Joseph Pollard: His Conversion and Journey West
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"Joseph Pollard son of James Pollard and Elizabeth
Threshire,
born at Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck Dorsetshire, Old England. November 23 - 1819. |
From the Latter-Day Saints Biographical Encyclopaedia, we
learn that after his apprenticeship, he "went to sea as a ship carpenter
and made several voyages to America and the West Indies. [ I wish we knew more
about these!!]
In 1844, he entered
the Queen's government service and worked at shipbuilding at the government
docks at Deptford, Country of Kent." He married Mary Ann Bailey from
Lifton, Devon in 1845.
Posted by Sheri
Rhodes, April 20, 2014, Rhodes History, blogspot.com:
Joseph Pollard: His Conversion and Journey West
"Joseph Pollard son of James Pollard and Elizabeth
Threshire,
born at Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck Dorsetshire, Old
England. November 23 - 1819.
The Village of Corfe Castle with the ancient Saxon castle behind the village on the hill, about 7 miles from Poole.
We have the history of Joseph Pollard from the account
Joseph wrote about his own life history in a book that is now held by Lisa
Paul, a great great granddaughter to Joseph. (I shared Joseph’s historical
account before and my son, Joe Backman has posted that history on Family Search/Family Tree.
Here's part two of a biographical sketch of Joseph Pollard's
life.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
"In the year of 1848 he (Joseph) heard
the Mormon Elders preach. He was
inspired by their sermons and recognized the truth. April 10, 1849 he first obeyed the
gospel. He was baptized by John
Griffith and felt unspeakable joy at this experience. He was very enthusiastic about his church
work, and was soon promoted (they used to say that in the 'olden days') from a
deacon to elder. He went out tracting
through the Bedford branch, and later was made President of this branch."
“November 17, 1854: Joseph Pollard of the town
of Deptford, London River in the County of Kent, Old England on the 17th day of
November 1854 left his employment as ship wright in the employment of Mr.
Thompson ship and boat builder, London River, with the intention of emigrating
with his wife and three children to the land of America.
“Names as follows: Mary Ann, his wife, Mary
Ann his eldest daughter, Louisa and Lydia.
Saturday 18th conveyed his luggage to the Usdin Railway station. Sunday morning left the town of Deptford and
spent remainder of Sabbath with his wife’s sister at White Chappel, London.
His account:
“Monday left London for Liverpool; arrived
at 3 o’clock p.m. Met at station by Mr.
John Follett and conveyed to his home where we spent the next day.
“Wednesday morning, went on board the Clara
---- 100 ton burden lying in the Wellington dock with his wife and children to
join four hundred souls of all countries, most of whom belong to the Church of
Latter Day Saints. Elder Henry E,
Phelps being appointed president with John Parsons and James Crosby as
councelors [sic]. Company organized
Thursday, dividing into four wards, with a president and two councelors [sic]
for each ward, then each ward divided into two with a president over each.
“Saturday, left the dock and anchored in
the River; Sunday was spent in preaching and prayer, taking of the Lords
supper; Monday the 27th in the afternoon was towed by a tug boat “Constitution”
out of the river, made sail that night blowing right fresh ahead. Tuesday breeze continues to fresh in ship
under double reef. Topsails toward
evening, blowing a heavy gale and still increasing during the night. The ship laboring much and much sickness
among the passengers. At daylight the
ship driving on the shore it was thought best by the captain and pilot to base
up and run the ship back to Liverpool.
“We arrived safely at Liverpool and cast
anchor about 2 o’clock. Gale still
continued day by day with two anchors to hold the ship. Passengers fast recovering. Saturday December 2nd visited by President
Franklin D. Richards.
Monday and Tuesday gale
continues. The President and council
met and appointed that the following day be set apart for fasting and prayer
that the wind may be more favorable, that we may again commence our voyage.
“Wednesday the 6th prayers continued on all
parts of the ship with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Thursday more moderate. The ship was again towed out of the river by
the tug “P----“. Wind was blowing fresh
and right ahead and a nasty sea.
Passengers again became sick no stopping among them my wife and
children. Wind continued Friday and
Saturday. One birth Saturday.
“Rounded Holy head about 3 p.m. Pilot left about noon Monday.
“Wednesday about 3 p.m. we were much
alarmed by being almost run into by a large ship. We all felt thankful for our narrow
escape.
“Sickness continued and several deaths
among the children from measles and inflammation.
“Christmas day was most beautiful, passengers
came on deck except those sick. Our
youngest child Lydia had measles. My
wife and Brothers Parsons and Crosby had the worst cases of sea sickness.
“The captain seems a very nice man and
deserves praise for his kindness to the passengers and the cleanliness of the
ship in general.
“December 30th sited land. Flying fish appeared. Several small islands in sight and now and
then a coasting schooner.
“January 9th reached entrance of the Great
Mississippi and shortly were taken in tow by steam tug “Ocean” crossing the bar
up to New Orleans where we arrived Thursday 11th at 12 noon.
“Were met by Brother Meyaw our agent who
advised us proceed to St. Louis.
“At Orleans my wife was so sick we were
obliged to carry her from the ship to the boat.
“Up the Mississippi calling at many towns
on the banks, going on shore for firewood.
Weather warm as our summers in England until up the river we came into
frost and snow. Landed at St. Louis
January 22nd met by Brother William Moorison and taken to his home, remained
with him about 12 days after which Brother John Follett rented apartment
together in Broadway.
“Weather very cold. River remained frozen over for two
months. Most of the passengers were
taken to the meeting house where many died, others were scattered. Many went to the coal fields.
“I and Brother Follett remained together
that winter.
“I will say we both with our families were
treated well by many not in the church, particularly by one John Mageo, an
Irish Catholic who kept a store.
“In the spring we got work on the steamboat
at our business as ship carpenters in the employ of Captain James Eadis and
Nelson, known as The Submarine Diving Company.
There were four of our ship writes emmigrated [sic] together and all
apprentices together in the same port and all now were employed by the same company.
“Brother Follett was taken sick in the fall
and died the next spring. I was also
taken sick in the summer but God spared my life.
“We were member of the St. Louis stake of
Zion. I made the acquaintance of
President Erastus Snow, Mily Andrus, James Hart, Eldredge, George A. Smith,
Parley P. Pratt and hundreds of other good saints. Samuel Gray and William Algood left for
Florence.
“On October 7th 1856 I was ordained a High
Priest under the hands of George A. Smith and Erastus Snow and made a member of
the High Council.
________________________________________________________________
More of the story is available on the
FamilySearch website in an extract from the Latter-Day Saint Biographical
Encyclopedia:
His house was always
open to the missionaries, and among the many “Valley” Elders who shared in his
hospitality was Apostle Parley P. Pratt, who stayed at his home about a month
immediately before going to Arkansas, where he was murdered.
In June, 1857, Elder
Pollard continued his journey Zion-ward, joined the emigration at Florence,
Nebraska, and crossed the plains in Capt. Jacob Hoffines' company. Several
stampedes occurred on the plains; in one of these 46 head of cattle were lost.
On one occasion the cattle stampeded when hitched to the wagons. During the
affair Elder Pollard and wife, together with a number of others, were severely
hurt, being run over by several wagons. Through administrations and prayer
Elder Pollard was healed in a most miraculous manner, and the following day was
able to get around again. The company arrived in the Valley Sept. 22, 1857,
having camped several times in close proximity to the baggage trains belonging
to Johnston's army.
Elder Pollard located
in the fifteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, where he resided till the time of his
death. He found employment as a carpenter for Pres. Brigham Young, continuing
in his employ until 1869, when he commenced work for the Utah Central railway
company. Shortly after his arrival in the Valley, he was chosen as a Ward
teacher, and in 1861 was appointed to act as second counselor to Bishop Andrew
Cunningham. He subsequently served as a second counselor to Bishop Robert T.
Burton, whom he finally succeeded as Bishop of the Ward June 27, 1877. In 1862
he yielded obedience to the principle of plural marriage by marrying Ruth
Allen, who died about twenty years afterwards. Bishop Pollard died in Salt Lake
City, Feb. 21, 1890. He was the father of seven children, and was universally known
as a humble, upright man and a faithful Latter-day Saint.
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