Nauvoo Pavilion and Family Names

 There is a pioneer memorial at the end of The Trail of Hope where Water and Parleys meet.  It is called Pioneer Memorial and Exodus to Greatness.  In this memorial is a list of all those who died during the journey.  I am not sure how accurate it is, or how complete.  It does not have death dates or places.  I know Osmond Broad Shaw and Elizabeth Wilding lost two children in the St Louis area of typhoid while they were traveling from England to Utah.  They are not included.  However many Ashtons are, more than passed away in my family.  Elizabeth passed away in Boston Harbor, Mother Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton died in childbirth at Cutler's Park. her new baby Sarah Anne Ashton died a couple weeks later.  Betsy Ashton died some place between Red Buttes and Martin's Cove.

Joseph and Brigham Young making plans for the journey west

The Family of William Ashton

William Ashton and his wife Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton must have had some second thoughts as the approached the handcart trek.  Sarah Ann was pregnant with their sixth child.  Their other children were all girls.  Betsy the oldest, about eleven, the second Esther had passed away as an infant, then followed Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth.
Tragedy would strike the family again, while in Boston harbor, little Elizabeth would succumb to the measles.  This only allowed the family a few hours to grieve before they had to continue their journey. Their next leg was by wagon to the train station to  take them North to Albany where they would cross the Hudson River on the journey to Iowa.
This family's tragedy was not over.  Shortly after the pioneers had regrouped at Florence Nebraska and were traveling close to Winter Quarters, Sarah Ann would go into labor, and deliver another baby girl.  However she would pass away in child birth.  William was left with four girls, one of them a baby.  Of course wet nurses from the company would help tend the baby, keeping her alive for two weeks.  Baby Sarah Ann would be buried along the plains.
When the company reached Fort Laramie, rations were being reduced to minimal amounts of food.  There would be a struggle to get over the mountains and into Salt Lake.  William Ashton left the company at Fort Laramie, leaving his three daughters to the care of others.   He was able to use his signing bonus to support his girls, but he left them on the plains to carry on alone.
The oldest daughter, Betsy, must have felt a great responsibility.  When the company reached the last crossing of the Platte, near present day Casper Wyoming, Betsy froze her feet.  She would succumb afterwards, someplace between Red Buttes and Martin's Cove.  Her death was not recorded.  The two children Sarah, seven and Mary five were cared for by others, and they actually survived and made it to Salt Lake.  Mary is my great great grandmother.  She would die in child birth some years later, giving birth to her only son, William Haston Wardle.  However hers is a great posterity, as that son was the father of eleven.
For more details and a view of a picture entitled orphans depicting Mary and Sarah after Betsy's death.
http://www.tellmystorytoo.com/fine-arts/julie-rogers/orphans

Your Heart Will Burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4D4eoTd4JU&list=PLzilNOmROiB59mRFn0Ci73Vs87ilxWHkm
This link leads to a list with all of "Your Heart Will Burn" which is the musical I wrote about the Martin Handcart Company through the eyes of Isaac and the Ashtons.  We produced it in our ward.  It was pretty amazing that we were able to pull it off.  Aunt Carol, Sheri's aunt who taught drama at Ohlone College said it was good but under rehearsed.  That is the problem with ward productions.  It is hard to get things to where they should be.  Another problem was I was the director, and I don't think I did a very good job of directing.  We dealt with tonsilitis,  prominent cast member moving, and then moving back.  It was a struggle.  We also had some scheduling issues, fitting into everyone's schedule.  However many organizations helped, Young Men's and Women's did set.  I signed many merrit badges for those who wanted to finish Theater.  However we did have a good time.

Your Heart Will Burn: Scene by Scene

Act 1 Scene 1 and overture: Coalville; Isaac Wardle "When Ye Shall Receive These Things" "Live Goes On"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YzTCQI1CbU
Act 1 Scene 2: Coalville; Isaac Wardle  "Your Heat Will Burn"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4D4eoTd4JU
Act 1 Scene 3: Fairfield; The Ashtons "London Bridge" "Your Heart Will Burn"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACC0Kn3-d5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t7xQAaYvjw
Act 1 Scene 4:  Letters; William Severn and Mary Astle "When I get his letters"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X35ABIksPjY
Act 1 Scene 5: Coalville; Isaac Wardle "I love you Goodbye"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhLWUOlKTN0
Act 1 Scene 6: Deck of the Horizon "Friends for Life" "Farewell to thee England""Oh Zion" "When I get his letters" reprise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NuVa8yqnvc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd-LI2M7Zmc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLbn0tKV3ss
Act 1 Scene 7: Deck of Horizon; "wedding march"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFxlZMeY_M0
Act 1 Scene 8: Deck of Horizon; death of Elizabeth Ashton, "The Journey is Long"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbx9iYLL4SU
Act 2 Scene 1: Iowa City; Martin Handcart Company, "Working" "Going Through the Eye of the Needle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArtP_YIGanQ
Act 2 Scene 2: On the trail in Iowa; Langley gets sick, "TheHandcart Song" birth of baby Sarah Ann Ashton "Life goes on" Reprise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pKzTkXYmHY
Act 2 Scene 3: Florence, Nebraska; "Cheer Saints Cheer" "Campfire Dance" Langley's blessing, death of Sarah Ann Ashton, "I Love You, Goodbye" Campfire Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgpwcyDV8rE
Act 2 Scene 4: Plains in Nebraska, site of A.W. Babbit wagon gravesite, death of Sarah Ann Ashton (not shown)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Dwurjv_w8
Act 2 Scene 5: Fort Laramie, William Ashton joins the infantry, "Live Goes ON" reprise "confrontation"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnQLGH4Ioc
Act 2 Scene 6: Salt Lake City, Brigham Young starts the rescue"Get Them Here"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py60LvJaBbo
Act 2 Scene 7: Last Crossing of the Platte and its aftermath, Betsy freezes her feet "Oh Zion When I Think of Ye"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIewLpTYe1g
Act 2 Scene 8: Red Buttes, rescuers arrive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk3CHdqbBow
Act 2 Scene 9: At the Sweetwater, Rescuers carry many over the water "Get them Here" reprise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrJZFOrqW18
Act 2 Scene 10: Martin's Cove, Isaac gathers wood, "Come Come Ye Saints" Betsy passes away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UatDF_CLXVg
Act 2 Scene 11: Martin's Cove; "See Them for Real," Peter McBride and the tent,"Snug as a Bug" leaving the cove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQfcC05RQg0
Act 2 Scene 12: Cedar City many year later; Francis Webster, "We Became Acquainted with God"
http://billywardlegen.blogspot.com/2013/01/your-heart-will-burn-act-2-scene-12.html
Curtain Call
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwxd7nqdWY
Many Thanks to Susan McGhie for making the movie, Joe Eliason and Elaine Morris for the music.

Your Heart Will Burn: Act Two Scene Two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pKzTkXYmHY&feature=plcp

This scene shows the handcart company moving across Iowa.  The children sing "The Handcart Song."  The pioneers actually sang this song along the journey.  Many documented that the sang it the first day as the left Iowa City.  This shows Langley getting sick and being compelled to ride in the handcart.  Langley actually became sick before they arrived at Florence, Nebraska.  It also shows the child birth of Sarah Ann Ashton, the second daughter born to William and Sarah Ashton with this name.  Sarah Anne was actually born later, a day after they were leaving Florence.  This is documented by Patience Loader, whose sister had a baby the same day.  This would have been at Cutler's Park.

Your Heart Will Burn: Act 1 Scene 8

This scene is where Elizabeth Ashton passes away.  I have discovered since we did the musical that her death was different, actually on board ship but after they had docked at Constitution Wharf, Boston. For more detail please see this previous post:
http://billywardlegen.blogspot.com/2010/10/deaths-of-elizabeth-betsey-baby-sarah.html
I like the funeral scene, the spirit dancing.  I believe spirits go on after death and try to portray this in this scene and other death scenes in the musical.  There is another historical error in this scene with the playing of Taps.  Taps was not written for another five years or more as it was written by General Dan Butterfield during the Civil War.  This is the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbx9iYLL4SU&feature=plcp

Your Heart Will Burn Act 1 scene 3

This is a continuation of the reenactment which we performed in the Stevens Creek Ward, mostly among the youth.  We tell the story of the Ashtons and Isaac Wardle and the company in general.
Scene 3 introduces us to the Ashtons, and their decision to travel by handcart, even with their mother, Sarah Anne Ashton being pregnant.  To William and Sarah were born six daughters.  I this seen we see Betsy, 11, Sarah 7, Mary Ann 5 and Elizabeth 3.   A daughter between Betsy and Sarah previously passed away.  Of course the actors who were cast are older than these ages.  There is no record of how the Ashtons heard of the handcart plan.  Here I have Edward Martin and William Severn bringing the news.  William Severn and Mary Astle were both from Nottingham and they actually marry on the ship Horizon.  Details of their relationship are historical fiction.  London Bridge and the song are both period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACC0Kn3-d5s&feature=plcp
 I am not sure why this didn't come out as one movie, but here is the rest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t7xQAaYvjw&feature=my_watch_later_videos&list=WL1B1D4D57B99DF7E2

Martin Handcart Company: The Deaths of Elizabeth, Betsy, Baby Sarah and Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton; 1856 Martin Handcart Company

The Book, "Our Pioneer Heritage" published by Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in 1973 and compiled by Kate Carter, reports on the death of Betsey.  It includes a sentence about the death of Elizabeth Ashton.  "While at sea the youngest sister, Elizabeth Ann died and was buried near Cuba."  (volume 16 p.445) This is in conflict with the historical journal made of the voyage, which was kept by John Jaques, and published in 1978 as part of "Life History and Writings of John Jaques" put together by his granddaughter Stella Jaques Bell and published by Ricks College Press.  It reports that the Horizon traveled the northern route, close to Nova Scotia, not Cuba.  It records the death of Elizabeth in this fashion.  "Wed. 2: [July] Up at 4.  Remaining luggage taken to the R.R. depot b 9 a.m.  Left Boston for Albany about 11 1/2.  Child died before we left the ship, Brother Ashton's, about nine years old, about 9 a.m." (Bell, p 105) Again we know that this record is not completely accurate.  Elizabeth was listed as two years old on the ship roster.  However the circumstances of this loss are particularly devastating.  The family lost its youngest member, and did not have time or circumstance to provide a proper burial, or to adequately say goodbye.  On the journey west, often you left loved ones behind with no hope of seeing their grave site again.  The family only had a couple of hours after Elizabeth's death, to be at the train station.
These records both record the deaths of Betsy's mother, and new born baby sister.  "She lost her mother by death in child-birth near Florence, Nebraska.  The infant also died and was buried with his mother."  (DUP p 445)  According to the Bell history, Sarah Barlow Ashton did passed away at Cutler's Park, one day past Florence Nebraska shortly after child-birth.  However the baby lived for two weeks, before also passing away.  John Jaques apparently does not document this passing.  His own wife was also having a baby at this time.  Bell inserts the writings of Patience Rosza, John Jaques' sister-in-law who mentions the passing of Sarah Ashton.  "My sister got through her confinement quite well, but another poor Sister Ashton died there that night as soon as her child was born, leaving the new born babe and three children and her husband." (Bell p 129)  This was August 26.
John Jaques does record in the official history the death of the new born baby Sarah Ann Ashton. "Thurs. [September] 11: Started in the morning and traveled about 9 miles on a dry creek, though so dry as not to be running.  Here were the graves of two men and child, belonging to Col. A.W. Babbitt's wagons, killed on August 25th b the Cheyenne Indians.... Here we buried the infant of the late Sister Ashton who died of childbirth at Cutler's Park the night of August 26th."  (Bell p 135)  The summary of the deaths indicates the baby was "buried by Wilson baby and two teamsters of Colonel Babbitt, 9 miles west of Prairie Creek.
The DUP record says this about William Ashton dropping out of the company.  "In a few days her father became discouraged and left Betsey, her sisters, Sarah and Mary with the company, and returned to New York, later to England." (DUP p 445)
The record of John Jaques does not document William Ashton leaving the company.  However through the research of Donna Olsen, finding the enlistment records of William Ashton, we know he enlisted at Fort Laramie and served five years in the infantry.
The threee girls were left in the care of others of the handcart company.  "The company was good to these three little girls.  Betse with her sisters walked day after day.  They suffered greatly from food shortage and lack of warm clothes as the had planned to reach Utah before the cold and storms came in the fall." (DUP p 445)
The diary of John Jaques does not record anything after the last crossing of the Platte, and therefore does not document Betsey's death.  The DUP record documents it in this manner.  "Betsey was never to see Utah as she became ill from lack of food and while the company was camped by the North Platte River on the plains of Wyoming, she froze to death."  (DUP p 445) The handcart company was camped at Red Buttes, which was the last camp before leaving the North Platte River for over a week.  It was there that the rescuers found them, and got them moving again, towards wagons waiting at Devil's Gate.

Mary Ashton Wardle

Sarah Ashton Beckstead on left

Betsey's sisters Sarah and Mary survived the Journey.  Mary is my great-great grandmother.

Book Review: Sweetwater Rescue, The Willie and Martin Handcart Story

This book is a companion to the PBS movie by the same name. It was written by Heidi Swinton and Lee Groberg, Covenant Press, Utah, 2006.

There are some things I like about this movie, and some things I don't. It really doesn't work as a help to doing research of the trip, other than to give a general idea. Its sources a very confusing, and at times the story presented is confusing. This is because in addition to the narrative it offers sidebars. The sidebars don't always match what is going on tin the history, and consequently things are out of order, or talked about more than once.

The thing I like about the book is the artwork. There is lots of beautiful art. I am especially taken with the back cover. This is an artwork entitled orphans by Julie Rogers. This is suppose to be a depiction of my great great grandmother Mary Ashton and her older sister Sarah Ashton. I am not posting the artwork here because I am sure it is copyrighted. However by going to this link you can see the painting.You can also read the story of the Ashtons at this link. http://www.tellmystorytoo.com/art_julierogers.php



I think my favorite quote from the book has to do with the motivation behind the handcart pioneers. "My parents, relatives, and friends did all in their power to keep me from coming to America. But I had the spirit of gathering and the Lord opened my way... with the3 handcart company.

This book does give a very good overview of the handcarts, with specific stories, however it often only touches the surface of these stories. It is very good for background information. I would recommend this book, if nothing else for a coffee table book because of the great art.

Your Heart Will Burn

Several Years ago, when I first began to study the handcart story, I took what I knew and wrote a musical about the Martin Handcart Company. I included the story of William Ashton, who lost his wife and three children on the trail. He was not there when his oldest daughter passed away, as he left the company in Laramie and joined the military. He fulfilled his five year commitment, but instead of going to Utah to see if any of his children survived, he returned to England, and only came to Utah many years later. I also tell the story of Isaac Wardle, who was a young man upon the trek. It talks about his conversion, using the version of my great aunt Mary Rupp who said he was the first of the family to be baptized. This doesn't appear to be true, but he was the first to travel to Utah. Isaac is known for having chopped down several trees in Martin's Cove, which helped establish the exact location. I also included other characters, and combined some characters for the sake of casting. The story included John Jacques, Edward Martin, Brigham Young, Franklin Richards, Elizabeth Jackson and Peter McBride. It also included several songs, "Your Heart Will Burn" is the conversion story, "See Them for Real" is the Martin's Cove song, "Get Them Here" is Brigham Young recruiting the rescuers. Of course there are traditional songs, "The Handcart Song" and "Come, come Ye Saints." Probably the best song is an instrumental Mark wrote, "The Campfire Song." There are actually two versions of the musical, the original was a two act musical. Admittedly this version has some historical errors. I have Langley walking, which was actually Tamar Loader, Elizabeth Ashton dying at sea rather than in Boston Harbor as is accurate (I discovered this after the musical,) and I had the trumpeter play "Taps" which was not written until the Civil War. I am sure there are more mistakes. I also add a love interest which was fictional, although the parties did in fact marry on board the Horizon. We performed this as a ward.  I wrote a shorter readers theater version which we performed for the 150 year anniversary of the handcarts. This version is more historically accurate. It includes quotes from many different handcart pioneers. Much of the music is the same, but not as much of it. At any rate, if anyone wants to read these I could copy and mail for the approximate cost of shipping and copying. I would guess this would be $20 for either the musical or the readers theater. If you want both, shipping would be less so that would probably come out as $30. If you want without the music the cost would be $5 less as there would be less copying. The lyrics are in the script. You can contact me at my email billywardle@sbcglobal.net Please put handcart in the subject so I can see what it is very quickly and respond quickly.