged 47. After mother's death, father seemed to lose a lot of interst in life. He did his best to keep his children together but the family broke up and he went to live with his daughter Johanna Buckner. In March 1900 the family moved to Driggs, Idaho, travelling by wagon which took 16 days, but they returned to Provo where father died in March 1903, aged 63.