I have read parenting books from Richard and Linda Eyre since I was a young mother.
A few years ago, I started following their daughter, Shawni's blog and I read it most
every day.
It was cool to me when I found out that we are related through James Eyre and Ann Naylor.
I love how James was faithful, even when he was kicked out of his home by his landlord for joining the church
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JAMES EYRE AND ANN NAYLOR James Eyre was born 29 July 1795, Quarrington, Lincolnshire, England. Died September 1865 on Ham’s Fork along a pioneer trail which is near what is now known as Little America in Wyoming. Ann Naylor was born 12 November 1798, Heckington, Lincolnshire, England. Died May 1865 on board the ocean vessel “Bellwood” while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Edwin Eyre, Sr., The son of James and Ann Eyre, was born April 16 1845 at Great Dowsby, Lincolnshire, England. He was one of a family of 16. His father being a farmer and shepherd, it was natural, due to custom and conditions at that time, that Edwin became a tiller of the soil. He worked on his father’s farm and surrounding farms during his early teens and up to the time of his leaving England. He has always been classed as one of the most efficient farmers, wherever he has tilled. His mother, Ann Naylor Eyre, was a faithful, diligent farmer’s wife and a mother in the broadest sense of the term. Her life was spent doing daily the many duties of a farmer’s wife. Her high hope was to see her sons and daughters faithful and serviceable in the cause of Jesus The Christ. We shall find evidence, before reading many pages of the life of her son, that her ideal was realized as far as he was concerned. Her soul has rejoiced and praised the Lord for the noble work and unceasing fight of her son Edwin in the defense of truth. Educational conditions of England in the latter part of the 19th century were only favorable to the privileged classes. It was utterly out of the question for a boy of a farmer or herder to receive training in the institutions. The days spent by Edwin Eyre, Sr. , in the school room as a student while in England and America total 0 (none). Edwin Eyre with his father James Eyre, Mother Ann Naylor Eyre and brother Benjamin, set sail on the ship “Bellwood”, a sailing vessel, for Zion. Keep in mind that the ship was not equipped as a modern vessel is found with all the comforts of the age. But rather depending upon the winds and the forces of nature to drive it to the new and strange land. As to the food and bodily comforts extended by the ship, listen to his words. “The food was not the best, especially for old people. Salt pork, dried beans, poor water and bad tea and hard tack were all we had to eat. This was not enough, a few weeks after leaving shore they went through the saddest and most trying trial of the journey. Their mother, Ann Naylor Eyre, whose age and health could not endure the chow and toss of the sea, in the latter part of May died, and because of conditions was placed in the mighty deep. A few days after this sad event had passed, his father related to him the return of the recent departed mother and wife to him. His testimony was that she touched him on the arm and cheek. He knew it was his wife. It was a great comfort for he realized that she-though gone-was near and interested in them and their great journey. It also gave evidence to them of the life after death, and the close relationship of departed spirits to earthly beings. This lightened the burden and was a ray of sunshine in the sorrow of the journey. The time they spent aboard the vessel between England and America-the land of liberty and opportunity-the heaven to the European-was about six weeks. They landed at Castle Gardens, New York, June 1, 1865. A few days were spent in exchanging their English gold for the U.S. greenbacks. By train, James Eyre and the two sons Edwin and Benjamin traveled westward to the city of St. Joseph, Missouri. They then went by boat a few miles to a small place called Wyoming, the place where the ox teams and freight trains were made up for the hardest part of the great journey to Zion. It had been the practice of previous years for teams from Utah to meet the Saints at this place and take them to the Valley of the Mountains. For some unknown reason it was not done the season these Saints arrived. It was only a matter of a few weeks until Edwin and his brother Benjamin each obtained a chance to drive an ox team-from three to five yoke-in a freight train to Utah for $50.00 per month and free transportation for their father. The boys had never seen an ox team work before. We can imagine the experience that two young, green Englishmen, fresh from the old world would have, crossing the great desert with its unbridged streams, savage red-men and roaming animals. They started their desert journey from the city of Nebraska, which is in the southeastern part of Nebraska, just west of the Missouri line. It seems that some unpleasantness was had with some of the wagon masters of the freight train. They were vile, corrupt, ungodly men; hence one can easily picture the trials of these two clean, God-fearing young men. One young man had his head split open with revolver in the hands of one of these characters. An old man, about sixty years of age, received a broken nose. Benjamin the brother to Edwin was whipped by one of them with a loaded black whip. The company came upon the remains of a train or two that had been captured by the wild red-men of the desert, taking that which they wanted and leaving the remainder in ashes as warning to new coming trains. They circled their wagons upon two occasions and prepared for battle with the Indians, but each time the Lamanites disappeared, leaving the company unmolested. Considerable difficulty wss encountered by the company in crossing the Platte River. All day was required more than once in crossing said river. Many teams had to be hitched to one wagon to get through. The drivers would usually cross the streams with shoes off and pants rolled up. It often happened that the roll would not go high enough for the water was up and past their waist. Sore feet and legs was the result and added much to the many discomforts of the desert. These were just a few of the many trying experiences that these “Mormon” youths endured that we might enjoy that which we do. In the midst of the Indian attacks, sore legs, empty stomachs, Etc., the boys would sing song, which revealed the spirit: In the early part of September as the company was traveling up what was called Bitter Creek, a heavy snow storm hindered their progress. It was here that the father of the two boys took sick and in a few weeks died. During his sickness a special wagon was provided for him. The sons had to do their regular labor and when able to spare a few moments, they spent them in giving what comfort and aid they could to their dying father. James Eyre, their father, had great faith in the gospel. He expressed many times after becoming a member of the Church that he never knew what real joy was until he became a Latter-day Saint. One of his favorite songs that he loved to sing at the fireside was this: “A Mormon father loves to see his Mormon family all agree, With the prattling infant on his knee, cries, ‘daddy, I’m a Mormon.’ Ha, the merry, ho the merry, ha the merry Mormon.” In the year 1855 James Eyre and his wife and three sons were turned out of their home by a minister of the Church of England, because they belonged to the “Mormon” religion. The minister told them that they could live in one of his houses if they would give up this religion. The father replied in these words,” My religion is a pure and undefiled religion. It is the religion of the Lord, Jesus Christ and I would not give it up for your house or this town or all that my eyes ever beheld.” Such was the faith and character of James Eyre. Having prepared him as best they could, they buried him by the roadside on Hamsfork in Wyoming, not far from Ft. Bridger. Thus, the old Pioneer Road, from the hard-hearted east to the Valley of the Mountains, has been made sacred, having held the remains of many of the dear, faithful followers of the Christ. It is a mark of unique distinction for us to be the descendants of such noble characters. It is for us, the living, to prove worthy of such heritage. The 11th day of October, 1865, the company beheld before them the great city of Salt Lake. We are at a loss when we try to imagine the feelings of joy and happiness this picture brought to them. It had been their soul’s greatest desire. The pen and human tongue are always lame when attempting to express soul appreciation and thanksgiving. No one save those who have had the experience can enjoy and imagine the feeling experienced upon that occasion. They were met on this date by a group of the Saints and friends and relatives from Zion. They brought to the hungry new-comers the ripened fruits of the once desert that now began to blossom as the rose. Having lived upon hard bread, bacon and dried apples - the food of the desert traveler. We easily picture the scene upon receiving the palatable fruits. Edwin Eyre, especially at this time, spent a few long moments of stomach discomfort. We would say at home, “He simply made a pig of himself.” We can hardly disapprove any such act on such occasion as this one. John Eyre, a brother to the two lads who left England earlier, and was now in Utah, met them at this time. He came with high hopes of seeing his beloved parents. He never knew until meeting his brothers at this time about the death of his mother Ann Naylor Eyre and his father James Eyre.
- As a de
