Sunday, July 31, 2011

HISTORY OF MARGARET CROSS BATE VOWLES


 This sketch arranged for great granddaughters-Eva Voorhees, and Elsie Chytrous by Nora Lund.
Margaret Cross was born l5 June l8l9 at Liverpool Lncshr, England.  She was the daughter of William Cross and Sarah Roaks Cross.  When she was about l8 years old (abt. l837) she married Peter Bate.  He was the son of Samuel Bate and Francis (Fanny) Sylvester Bate and was born in l8l4 in Bucknall, Staffordshire, England.

Margaret was indeed happy when she became the mother of a fine baby boy on 8 July l838 in Hanley.  They named him Samuel after his grandfather Bate.  Her first and only daughter, Emily was born on the 2l of Sept. l840 at Bucknall.  Her third child was Herbert, born 3 June l844, also at Bucknall, and the last child, William was born l2 May l846 at Hanley.
On the 2lst of July l849 deep sorrow came into the life of Margaret, her oldest son Samuel died on that date, just after reaching his eleventh birthday.  The thing that gave her great comfort was her new found belief of the 'Hereafter' and that she would be with her son in the next world, if she lived worthy.
You see, Margaret had been baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the l8th of Nov. l847.  The children too, were baptized--Emily Aug. l85l (or l848) Herbert--Sept. l852 and William in l854.  (Family members of today say that Peter was baptized a member too.)
At a very early age her sons Herbert and William went into the coal mines with their father.  Their wages were small, but Margaret was thrifty and saving.  They were all planning and working for the time when they could emigrate to Zion.
No one of this generation knows what happened, but Peter left the church.  Eventually, the paths of Margaret and Peter separated 37, Emily-l6, Herbert nearly l2, and William just turned l0 had saved enough money to pay their passage on the ship "Horizon" which left Liverpool, England on Sunday the 25th of May l856.
This was a great year for migration, in-fact some 3,758 souls crossed the ocean in 8 ships.  In l856 the Church Leaders in Salt Lake found a cheaper method of getting the converts across the plains.  This was by using a two-wheeled cart that the people could push or pull themselves. The European Saints really fell for this method of getting to Zion, so they clamored for passage on the ships. Also, since l852 the Church had been helping many with money from the Perpetual Emigration Fund.
According to the book "Handcarts to Zion" we note that 635 souls on the Horizon were P.E. passengers and 22l paying their own way. The fact that Margaret and her children remained in Penn. to work to get money to continue on to Utah, indicates that she was a very independent person, wanting to pay her way rather than accepting help from the Church.
Edward Martin, a returning Missionary, was put in charge of the 856 souls on the Horizon, a large three decker ship.  It was over crowded, the food was inadequate and poor quality.  Once a fire broke out on the ship which caused much excitement and damage.  Then finally, after a miserable voyage, the Horizon docked at Boston Harbor. 

The Bate family was without funds, and Margaret was ill.  They concluded to remain in the East until they could get enough money to continue to Utah later.  It is well that they did, because of adverse conditions, many of the Martin Handcart Company perished on the plains.  No telling what would have been the fate of the Bate family had they continued on.
Even though, very young, Henry, and William Bate were experienced coal miners, so naturally they sought employment in the vast coal mines of Penn..  The place they worked was called Minersville.
In a place called Pottsville, Emily Bate married William Hart in l857.
By l859 the family had saved enough money to take them by train to Florence Nebraska, the outfitting station to make preparations to go to Utah.  The Bate family was assigned to the Horton D. Haight Company, an experienced plainsman, who had come from Salt Lake City to help the Saints to complete their journey.  This company left Florence in June and arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake September 1, 1859.
We are not prepared to say why Margaret and her sons settled in American Fork, Utah County, unless, "Bro. Brigham sent 'em."  According to Jensen's Church Chronology page 39, we find that American Fork was settled in August 1850, along with Lehi and Pleasant Grove, Utah County.
So it was just a new struggling community when Margaret and her sons got there.  Her son-in-law and daughter, William and Emily Hart remained in Salt Lake City to make their home.
Margaret was privileged to have a fine man by the name of Samuel Vowles fall in love with her.  To the knowledge of the family members, he had no other wives.  The group sheet of Hazel Clegg shows that Margaret Bate and Samuel Vowles were married and sealed in the Endowment House 7 June 1862.  They had a happy and congenial life together.
Whether Margaret had any special musical talent, we do not know, but her son William did.  On page 391 the book Treasures of Pioneer History, Vol 2 we find the following: Quote "One of the first orchestras to be found in American fork was the "Herbert Orchestra.  John Herbert, 1st fiddle, William Bate played the 2nd fiddle, Jefferson Eastmond--banjo--Jeddie Eldridge--flute, Frank Herbert --dulcimer, Harry Lee and Dan Peet--did the calling."
Herbert Bate was a business man and looked for ways of bettering the recreational pursuits of his community, as well as making extra money for himself.  Again we quote from Vol. 2. "Herbert Bate built the 1st building to be used primarily for recreational purposes in American Fork.  The building was constructed of rock near the site of the present Presbyterian church.  Dancing was a feature of the Hall's entertainment."
When herbert and William sought companions to marry, they choose sisters.  Herbert married Elizabeth Jane Shelley, and William married Hannah Shelley.

As your writer looks into the face of Margaret Cross Bate Vowles, furnished by a great great grandson, LaMarr B. Hilton, I see a women of pleasant , sweet disposition, one that would endure a lot without complaint.  She wore her hair parted in the middle, bobbed in the back (gray in the picture). Her eyes were probably blue.  She looked to be quite short and on the pleasantly plump side.  Her 'off the face' bonnet or hat is black, with a plumb of flowers, tied under her chin with a wide black ribbon.  Her dress and fancy cape appear black.

Margaret was only 65 years old when she died in American Fork on 21 Aug 1884 and was buried in the American Fork Cemetery, lovingly laid there by her husband, children, and grand children.  She died as she had lived, faithful and true to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She had taught her children to stay close to the church and live by it's principles.  After the Salt Lake Temple was opened and sealing children to parents was carried on, the Bate children became concerned that their mother was not sealed to their own father, and they had this done.  However before this could be effective, Samuel Vowles had to release their mother from being bound to him.  Even though he had loved Margaret dearly and wanted her always, he was unselfish and kind enough to write a letter to the President of the Salt Lake Temple giving his permission to cancel his marriage to Margaret for eternity.

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