Elizabeth Melissa Perry and Orin Hatch (couple 2)

[Dad's paternal grandfather's maternal Grandparents]
[V.O. Jackson > Amelia Hatch > Hatch/Perry]

(Written by a descendant in 1946, photos gathered by me and inserted!)

Elizabeth Melissa Perry, born 27 September, 1836 at Ashperton, Herefordshire, England to Grace Ann Williams and John Perry, the youngest child in a family of eight, not quite four years old when the L.D.S. Missionaries who were visiting the people in this neighborhood, and had conversed with John Perry who was one of the Church of The United Brethren, who were very devout, and had petitioned his Heavenly Father for divine guidance regarding man’s mission on this earth. The Missionaries told a story of a man in far away America who had been visited by a. Heavenly Messenger who told them of a. marvelous work that was to be established on this earth in the last days. They claimed that God's plan for the benefit of His earthly children had been revealed in its fullness, and man had been given divine authority to teach and bless their fellowmen. After this plan had been fully explained to the people of this community, the good people numbering some six hundred soul’s readily understood and accepted it as the further light and for which they had been seeking and were anxious and willing to take part in it. Elizabeth’s parents were among the first ones to be baptized in a pool on a farm of John Benbow in March 1840 by these men holding divine authority to perform this ordinance. 

John Benbow farm. An interesting blog by a visitor.

Little Gadwell Chapel. from here.

 During the following summer months, this family, along with their neighbors, was engaged in disposing of all their earthly possessions except a few choice family treasures and preparing for a long journey to the land of America where they could live in harmony with those who believed as they did. Elizabeth’s parents were grieved with the knowledge that their parents and brothers and sisters were very bitter toward the new religion. By Monday, September 8th, all necessary preparations had been made and Elizabeth, with her parents and brothers and sisters, were on the ship "North America" at Liverpool with some two hundred of their neighbors, ready to sail for their new home. Elder Theodore Turley was in charge of this the second company of foreign L.D.S. emigrants to leave England. They arrived at Nauvoo, Ill. on November 20th 1840 after being some ten weeks on the way, a long tedious journey for a child of four year. Upon their arrival at Nauvoo, Elizabeth’s parents found plenty to fill their live for the new community was just beginning to be established. Her father being a capable and efficient joiner and wheelwright and her mother a big-hearted neighborly woman fitted in perfectly into the community life. Elizabeth too, with her brother John and sisters Eliza and Alice soon adjusted themselves to their new surroundings. Her brother William had died just prior to docking the ship “North America" at New York and was buried at Staten Island. While at Nauvoo Elizabeth was deprived of the companionship of her brother John, age 6 and her sister Alice, age 14, who died within a week of each other. One of Elizabeth's chores was to carry her father’s lunch to him each day as he was employed on the Nauvoo Temple, where he worked from the laying of the foundation until it’s completion in 1845. While at Nauvoo, she became personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum, and Brigham Young upon whom she saw the Prophet’s mantle fall, and many other leading men and women of the Church. In April 18, 1845 she was baptized in the in the Mississippi River, thus becoming a member of the L.D.S. or Mormon Church. The adjustments required of this child, to her new life in Nauvoo, may have been rather severe, but the following few years were to be even more trying and of an entirely different nature, as she was to be required to spend them on the outskirts of civilization with few opportunities to enjoy even the comforts of a temporary home. By the time she was ten years old, she with her father, mother and sister Elisa were forced to flee from mobs and seek another place of refuge in a stranger and less known land than Nauvoo. During the preparation for the Pioneer trip, Elizabeth's father was kept busy almost night and day helping to build wagons and other conveyances for the Saints. Because of this fact, his own family was not prepared to leave with the first emigrants in February 1846, but remained until spring of that year, then they journeyed to join a group at Winter Quarters in time to leave that place and become part of the group on the Elkhorn River who were organized on Thursday, June 17 1847 ready for their journey in the Charles C. Rich Guard of 100 with Edward Stevenson as Captain of their (10). This group started crossing the Elkhorn on Sunday June 20th at 11:00 A.M. and joined the main camp on the Platte River 80me twelve miles distant on Monday, June 21st.. Ten to twelve miles per day was the average for this group during their entire journey to the Valley. Sunday was a day of rest when necessary repairs were made. Considerable of Elizabeth's time was spent in driving the family oxen as her father was so often called upon to assist the Pioneers in repairing their conveyances. On the journey several bands of Indian were encountered, some of which were unfriendly, for this reason guards were constantly on duty. A large herd of buffalo, three of which were described as looking like puppies, were a novel sight for the emigrants. About the middle of August, the company was visited by Ezra Taft Benson and Orin P. Rockwell, just west of Fort Laramie, who brought a message from Brigham Young telling of the place which had been selected for their new home where they could dwell in peace and build up the Kingdom of God. Letters and instructions were left by this company as by others, on pieces of boards, buffalo skulls and small boxes nailed to trees for those who followed that their trip might be made easier. Entrusted to this company for safe delivery in the Valley were two large cannons, 25 kegs of powder, the Temple veil and a large boat. On September 5th Brigham Young, seven other Apostles and several of the earlier pioneers who were returning to Winter Quarters met the group at Pacific Springs and held a meeting with them. From this time on the roads were very bad, and as the stormy weather had set in and the first part of this group did not reach “The Old Fort” until Saturday, October 1st and that in which Elizabeth was traveling arrived on Monday, October 3rd, just one week after she had her 11 birthday.

more information on the Old Fort here

 The Old Fort was their home during the winter of l847-1848 and in the spring of 1848 they were members of a group of Saints comprised of the families of Perrigrian Sessions and Jezreal Shoemaker and John Perry who traveled some eight or ten miles north of the Old Fort and settled at what was called Sessions Settlement, later named Bountiful, making their first camp at what is 2nd So.3rd East. A little later they moved lower down on Stone Creek where they prepared the ground and planted a patch of grain and garden vegetables, The grain and vegetables grew and all seemed well until the crickets came and even though Elizabeth and her companions did all in their power to destroy the pest, it looked as though the crops were lost. Then followed the miracle of the Seagulls and the saving of their food. Thus the Seagulls became a Sacred bird to the Pioneer of the Valley.

As there was not sufficient time to prepare permanent homes during the summer of 1848, the Perry family with others made a temporary winter camp (1848-49) on the creek at what is now the Willey corner about one forth mile of the Bountiful Junior High School on 4th North. (1946) The spring of 1849 found the John Perry family on their way to Salt Lake City in answer to a false request that they were to go to the South to help settle that country. Upon consulting Pres. Brigham Young they were advised to return to Sessions Settlement. On their return to Sessions Settlement they found a spring of good water so decided to make this their permanent home. The property situated immediately south and west of the South Bountiful Ward Chapel has been the home place of the descendants of Elizabeth Perry Hatch until t he present time.(1964) Elizabeth’s parents who were grateful for the blessings of the Gospel, attempted to show their gratitude by extending their hospitality and assist any and all new comers, often giving them financial aid in getting them established i n their homes. This attitude was strongly inherent in Elizabeth who never failed to give and give of herself as well as her time and earthly possessions to assist anyone who needed that help. This attitude was encouraged land aided by her husband, Orin Hatch, whom she married on October 10, 1855 in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City. Their home was always the abode of one and sometimes two or more non-members of the family, and the traveler was always welcome, even if the children were obliged to sleep on the floor, which was often the case. At one time, we had seventeen visitors who remained two days, or more. Just a sample of the hospitality of this family. No day was too full or night too cold or stormy for Uncle Orin and Aunt Libby as they were affectionately known in the community, to leave their own family and go to the assistance of others who had sickness or death in their homes. Elizabeth’s patriarchal blessing promised that knowledge and skill should be given her in the care of the sick and in the use of herbs and home remedies. These promises were truly fulfilled. The older children well remember that their parents always kept a change of clothing in a shelter in the bushes near the home, to put on before entering their own home when they re turned from a home where they had been to give assistance. This was especially the case during the diphtheria epidemic. 

View of the house, Google Street View (2007)

Looks like they put on an addition! (2012)

Her mother was afflicted with asthma and suffered greatly during her later life, and required considerable care and attention from Elizabeth’s family consisting at this time of 9 children. She was unable to lie down and died setting in a chair on November 13, 1872. Although Elizabeth had very little opportunity to obtain an education she was a good speller and an excellent reader and best of all a kind, wise, prudent, thrifty wife and mother. Her husband’s marriage to his second wife on May 2nd l856, Mariah Thompson, was of Elizabeth’s own choosing and her own children were taught to respect and love not only Aunt Maria and her children, but also for Marias father whom they called Grandfather Thompson. As was the case in all early Utah homes, the inmates made their own candles, soap, butter, washed and carded and spun their wool and wove woolen cloth for clothing. A little later this family associated with the Atkinsons, Paces and Moss’s conducted a butter and cheese dairy at Silver Creek which called for the assistance of all the children as they became old enough to assume that responsibility thus leaving more chores for those who remained at home. Thirteen children had the grand privilege of having Elizabeth as their mother. All reached maturity and their lives were such that they were worthy and did go to the house of the Lord to be sealed to their companion, with never a separation or a divorce in the whole family. The children of Elizabeth are: Orin Perry Hatch b. 28 Jul 1856 Md. Marinda Woodward, 1876 12 children John Edward Hatch b. 26 Jan 1859 Md. Laura Victora Ellis 5 children Grace Ann Hatch b. 18 Oct 1860 Md. William Moss 10 children Amelia Elizabeth Hatch b. 30 Sep 1862 Md. David Jackson 10 children Joseph Ervin Hatch b. 30 Oct 1864 Md. Margaret C. Benson 7 children James Ernest Hatch b. 30 Nov 1866 Md. Annie Elizabeth Mann 10 children Alice Hatch b. 8 Apr 1868 Md. James Jackson 4 children Chloe Adalaide Hatch b. 11 Jan 1870 Md. Andrew Grant 6 children Ezra Taft Hatch b. 29 Dec 1871 Md. Edith Flosom 6 children Wilder True Hatch b. 14 Nov l873 Md. Patty Orilla Sessions 4 children Myra Rhoana b. 12 Oct 1875 Md. Charles B. Mann 5 children Algie Lydia b. 5 Jun 1877 Md. Joseph Hyrum Grant 5 children Jabez Bradford Hatch b. 5 Aug 1879 Md. Annie Putnam 10 children Total 97 children Although in her later Aunt Livvy's health was poor, from a heart condition which she suffered at times, she was still anxious about her neighbors and friends, whom she visited whenever she was able. Her husband died Sept. 8, 1906 and in just fifteen months later she joined him, on 30 January 1908. A career woman, yes truly a career woman. Who would wish for a greater or more glorious career. Thirteen stalwarts had the privilege of calling her Mother, ninety seven grandmother, and later generations are numbered by the hundreds. What an audience to greet her and call her blessed when the time of reckoning arrives. (Copy by Carrie Hatch Neville, February 1964)