Dates

• Existence: 1815 - 1879

Biography

Nancy Jane McFerron (or McFerren/McFerran) was born on May 1, 1815, in Hill Town, County Donegal, Ireland (some sources say Crawfordsburn or Skelly Hill, County Down), the only child of William McFerran and Margaret McHarry. Her father died when she was two years old. She married John McCleve (spelled McClave in Ireland) on June 27, 1833 in Bangor, County Down, Ireland, and the couple had 10 children: Sarah (1834), Catherine (1836), Margaret Anne (1838), Mary Jane (1840), Isabel Wilkins (1843), John Taylor (1845), Joseph Smith (1847), Eliza Roxey (1849), Daniel Bell (1851), and Alexander Gilmore (1854). John was a shoemaker, and Nancy Jane was an expert needleworker and seamstress.

The family was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elders James Ferguson and John D.L. McAllister in 1841 and quickly accepted it, being baptized in June of that year. Both John and Nancy were the only members of their families to join the Church, and while Nancy's parents remained kind and loving, John's family wanted nothing more to do with him. Sadly, Nancy's mother died a month later in July 1841. The McCleves survived the disastrous potato famine of 1845-1847, which killed thousands of their countrymen, due to the kindness of John's employer, Alexander Gilmore, an Irish lord who owned a plantation where John was the overseer; they named their youngest son after him. In 1846, John lost his mother, and Nancy her grandmother. Their four oldest children were baptized on August 26, 1850, in the Irish sea after dark, due to local religious persecution and misunderstandings of this foreign religion. Tragedy struck again in March 1852, when their son Daniel died at only 7 months old.

The family had always wanted to travel to Zion to join the Saints, but the cost of traveling all at once with such a large family was too high, so it was decided to send Sarah and Catherine first, and the others would come when they had saved enough money; the girls sailed to the United States on the Falcon, which left Liverpool, England, on March 28, 1853, and reached New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 18; they continued to Salt Lake City in the company of Captain John Brown, where they were quickly married, Sarah to John Young (brother of the prophet Brigham Young) on October 3, and Catherine to Phineas Wolcott Cook on December 18, 1853. Three years later, the rest of the family emigrated from Liverpool to Boston, Massachusetts, on the Samuel Curling, arriving on May 3, 1856; they made their way to Iowa City, Iowa, where they joined handcart company of Captain Daniel D. McArthur, leaving on June 11 and arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on September 26, 1856. Unfortunately, John had died two days earlier due to a broken blood vessel in his leg. He died in Echo Canyon that night and was buried along Bear River near Evanston, Wyoming (what is now Henefer, Utah).

On March 28, 1857, Nancy married David Ellsworth in Salt Lake City, becoming a second, polygamous wife. David was a farmer and member of the 17th Quorum of Seventy. They made their home in Payson, where David and Catherine were already living, and had two children together, which they named Diana Jane (1858) and Davisel (1860). Due to his skill as a horticulturist, David and his families were called to move to Harrisburg, Washington county, Utah (near St. George) in the fall of 1862, to serve as nurseryman, florist, and horticulturist; he established an orchard, nursery, and flower garden. In the 1870s, David and Catherine (his other wife) were called to move and extend his services to Kanab, Utah (about 80 miles east), where he started another nursery and gardens. David died in Kanab in about 1875. Nancy Jane remained in Toquerville with some of her children; as soon as the St. George Temple opened in April 1877, Nancy went and had herself sealed to John, as well as performing baptisms and other temple work for her great-grandmother, Jane Williams; both grandmothers, Jane McCracken and Mary Wilson; and her mother, Margaret McHarry. She died in Toquerville, Utah, on April 24, 1879, and was buried in the Toquerville Cemetery.

Citation:

FamilySearch (multiple pages), accessed March 27, 2024 (Nancy Jane McFerron/McFerren/McFerran, born May 1, 1815, Hill Town, County Donegal, Ireland (other sources: Crawfordsburn or Skelly Hill, County Down); only child of William McFerran and Margaret McHarry; father died when two years old; married John McCleve/McClave Jr. June 27, 1833, in Bangor, County Down, Ireland; 10 children: Sarah (1834), Catherine (1836), Margaret Anne (1838), Mary Jane (1840), Isabel Wilkins (1843), John Taylor (1845), Joseph Smith (1847), Eliza Roxey (1849), Daniel Bell (1851), Alexander Gilmore (1854); John was shoemaker, Nancy Jane expert needleworker and seamstress; family introduced to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elders James Ferguson and John D.L. McAllister in 1841, baptized in June that year; both John and Nancy only members of their families to join Church; Nancy's parents remained kind and loving, John's family wanted nothing more to do with him; mother died July 1841; survived Irish potato famine of 1845-1847, which killed thousands of their countrymen, due to kindness of John's employer, Alexander Gilmore: Irish lord, owned plantation where John was overseer; named their youngest son after him; 1846, John lost mother, Nancy lost grandmother; four oldest children baptized August 26, 1850 in Irish sea after dark due to religious persecution, misunderstandings of foreign religion; March 1852, son Daniel died, only 7 months old; family had always wanted to travel to Zion to join Saints, but cost of traveling all at once with large family too high; decided to send Sarah and Catherine first, others would come when saved enough money; girls sailed to United States on the Falcon, left Liverpool, England, on March 28, 1853, reached New Orleans, Louisiana, May 18; continued to Salt Lake City in company of Captain John Brown, quickly married: Sarah to John Young, brother of prophet Brigham Young, on October 3, and Catherine to Phineas Wolcott Cook December 18, 1853; rest of family emigrated from Liverpool to Boston, Massachusetts, on ship Samuel Curling, arrived on May 3, 1856; made way to Iowa City, Iowa, joined handcart company of Captain Daniel D. McArthur; left June 11, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 26, 1856; John died two days earlier due to broken blood vessel in leg; died in Echo Canyon that night, buried along Bear River near Evanston, Wyoming (now Henefer, Utah); March 28, 1857, Nancy married David Ellsworth in Salt Lake City; second wife, sealed for time only (David resealed on same day to Catherine Lancaster, already had 17-year marriage with two living children, for time and eternity); David farmer and member of 17th Quorum of Seventy; home in Payson, Utah, where David and Catherine already living; two children: Diana Jane (1858) and Davisel (1860); due to skill as horticulturist, David and families called to move to Harrisburg, Washington county, Utah (near St. George) in fall of 1862, to serve as nurseryman, florist, and horticulturist; established orchard, nursery, flower garden; in 1870s, David and Catherine called to move and extend services to Kanab, Utah (about 80 miles east); started another nursery and gardens; David died in Kanab, about 1875; Nancy Jane remained in Toquerville with some of children; when St. George Temple opened in April 1877, Nancy had self sealed to John; did baptisms and other temple work for great-grandmother, Jane Williams; both grandmothers, Jane McCracken and Mary Wilson; and mother, Margaret McHarry; died in Toquerville, Utah, April 24, 1879; buried in Toquerville Cemetery)

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