William and Hannah Hulme by Ellen Norris Yates

EXCERPTS FROM THE LIFE OF HANNAH HULME
AND
HER FATHER WILLIAM HULME
by Ellen Norris Yates

To begin the life of Hannah Hulme, we must first learn about her parents: William Hulme and Mary Winterbottom. William and Mary lived in the town of Duckinfield, Cheshire County, England.
Duckinfield was an industrial center located on the banks of the River Tame. Because there was a lot of coal in this district, Duckinfield was a thriving town of cotton factories, engineering and boiler works, and iron foundries in William’s day. Duckinfield was deeply involved in the industrial revolution. This revolution gave birth to new ideas and these led many people to look for something different than the Church of England. Hence, Duckinfield was also at the center of non_conformity in religion; in fact, it was the home of one of England’s first non_conformist churches.
William and Mary were members of the Moravian Church (United Brethren). The Moravian Church was founded in 1457 in Czechoslovakia and spread to Northern England and Duckinfield in 1738. The Moravians had their own boy’s school and “Little Girl’s School”. The Church schools usually ran their classes on Sundays and after work. Education was a rarity in England at this time; and as William was an educated man, it is quite likely that he and his children were educated at the Moravian schools.
Because of religious reform in England, many laws were written which compelled the people to affiliate with the Church of England in some events. One such law was the Marriage Act passed by Parliament in 1753; all marriages were to take place in the nearest Church of England Parish Church.
Therefore, William and Mary traveled to Stockport, the closest parish, to have their banns read. They had their marriage performed in Stockport’s beautiful St. Mary’s Chapel on 18 Jun 1832. Ten months later they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Alice was born 21 April 1833. Hannah followed a little over a year later, being born 24 November 1834. I’m sure both little ones kept their parents very busy. At the time of Alice and Hannah’s births, William was working as a cotton spinner, a not uncommon occupation in Duckinfield. During this time, factory working conditions were bad and wages were very low. Riots and strikes by the workers were the order of the day.
In my study of Williams’ life, I have come to conclude that William was a man who constantly strived to improve himself in education, occupation, and religion. By the time his third daughter, Ellen was born (25 March 1837) William was working as a warehouseman in a factory; later he was to become a bookkeeper and finally a professor of music.
Tragedy struck the home of William and Mary on 13 February 1838 when little nine month old Ellen was taken back to her Heavenly Father. She was buried in the Moravian Church Cemetery. Trial and tragedy would be companion to William and his two remaining daughters in the years to come. At 10 o’clock in the morning on 27 November 1840, William’s wife, Mary Winterbottom Hulme, died of consumption. I’m sure William was very heartbroken at the loss of his sweet wife and help mate. Life would also be very hard for Alice age 7 and Hannah age 5 without their mother.
Somewhere between February 1838 and September 1841 William met up with the Mormon Missionaries. Being one who was looking for truth and a better way of life, he recognized the true religion and grasped hold of it. We have no record of his baptism as records in the early history of the British Mission were very sparse. It wasn’t until 1847 that any uniform attempt was made to keep a record book of ordinances in each branch or conference (stake). The earliest record I found of William being in the church was 7 September 1841. On this date he received his Patriarchal Blessing in Duckinfield, from Patriarch John Albiston.
Having a need for a companion, plus a mother for his girls; William (a Mormon this time) again took a wife in the Stockport’s St. Mary’s Chapel. At this time he was a bookkeeper and he and his daughters were living on Oxford Road in Duckinfield. In Alice he found a companion in the Mormon faith and an able mother for his daughters. But, unfortunately, this marriage, too, was to be short lived. Alice Jackson Hulme passed away, 18 May 1844 of an ulcerated leg.

Apparently William had leadership abilities. This, combined with his education, helped him rise in church callings in his part of England. On 31 May 1846, William was called as second counselor to David C. Kimball in the Manchester Conference or Stake. On July 19, 1846 he was called to be the clerk of the Manchester Conference. He held these positions until he emigrated to America. As one of the counselors, he was given the job to oversee the branches of Newton Moor, Duckinfield, Ashton, and Mottram. As the clerk of the conference, his job was to keep the minutes of the quarterly conferences and submit them to be published in the Millennial Star, the LDS publication of the British Mission.

During this time the spirit of gathering was poured out upon the European Saints, and everyone seemed to be leaving for Zion. William served as counselor and clerk to several conference presidents, each one being released in order to emigrate to America. I’m sure William was very anxious to go to Zion also; he made the final decision to emigrate in 1849. There was a list of instructions for the emigrating saints published in the Millennial Star. The following is a list of the food provided for the 53 day trip:
“In the fare, whatever price it may be, will be included the following amount of provisions for each passenger over 12 months old, as specified by law, namely:
Good navy bread about..................... 33 lbs.
Rice................................................... 10 lbs.
Oatmeal............................................. 10 lbs.
Wheat flour....................................... 10 lbs.
Peas and Beans................................. 10 lbs.
Potatoes............................................ 35 lbs.
Vinegar............................................. 1 pint
Fresh water....................................... 60 gallons
Salted pork free of bone................... 90 lbs.
And sufficient supply of fuel for cooking. As the saints will need tea, coffee, treach, sugar, butter, cheese, probably more breadstuff, together with many other articles not included in the above list of provisions, they are advised to purchase the same..... You will also need tin ware, cooking utensils, provision chests, bedding, etc.”
The saints were also warned to beware of men trying to take advantage of them in Liverpool (the jumping off place) and New Orleans (the landing place).
Again Williams’ leadership abilities were taken into account, and he was made president over the saints leaving England on the ship Hartley. The Millennial Star, on March 9, 1949, printed the following notice:
“The Ship Hartley also cleared from this port for New Orleans a few days since, having on board over 200 souls. About one_third of these were Welsh, the balance English and Scotch; all saints under the Presidency of Elder William Hulme of Manchester.”
William took with him his two daughters, Alice, age 15, and Hannah, age 14. When he left England he was a professor of music. One cannot imagine the feelings in the hearts of these three people as they prepare to leave their home and all they held dear. They knew they would never see their family and friends again, yet they followed the Lord’s will. Alice and Hannah fortunately did know of the trials yet awaiting them in America.

To find out what life was like on the Ship Hartley, we turn to the diary of William Knox, who was a passenger on board this Ship. He writes: “Many of the saints stayed on board the Ship Hartley before it left port. It was very cold, but the passengers were not allowed to have light or fires while in the dock. There were thirteen nations of people aboard the ship; some included Welsh, Scotch, Irish and English. William Hulme was in charge of the 220 saints. The Ship Hartley left docks on the 4th of March and sailed out into the River Mersey, but the wind was contrary so we didn’t set sail until 7:00 A.M. on March 9, 1849. We lost sight of land on March 12. The passengers suffered much from seasickness. President Hulme divided the saints into small branches and preaching was done every night on deck when the weather was favorable. Many of the children on board suffered from King’s Cough or Whooping Cough. (I was unable to ascertain whether Alice or Hannah contracted the disease.) The Ship Hartley arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River, 26 April 1849, and the passengers disembarked at New Orleans, Louisiana 28 April 1849.”
On arriving in New Orleans, William sent a letter back to England to Elder Orson Pratt, Editor of the Millennial Star. It reads:
On board the Hartley, New Orleans, April 28, 1849. Dear Brother O. Pratt – With heartfelt gratitude to our Father in Heaven, I take the earliest opportunity to inform you that we have this day safely arrived at New Orleans in good health and vivid spirits.
Our voyage has been more like a pleasure excursion, than a long journey; for the weather has been so very pleasant, the sea and wind so gentle, that we have not seen the first mountain wave yet; our sails have been reefed on the approach of squalls, but there has not been more than one or two rough days during the voyage.
We passed the great Bahama Banks on the 35th day of our setting sail from the River Mersey; and we were obliged to cruise, or stand at anchor six days among the Islands, either on account of calms or contrary winds.
Our voyage since that time has been prosperous.
Sister Hall, from Liverpool, was delivered of a fine boy on April 15th, at half_past seven in the morning.
Brother T. Slinger’s youngest daughter (Elizabeth) died of the croup, April 19. She was placed in a wood coffin, so that we have the corpse on board now. I expect we shall inter her at New Orleans.
The captain and crew were very kind to us from first to last, several of the sailors have embraced the truth, and are waiting to be baptized.
About four o’clock this evening we were comfortably berthed at No. 17 on the Levee.
April 29th – I have this evening baptized four of the sailors, whose names are as follows: – John Everett, aged 27; Alfred Percy, 21; George Percy, 28; and Davis Wilson 23; George intends to go to the Bluffs with us.
April 30 – We have this day got our clearance, and expect to set off in the American steamship tomorrow. Elder Scovil was waiting for us when we arrived and intends to go with us up the river.
Accept the love and esteem of your humble brother
William Hulme.

Dear Brother Pratt, – I again address you, for the purpose of showing you that we appreciate our captain’s conduct. We have drawn up a few lines for publication as follows: –
TO CAPTAIN STEPHEN CAMMET, OF THE HARTLEY
April 30th, 1849
Sir, – At the termination of a voyage from Liverpool to New Orleans, which has been truly satisfactory to us, we feel it our duty to manifest our gratitude to you by this public acknowledgment for the kind, humane, and generous treatment, and the watchful care for our safety, which you have evinced during our passage. We, therefore, beg you will accept the warmest thanks of yours, on behalf of the passengers,
WM. HULME, JOHN SHIELD, ROBERT JONES,
J. W. HICKEY, WM. GINN

How excited William and his daughters must have been when they finally landed in America, so much closer to Zion now. But tragedy was to strike again. In the Journal History of the Church dated 8 June 1849, we read the following account taken from Lucius Scovil’s private journal. “Nothing of importance transpired until the last ship arrived which was the ‘Hartley’...
The same day we succeeded in getting the passengers and good on board a steamboat which came alongside the ship. It took nearly all day to pass the custom house officers as we had about 66 boxes belonging to T.C. Brown, and he had requested me by letter previous to the arrival of the ship to evade paying duty on his goods if possible. In case I could not, I was to pay the duty, so he sent me $400.00 in cash by Bro. Dunlap. I succeeded in getting the goods through the custom house without paying duty. Bro. Wm. Hulme, who had been appointed president of the company by Bro. Orson Pratt at Liverpool, went to the ship on the morning of May 3, 1849, to see if anything had been left on board the vessel which belonged to any of the passengers. He found one small box containing a writing desk and fixtures which he took under his arm and walked away. This box belonged to T.C. Brown and was marked the same as the 66 boxes previous mentioned. Bro. Hulme had gone only a short distance when he was arrested on the charge of smuggling and hurried off to prison there to remain 5 days to await trial. The box was brought to the custom house where I was transacting business and I knew it was one of the Thos. D. Brown’s boxes, but did not know then that Bro. Hulme had been arrested. I finished my business as quick as possible and went down to the steamboat, when I found that Bro. Hulme had been sent to prison. I immediately went to the U.S. Marshall’s office, where I asked for permission of the Marshall to see Bro. Hulme. He gave me a pass at once, as I intended to leave New Orleans that evening. Going directly to the prison I found Bro. Hulme in good spirits and I promised to get him a lawyer, a free mason with whom I had become acquainted and knew that he would attend to this case. Bro. Hulme gave me the warrant on which he had been arrested. I took it to the lawyer, it read as follows:
United States of America
The United States
Vs.
Wm. Hulme

The president of the United States of America, to the marshal of the Eastern District of Louisiana, or his lawful deputy, Greeting.
You are hereby commanded in the name of the United States of America, and of the district court of the United States for the eastern district of Louisiana to arrest the body of the defendant of Wm. Hulme, and him confine till he shall give sufficient security in the sum of $750 that he shall not depart from said state without the leave of our said court, but shall appear in said court on Monday, the 7th day of may, 1849, at 10 o’clock A.M. to answer to a charge of smuggling preferred against him and abide by all orders of the court in relation to the same.
Witness the Hon. Theodore H. McCaleb, Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Louisiana this 3rd day of May in the year of our Lord, 1849, and in the 73rd year of the Independence of the United States.
Robert M. Lusker, Deputy Clerk

After I left the prison I went immediately to see the lawyer ... I found him at his office and told him my business. I showed him the warrant which he said was alright, but told me to take it along with me. He promised me that he would go the next morning and bail Bro. Hulme out of prison, and also that he would clear him, and through my having the warrant, the prosecution could not produce it in court and consequently they were bound to clear him. I then bid my friend goodbye and returned to the steamboat just in time to get on board. We left the levee of New Orleans at 7 o’clock P.M. on the 3rd of May, 1849, our passengers all being in good health. When I subsequently arrived in St. Louis I learned that the lawyer had done just as he promised me. Surely the ram in the thicket had delivered him!”
At this point we lose track of William; family folklore says that he returned to England, and died on 2 June 1849 and was buried at sea. One wonders if maybe he was deported after his release from prison. I was never able to find any court records that would prove or disprove this theory.
Hannah and Alice were now all alone in a strange land. The events of the past few weeks were probably terrifying to the 14 and 15 year old girls. Hannah Burdett Rollins Hollingshead said that her mother, Hannah, and Aunt Alice were left in the care of the Blair family and came to Utah with the Blairs. There were no Blairs or Hulmes listed as coming across the plains in 1849, but in 1850 two Blair families came to Salt Lake City. Hannah and Alice could possibly have come with one of these families.
When Hannah arrived in Salt Lake City, I’m sure she was grateful for her journey to end and to finally be among the saints in Zion. Being an orphan now, she had to take care of herself; so she went to live with and work for James Henry Rollins and his wife Eveline Walker. I will quote from James Henry’s diary as to how he came to take Hannah Hulme as his second wife in plural marriage:
“February 23, 1851, Apostle Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich were called and set apart in Salt Lake City by Pres. Brigham Young to take a company of perspective settlers to California. I was called to go to California and take my family. Hannah Hulme, the English immigrant who had been living with us, wanted to go. President Young advised that I marry her and take her with us. We were married March 3, 1851 and sealed in the Council House.” The Endowment House records show that Hannah and James Henry were married at 5:00 P.M. in President Brigham Young’s office.
On 5 March 1851 they started their journey towards California. Much suffering was endured by this company of saints due to thirst while crossing the dessert. (To read a more detailed account of this journey, refer to James Henry Rollins’ biography.) On May 28, 1851, they camped at Cajon Pass, California, and waited there for a location to be secured at which to settle. A few months later, they bought and moved onto the tract of land known as the San Bernardino Ranch. Here James Henry built an adobe house and mill in the Spring of 1852. He became one of the first school teachers here, and was on the High Council of the California Branch. He also became a commissioner of San Bernardino County; a member of the school board; San Bernardino City treasurer; and District Attorney for San Bernardino District. He was also involved in the mercantile business here.
On April 29, 1852, Hannah gave birth to her first son, Alonzo Leonadis Rollins. He died May 1, 1852. Although, by now, Hannah was very well acquainted with death; I’m sure, she cried many bitter tears over the loss of her first_born child. It was almost two years before she gave birth again. This time a lovely daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, was born on 11 February 1854. On March 19, 1956 her second son, George Woodville was born.
Soon the political situation between the Mormons and non_Mormons in California became quite tense. Many of the saints yearned to return to Salt Lake __ hence they returned willingly when Pres. Brigham Young called the California Saints home to defend Utah from Johnston’s Army in 1857. The Rollins families left San Bernardino, California for Great Salt Lake Valley on April 16, 1857.
During their six year sojourn in California, the saints accomplished much. Personally, Hannah had two lovely children to add to her life. While in California, her husband prospered and his families were finally living in comfort, but they had to give it all up to return to Utah.
On their return to Utah, they lived in Parowan for a little over a year. While there, Hannah gave birth to a son, Francis Robert, on November 18, 1858. After that the Rollins families moved to Minersville, in Beaver County. This was to be the last move for Hannah.
The first houses in Minersville, built of logs, were erected by Wm. Barton. When Mr. Barton decided to move to Beaver, he sold this lot to James Henry Rollins. James Henry built a pine log house on his lot, and the house that Wm. Barton built was a two_room cottonwood log house. I assume that each wife then had her own house on this lot.
The pioneer houses of these days were crudely built of roughly hewn logs, dirt roofs and dirt floors. The furniture consisted of roughly constructed tables and benches. The fireplace was built of rocks or adobe. Bedsteads ere considered luxuries and were homemade. The door and window casings were chopped from cottonwoods which grew along the creek. This was probably a far cry from the kind of house that Hannah lived in in England, but was much better than living in a covered wagon, which she hd also done.
While living in Minersville, her husband rose to prominence there. He became a bishop, the Post Master, elected member of the House of Representatives for the State of Deseret, he also found one of the first lead mines in Utah.
The rest of Hannah’s children were born in Minersville. She had a total of thirteen children, but tasted much tragedy by losing five of them in death as babies or children. In our family we know the pain of losing one child _ it is hard to comprehend that pain magnified five times.
Hannah was active in church and civic affairs. The minutes of the first Relief Society held in Minersville states that Hannah was set apart with two other sisters as a board of apprizers. She and her sons were also stockholders in the Minersville Reservoir and Irrigation company.
She was a good mother and encouraged her children to excel, especially in the musical talents they inherited from their grandfather William. Two of her sons, Ed and Julian were members of Minersville’s first Brass Band. During Julian’s youth he participated in many entertainment acts, such as the brass band and a harmonica band. He had a very pleasing voice for singing and much talent for dancing.
Family folklore tells us that Hannah suffered a lot of trials from being a second wife in plural marriage. As is sometimes the case, there was much jealousy on the part of the first wife. Therefore, Hannah eventually went on her own and didn’t get much help in supporting her family from James Henry. She took in washing from the miners and any other kind of work to bring in money. Her sons were butchers and her youngest daughter, Hannah Burdett, washed dishes in a hotel while she was still very young. Her children’s jobs helped supplement the family income. Hannah was an honest person and full of integrity. This fact was attested to by the Lord. In her Patriarchal Blessing it states; “Because of the integrity and honesty of thine heart, thy name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” What a glorious promise.
My love and respect for Hannah have grown greatly when I see the trials and tribulations she endured in her lifetime. Some of those trials were incident to the day she lived in, but many of them came because of the religion she claimed as her own. She never became bitter or denounced the truth, but stayed faithful to the end. Her Patriarchal Blessing was a gift from her loving God who acknowledged her trials and made her calling and election sure.
She passed away in Minersville, Utah, 30 September 1896 at the age of 61. She was a gallant and courageous lady __ an example to all her descendants.
Written by Ellen Norris Yates, daughter of Inez Davidson Norris, daughter of Inez Hollingshead Davidson, daughter of Hannah Rollins Hollingshead, daughter of Hannah Hulme, the subject of this history.

REFERENCES

1. Millennial Star Vols. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 _ Courtesy of the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter_Day Saints. Used by permission.
2. Journal History of the Church 8 June 1849 _ Courtesy of the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter_Day Saints. Used by permission.
3. F.H.L. Film #20,044 Duckinfield Hall, England, Moravian Chapel
4. F.H.L. Film #20,828 pt.3 St. Mary’s Stockport Norman Collection
5. F.H.L. Film #L.D.S. 002,044 Minersville Ward Records
6. F.H.L. Film #200,161 Passenger List Port of Entry New Orleans
7. F.H.L. Special collections Film #183,393 lt.2 Endowment House Sealings
8. “They Answered the Call, A History of Minersville”
9. “Monuments to Courage, A History of Beaver County” Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
10. Biography of James Henry Rollins
11. Diary of William Knox; Copy in possession of Ellen Yates
12. Patriarchal Blessings of William Hulme and Hannah Hulme Rollins; copy of originals in possession of Ellen Yates
13. Death certificates of Mary Winterbottom and Alice Jackson Hulme; certified copies in possession of Ellen Yates
14. Marriage certificate of William Hulme and Alice Jackson; certified copy in possession of Ellen Yates
15. Our Pioneer heritage compiled by Kate B. Carter vols. 10 and 11
16. Personal interview with Inez Hollingshead Zietner
17. Personal interview with Delilah Hollingshead Ferrin
18. Taped interview between Kenneth Hollingshead and Hannah Burdett Rollings Hollingshead
*** Hannah Burdett Rollins Hollingshead said that there were triplets born to William Hulme. In my research I could find no records of any births or deaths of these children, therefore, I did not include them in this history.
19. “No Mean City _ A History of Duckinfield” by Milan Pavosovic
20. Personal visit of author to Duckinfield, Moravian Cemetery in Duckinfield, and Stockport


Patriarchal Blessing given by Patriarch John Albiston at Dukinfield on Sept. 7, 1841 upon the head of Brother William Hulme who was born at Dukinfield, Cheshire, England on the 1st of May 1811.

Minersville, Beaver Co., Utah Feb. 5th, 1874
A Blessing by Jonathan Crosby, Patriarch, upon the head of Hannah Humes Rollins, daughter of William and Mary Humes, born in England, Nov. 24th 1836.