Mary Ann Lacey Green Barnett by Irene T. Crowther

Sketches From The Life Of
MARY ANN LACEY GREEN BARNETT

My Great Grandmother
by Irene T. Crowther

Small, slender, a slight stoop to her shoulders, she was ninety years of age, a little white lacy cap on her head, skirts and sleeves long, a white collar around her neck and a brooch pinned beneath her chin, a long white apron with lace on the bottom, insertion and tucks adorning near the bottom, tied around her waist; or when she was working a colored calico apron replaced the white one. I remember clear piercing eyes, but I cannot recall hearing her speak but of course she did very well.

Whenever I saw her she was busy making quilt blocks by hand, (my parents had a quilt she made when she was near ninety) mending clothes and household linens for Grandma Thurgood, or Aunt Edith, Grandma Thurgood's daughter, helping about the house or preparing meals.


She was living with Grandma Thurgood at that time as was Grandma Thurgood's daughter Edith, her husband, Leroy Midgley, and their small children. Grandma Thurgood was a widow and operated an "Ice Cream Parlor." The ice cream was made in a hand-turned freezer and the taffy was pulled by hand; these things Uncle Roy helped to do. I loved to look at the large trays of shiny pastel colored taffy that were for sale in the glass show case.

Another memory . . . My mother one evening relating to my father the conversation she had had with Grandma Barnett that day: Grandma Barnett felt quite bad that she had no namesake, no child, no grandchild or great-grand child named after her. My mother, expecting her fifth child, had promised her that when her child was blessed it should be given her maiden name "Lacey", and true to her promise, their baby, a son, born 10 August 1909, was named Glen Lacey Thurgood, bringing tears of joy to Grandma's eyes and fulfilling one of her last wishes.

Mary Ann Lacey was born 1 February 1822 at Stoke Prior, Worchestershire, England, the seventh child of eleven born to Joseph Lacey and Nancy Reeves. The children were: her eldest brother, John, born 22 April 1808; a sister, Sarah, born 6 November 1809; brothers, Thomas, born 21 March 1812 and William, born 21 March 1814; Sisters, Eliza, born 24 July 1816; Ann, born 7 March 1819 and Mary Ann, born 1 February 1822; brothers, Solomon, christened 26 December 1824; another brother, Isaiah, born 30 March 1827; sisters, Sarah, christened 30 August 1828 and Rosetta, born 31 December 1830. The first child was born in Tardebigg, the next four in Stoke Heath and the last five in Stoke Prior.

We have no records of her life as a child but, because the last five children of her parents were born in Stoke Prior, Worchestershire Eng., and at the age of twenty she married Henry Green on 10 April 1842 at Stourbridge, Halesowen, Worchestershire, the same shire in which she was born, we think that she spent her
childhood and young womanhood in or near Stoke Prior.

After her marriage to Henry Green they probably moved to Oldbury, Meregreen, Worchester, the same shire or, as we say, county, because the birth of three of their children are recorded there: Sarah Ann, born 25 January 1843; Emily Green, born 8 October 1845 and Joseph Green in 1847. One son, Mark, was born 14 September 1850 in Stockie near Pan Grove, England.

Henry Green died 14 April 1849 or 1850 in Oldbury, Halesowen, Worchestershire, England, leaving Mary Ann with four children to provide a home for. On 10 August 1851 in St. Johns Church, Parish of Stoke Prior, Worchestershire, England in the presence of Thomas and Ann Bennett, with H. Oldham as Vicar, she married James Barnett, a widower whose wife, Elizabeth Mosely or Mosley, had died 21 October 1850 at the age of thirty. To them had been born six children, two who died very young and one at the age of twenty-five years. Records show that after James came to America he later had Elizabeth Mosley and the three deceased children sealed to him on 29 September 1887.'

James Barnett was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842 and records show that he was rebaptized 25 May 1857. Mary Ann was baptized a few days later, 2 June 1857. Her daughter, Sarah Ann Green, was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 30 June 1857 by James Barnett, her step-father, and confirmed the same day by James Barnett. She emigrated to America 27 April 1866 (film #13656 pt. 28). Mary Ann's second daughter, Emily Green, was baptized 18 October 1861 in Stoke Prior, Worchestershire, England by William Thurgood and confirmed the same day by Charles R. Jones. She emigrated 6 April 1868 (Film # 13656 pt. 28). These two girls were sealed to their
mother and James Barnett 29 September 1887. The two sons, Joseph and Mark, emigrated to America but at the time of my receiving the above information (1961) from Zilnorah D. Barnett,Kaysville, Utah, they had not been sealed to anyone at their own request. They married and lived in the Kaysville and Layton, Davis County, Utah area. James and Mary Ann raised a family of five making a family of thirteen all told. The five children born to them are Thomas born 25 May 1853, Wan bury, Worchestershire, England, Lucy 14 March 1856, John 20 October 1858, Eliza born 15 March 1861, these three being born at Dodder Hill, Worchestershire, England and Ephraim born 27 July 1863 at Stoke Prior, Worchestershire, England.

James joined the Mormon Church when a young man and, according to a family story, was President of the Branch at Stoke Prior about fifteen years. Mary Ann worked hard along with her husband to get money together to get their family to America. He and son John and stepdaughter Sarah Ann emigrated to Utah in advance of his family in 1866. They were six weeks on the water and three months crossing the plains with ox team. They settled in Wanship, Summit County, Utah. His family followed at three different times, the last coming in 1872.

EMIGRATION RECORDS IN THE GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY S.L.C. UTAH film #6123 call No. F-Utah 26 part 3 records the following:

James Barnett 50
John Barnett 7
Laborer, Sailed from England 30 April 1866 on the ship 'John Bright' Dawson Master, Brigham Young Agent

The Card Index Files in the Presiding Bishops Office in Salt Lake City records the same information.

Emily Barnett 22
Mark Barnett 17
Ephraim Barnett 4
Sailed from England 4 June 1868 on the ship 'John Bright',720 passengers.

The Card Index Files in the Presiding Bishops Office in Salt Lake City, Utah records the same.
Mary A. Barnett 49
Eliza Barnett 7 12 July 1871

Sailed from Englandon the ship 'Colorado',
Quote from Jessie B. Wight, a granddaughter: "with 146 saints under the direction of Elder Hamilton G. Pack and arrived in New York 25 July 1871. Continuing the journey by rail the company arrived at. Ogden, Utah 4 August 1871."

Also, the following was taken from the card files in the Presiding Bishops Office in Salt Lake City, Utah:

Thomas Barnett .... 1872 sailed on the ship 'Wisconsin'.
Lucy Barnett .... 1872 sailed on the ship 'Wisconsin'.

Lucy would then have been 16 and Thomas 19 years of age and were the last to come to America.

When James came to America he was sent to Wanship, Summit County, Utah to help settle the place. It was there that Mary Ann went when she arrived. Apparently neither James or Mary Ann could read or write at the time of their marriage as they both marked their marriage certificate with an X, which was very common and general among the working people of England during this period of time. I searched the old Wanship records but found no mention of them there but the records are few and poor.

On the 24th of June 1872, James Barnett and Mary Ann Lacey Green went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, where they received their endowments and were sealed by Joseph F. Smith. James also was sealed to his first wife. (sealing of Parents to Children [F Utah L3bA] 29 September 1887.)

Also the following information from the same source:

Sealed to parents James Barnett b - 1814 Eckington, Wares., Eng. the father and Mary Ann Lacey Barnett born 1 Feb. 1822, Stoke Pryer(sic), Worcs., Eng. the mother:

Thomas Barnett: born 25 May 1852 Ambury(sic), Worcs., Eng. d. 12 Dec. 1881
Lucy Barnett: born 14 March 1856 Dotterell(sic), Worcs., Eng.

John Barnett: born 20 Oct. 1858 Stoke Prior, Eng.
Eliza Barnett: Born 15 Mar. 1861 Dotterell(sic), Worcs., Eng.
Ephraim Barnett: born 27 July 1863 Stoke Prior, Worcs., Eng.

Also sealed to above parents same date.

Sarah Ann Green Summers: born 25 Jan. 1843 Olburg, Wore., Eng.
Emily Green Blake: born 8 Oct. 1845 Olburg, Wore. Eng.


Quoting Grandma Lucy Thurgood: "In 1875 he moved to Bountiful and the same year moved to the Sandridge in Davis County (Kaysville) where he lived."

Quoting from East of Antelope Island, a book written by the Daughters of the Pioneers of pioneer places and people of Davis County, Utah, (page 109).
 "Originally, Kaysville Ward embraced the district now
comprising-South Hooper (or West Point), Clearfield, Syracuse, Clinton, Layton and West Layton Wards. In 1877 the South Hooper Ward was organized and later Syracuse and Layton Wards were separated."

James, Mary Ann and their family moved to the "Sandridge" in 1875. In the chapter devoted to West Layton appear the following (page 202):
"Among those who purchased or homesteaded land were George V. Stevenson, William Bone, Robert M. Burton, Orson Layton, Will I. Layton, JAMES BARNETT, Anson Call, James Ware, Philo Dibble, Andrew Egbert ... Henry Roberts."

Others were listed verifying Jessie B. Wight when she wrote:
"(In) later years James Barnett homesteaded 160 acres in what is now known as Layton, Davis County, Utah. While living here, Mary Ann was a midwife and delivered a great many babies."

On page 204 of East of Antelope Island:
"One of the most useful and honored members of the West Layton Ward was Mrs. James Barnett who served as midwife. Herbs were used as medicine, such as arnica, wild sage, yarrow, horehound, and catnip. These along with Indian root were the most essential."

Another entry from page 204:
"As every settlement is settled, death takes it's toll. Thomas Barnett was killed while digging a surface well on the Barnett homestead when the moist sand caved in upon him. Other early funerals were Mrs. John W. Gailey, and the children of Scholfield Kershaw. The bodies were prepared for burial by the neighbors and were conveyed to the cemetery by horse drawn vehicles."

Thomas, the eldest son of James and Mary Ann Lacey Barnett, was the one who came to America with Lucy, my grandmother.

Perhaps to further quote from the same page might serve to give us an idea of the conditions under which our great-grandparents lived, toiled and relaxed helping make the barren wastelands of the 1800's blossom and giving to us a heritage of beauty and plenty.

"Diverting from the serious and sadder side of life, they found much pleasure in celebrating on holidays at the nearby Syracuse Grove. There was amusement for all, dancing, salt water bathing, picnic lunches, horse pulling, horse racing, knock the dollies down and soda pop. To the south was the Webster Grove which
was also enjoyed. ... West Layton Ward was organized February 22, 1895 with thirty three families residing therein. David E. Layton, the first Bishop, held the position for thirty years. His first counselor was George V. Stevenson and Elija Ellison was second counselor. ... The first meeting house was built in 1897 on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Layton. It consisted of a brick building constructed under leadership of
Bishop David E. Layton. Prior to building the meeting house, church was held in the school house."

To again quote Jessie B. Wight:

"She had a daughter Lucy, [Thurgood] living in Bountiful.Grandma Barnett loved to go to Lucy's home. Grandma Barnett was a hard working, industrious, loving, kind woman, a true Latter-day Saint, a good wife and mother. We as children can remember when she used to come to see us, my mother wouldn't let us
smaller children go into her room for fear of disturbing her. This didn't please Grandma as she was very fond of small children.

I went with my father and mother (when I was 11 years old) to Bountiful, Utah where they were called when Grandma was seriously ill. I remember my mother saying, "Grandma, I see you still have your smile." She said she hoped to meet her mother with that smile."

Mary Ann Lacey Barnett's son, John, deserted his family when the children were small and was heard from intermittently for many years. His oldest son went to work and he and his mother built a brick home in Kaysville and kept the family together and provided for them until they were all married. One of Mary Ann's greatest wishes was to see her son again and to know of his whereabouts. The day before she died he returned and came to see his mother but it was doubted if she ever recognized him as she had lapsed into unconsciousness.

In June of 1913, Mary Ann had expressed the desire to go to Ogden to visit a sister. Uncle Leroy Midgley took her to the Bamberger train which ran between Ogden and Salt Lake City, that she might have her desire. She only stayed a few days and returned and walked from the Bamberger station to where she lived with Grandma Thurgood, a distance of three or four blocks, perhaps more. Uncle Roy met her at the gate and asked why she had not let him know she was coming and they would have come for her. She told him she had had all in life she wanted and had come home to die. Within a very few days she had gone. She was buried in the robes of the Priesthood and as she lay in her casket in Grandma Thurgood's parlor for viewing it
was my first view of these sacred robes and I was curious, they were different to me and I always remembered.

Her funeral services were held across the street in the white church where I went to church meetings for many years and still is a very special sacred building to me, holding many special memories.

After the services she was taken in a horse drawn hearse to Kaysville for interment beside her husband. I pointedly remember my sister Edna, cousin Edith Midgley and myself being flower girls, as we were all her great granddaughters. I think perhaps the daughter of Uncle James and George were also flower girls. The flowers were mostly flowers picked from the flower gardens of people in the ward and arranged into sprays and bouquets. There were no florists as we have them today.

I was eleven years old then, Edna was seven. My father drove the horses attached to the covered buggy with its three or four seats stretched across widthwise and a canvas top overhead. Grandma Thurgood also rode with us, I am sure to look after our welfare. The road was not hard surfaced as it is today, but dirt and deep sand and dusty. Somewhere about Centerville or Farmington the drivers of all the vehicles stopped at a watering trough at the side of the road to water the horses. The horses hitched to the hearse became balky and gave concern for fear they would tip the hearse over and spill great grandma but the driver got them under control and all went well. Grandma Thurgood had prepared a box of sandwiches and we were all fed. As they were being prepared Cousin Edith said, "pass the Sacrament" for which she received a sharp
rebuke from Grandma Thurgood.

After the services we were all taken to the home of John Barnett and his wife, Ellen Mary Bone Barnett, in Kaysville and were fed. I remember starting home again but we were only children. The day and the trip were long so we must have fallen asleep as I cannot recall the trip home or of arriving there.

Mary Ann Lacey Green Barnett passed away on the 18th of June 1913 and her funeral services were held on the 22nd of June. She was buried on the south side of her husband in the Kaysville Cemetery, Lot 4, Block 25, Plat B. At the present time she has a small handmade cement block to mark her grave and James, her husband, lies in an unmarked grave. I have worked some on this and hope to soon accomplish the task of placing a marker at their graves.

Note. Thanks to the urging of Sister Crowther some of the descendants of Mary Ann Lacey
purchased a new marker for her and her husband James. It was placed in September 1976.