Christina's Family History: April 2012

Friday, April 6, 2012

Nicholas Paul

Nicholas Paul was born the 6th of January, 1822 in the Parish of Parran in Sowarthal, Cornwall, England. He was the son of Nicholas and Nancy Ann Heath Paul. He received his education in this vicinity of England, and married Harriet May in June, 1846, at Cornwall. She was the daughter of Abraham and Jane Trellis May and was born the 30th of December in the same city. Their first child, Harriet, was born the March 3^rd , 1847 in England. While she was still an infant the couple left for Cape Town, South Africa. Nicholas Paul was a builder and contractor and was sent to South Africa with other young educated men to help establish the English province.

Nicholas built his families in Mowbray about three miles south of Cape Town. The Paul’s were well liked, respected and influential in the community.

Nicholas was either the second of first man to be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Here is the account of Nicholas Pauls conversion to the church:

"The first missionaries to go to far off Africa were Jesse Haven, Leonard I. Smith and William Walker. They had headquarters in Cape Town. Upon their arrival in that country, Elder Walker traveled alone in the vicinity of Mowbray, about four miles distant. He had been refused shelter at the inn, and sixteen different homes when he asked assistance of a Mr. Ralston, who refused on account of the lack of room. Elder Walker wrote, May 20, 1853. ‘A Mr. Paul, Mr. Ralston’s senior partner, a contractor and builder, was there and overheard our talk and as I walked away expecting to have to walk to Cape Town, he overtook me and said that I had better go home with him. I had an umbrella but was wet up to my waist. It was after nine o’clock when we got to his home, but his wife made a good warm fire and gave me some supper. Getting warm and partially dry, I sang and prayed with them. After conversing some two hours, I retired comfortably to bed. In the morning after breakfast, as I returned to Cape Town, I again found that almost every home was turned against me.’

Treasures of Pioneer History, Vol.6, p.274

June 12, 1855—"We held our meeting with a full house and good order, however, threats were made that the doors and windows would be broken and the meeting broken up. Mr. Nicholas Paul who was a master workman and builder, had from forty to fifty men in his employment the year around and was of considerable influence. He took a decided stand and told those who made threats that they were welcome to the meeting, but that the first man that offered an insult on his premises, either to the house or to the Elders, would be in danger of having more holes made through him than there were in a skimmer. After that no one dared come there to molest us in the least. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Nicholas Paul was the first and only man in South Africa who had the moral courage and stamina to defend the servants of God and bid defiance to mob rule. From that time as long as I remained in that vicinity, I had a room furnished, nothing lacking for my comfort, for which I was truly thankful. God certainly had overruled the acts of men for the accomplishment of his purposes. From this time on we had regular meetings on Sunday and through the week."

Elder Walker wrote this in the evening of June 22, 1853

"I conversed with Mr. Paul until 2 o’clock at night, as we were going to bed, and I advised him not to postpone being baptized after he was convinced of the truth. He said he was ready but thought that I would not go out such a dark, rainy night. I said yes, I never stop for rain or the dark. We walked a mile and he was baptized, and on the 25th, I baptized his wife, Mrs. Harriet Paul.

The Paul family arrived in Salt Lake City on October 5, 1860 Before leaving South Africa Nicholas bought material, hosier, shoe thread, and other supplies. He sold these items to provide for his family until he could find work. He also bought a team of oxen and a cow to cross the plains. The cow supplied the family with plenty of milk, they sometimes has enough to share with others. He lived at Fillmore, Deseret, and Holden. Being a contractor and builder he again followed his trade and built many of the homes and important buildings in that part of the country. For this reason he moved from one small town to another. In 1867, he was called by President Young to help build the Old Cove Fort. He was a splendid workman and his services were in constant demand throughout the territory.

His wife died on 6th of June, 1894 and he died May 1801. How he died is unknow but here is an account of what happened:

He was on a trip to visit his daughter Emma who was living in Garrison, Utah. Much of the trip was over desert country, where water was scarce and traveling dangerous. He left Meadow Creek on the 8th of May, 1901 and was never heard of again. His horse came home with a rope around its neck. A posse was formed who went east of Crystal Peak where they found his buggy and supplies. The next year, in the spring of 1902, a sheepman found the remains of a man south of Crystal Creek which was later identified by Mr. Paul’s son, William, as his father. His remains were brought to Holden and laid to rest in the Holden cemetery.

Moses Clawson

Moses Clawson was born 8 Oct. 1801 in Dryden, New York to Ebenezer and Lowly Foote Clawson. He married Cornelia Brown, daughter of William and Hannah Sweet Brown, on 28 Aug. 1821. She was born 22 Oct. 2803 in Salisbury, New York. They had seven boys and five girls, two of which died as young adults. David Foote, Moses= brother-in-law, was the first to join the Mormons. Josiah and lowly Richardson also joined the Mormons later. Moses, his wife and his youngest sister, Lola and her husband Elijah M. Allen, joined the Mormons 2 march 1835. In the spring of 1836, Moses moved his family to Missouri, by the way of Kirtland, Ohio. On the way to Kirtland, his oldest boy Ebenezer Clawson, was run over by a wagon, butting his head severely. Some missionaries in the area administered to him, he recovered and even drove a wagon again he next day. In Kirtland, Moses and Cornelia received their Patriarchal blessings from Joseph Smith, Sr., then continued on to Missouri. The Saints had just been driven out of Independence by mobs. Moses was advised to go to Caldwell County where he settled about three miles from Far West.

Mob troubles co tined to follow the Mormons, resulting in a State militia of 5,000 men called to punish and expel the Mormons from Missouri. They gained control over the Mormons at Far West, where the Mormons had gathered for protection, many living in tents. Moses was imprisoned for over two weeks with 60 to 70 others, including Joseph Smith, Jr., in the Richmond, Missouri jail. The Mormons were not allowed to hold public meetings. Moses Clawson was ordained a Seventy at this time. The Mormons agreed to move out of Missouri, so Moses settled next in Pleasantvale, Pike Co., Illinois.

In 1840, Moses moved to Lima in Hancock County. Cornelia Eliza Clawson was born here 18 or 19 Dec. 1843. Moses was sent on a mission to the eastern United States, which he returned from in 1844. He was on another mission in the he East, but returned home when Joseph Smith Jr., was murdered. In 1846, they and their neighbors were burned out by the mobs and forced to flee to Nauvoo.

In Oct. 1849, the family arrived in Salt Lake City and was given a lot in the Second Ward. Moses was called on a mission to England the next spring and was gone three years six months.

On his return from England, Moses Clawson presided over the LDS immigrant ship Ellen Maria, which had 299 saints aboard. Here is a speech he gave on the ship:

My dear brethren and sisters, we have met together this morning to offer up unto the God of Israel our songs of praise, and to speak of things which pertain to eternal life, and which are of value unto us. It is with very peculiar feelings and under very peculiar circumstances that I stand before you this morning. I have not had a well day, and scarcely a well hour during the whole time I have been on this ship, and I want you to come close together so that all may hear, as my voice is no very strong; but I will do my best under our present circumstances. I want to repeat a few words, which the Savior said, says He: "I came not to do my own will but the will of Him that sent me."

I appreciate this saying much; for I am here not to do my own will, but the will of those who sent me; if I had my own will, I should not have been on this ship; neither should I have seen England; but I should have stayed with my family whom I love; but being appointed on a mission to England I felt to work in whatever yoke might be placed upon me, and I have never said or even thought, "If I cannot have things jus so, I will not act," but I have sought to do good all the day long and at night I have not ceased. I have labored hard during my mission and have been exposed more than I should have been, and at the end of my mission, I was very weak; but I am getting stronger, although I have felt that if I could have had the privilege of sitting down like one of you without having the care of presiding over a company of people, I should have been happy; but I did not say, "Let somebody else preside over you." No I felt to do whatever was placed upon me. Well, brethren you see I am here, and my name will be handed down to generations to come together with the actions which you may have performed on board this ship. My feelings are very peculiar and I wish to speak freely unto you: I am not without friends neither am I without enemies, but I would to God I had no enemies on this ship. My heart is with the Saints and I would do anything for your good as you have been baptized into the same spirit with myself and have began that career which if you are faithful will lead you unto Exaltation in the Kingdom of God. We have embraced a general law and covenanted to do the will of God and have started to obtain Eternal Life and when I see that you have made a sacrifice and left you homes with a view to the obtaining of that blessing. I feel after you welfare and it is the first thing with me to seek after my salvation and the salvation of this people. I have sought it. I have not sought my own good and I will now tell you what I want as there is a great deal at stake, with me at any rate; I did not appoint myself to preside over you, but I was appointed by proper authority to watch over you, but not you to watch over me. I am out of your reach and says Isaiah, "They who watch for iniquity shall be cut off." I was set to look after your good and I have sought after your welfare in every shape and manner and I want to know how you fell toward me this day whether my course of management had been agreeable to you and I want a manifestation of you feelings from every man and woman either for or against. I am going to take an expression of your feelings. And I want everyone to act just fee and if you are not satisfied just show it. I want a man to speak that which he means and if he wants to butcher me, I wish him to tell em so that I may be prepared for him. Good men will always say what they mean and show themselves openly.  (Elder Clawson the put it to the vote whether the Saints were satisfied with his course and the vote was unanimous in his favor, and when he called for those who might be dissatisfied to express themselves, not a single hand was raise. He then continued.)  You have now agreed to sustain me and let men beware if they do not act up to their covenants; when we get to New Orleans my presidency ceases as to the Ship Company, but those of you who are going by the L 10 Emigratiss I shall take up to St. Louis.  Well, before taking this journey I felt to want to have someone to care for me while crossing the mighty deep for on my Journey to Europe I was sick nearly all the way and I did not wish on my return to be just as I was then, and I have felt to need it since I have been on this hip as there are some who would pass me 40 times a day and never speak. There have been some who have only sought for iniquity and I say the Lord reward them according to their works, but I would to God you were all of you as pure as I am, but you will many of you have to pass through scenes which will knock some of the knots off you. It was necessary for me to call you together and take an expression of your feelings as there must soon be a letter written back to England to be published in the "Star" which is circulated in all the world. Should I way that you rebelled against your president? No! God forbid! It would have been an eternal blot on you character as a people, for that which is right. Let us look at David although he committed great and heinous crimes did he cease to be their King? No! It required the same power to displace him which anointed him to be king. Could the people do anything with him? No! They could not. And when Saul was King and was hunting after David’s life and the life of Saul was in the hand of David did he slay him? No! He did not dare to lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed; and allow me to inform you God has "anointed" in this age of the world and let men beware how they act towards the. I did not way this to justify myself, but to show you Eternal principles; and did you know the principles by which I am actuated you would not say that "Bro. Clawson ahs that girl along with him and we do not know anything very bad; but.." but you will know better some day. Well, I have one to take care of me and wait upon me and I am glad of it and I would ask who of you could tell me how to manage? Well, brethren, seek after that which is righteous and let principle guide you in all things. Do you suppose that I guide and direct you by feelings? No! but by principle, if I was going to sit in judgement upon the most wicked man in the world, principle should guide me, and you will find that in the Valley feelings are put away and nothing but principle is recognized by you brethren in Zion. But there are some men who, if they see a man put his arm around a female say "of my feelings are so." Why if those men were to do so they might perhaps the first they knew be doing something more. But brethren put away these feelings and seek after truth and virtue and do not do as some have done. Do not seek for iniquity and publish it before you know what you are doing. But seek after truth and virtue and leave that which is bad, and soar above little mean paltry things and become Godlike and leave the workers of iniquity to seek after their won. You will find that in America that a woman may travel for thousands of miles alone and be protected all the time and I believe in protecting the ladies and protecting them pure, too, and I have taught this principle all the time and practiced it too, and now do you think that I want to go home with a stain on my character? No, verily. Well brethren, I pray that those whose eyes are watching for iniquity may repent and watch for good and righteousness. You are a good a lot of Saints as ever I saw in my life and when we consider that you have been taken from nearly every conference in England and are unacquainted with each other’s customs and dialects and being jammed together in this ship with many things to irritate the feelings and as you let these things pass over in peace and with but few exceptions scarcely the first complaint is heard, we must feel that the hand of the Lord is over us for good and brethren if you keep faithful and will walk in and will of the Lord you shall be blessed an have a part in the first resurrection. Now, as I told you I dreamed that we were in an awful storm and that the ship to all appearance would go down and I felt to pray "Oh Lord, wilt thou allow thy people to perish after they have made this sacrifice to gather up and obey they commandments," and I felt an assurance that we should be preserved in safety across the mighty deep and the other night when you were all in a bustle I lay still in my berth without any fear for the safety of the ship. Did you think that the Lord had forgot us? Or that the prayers which were offered up night and morning for the safety of the ship and that the captain might have wisdom to govern it right were not heard? You have the prayers of hundreds and thousands of Saints for you welfare, and when I think of the scenes through which you will have to pass, I feel that you will need them and that it will require much wisdom and faith to pass up their in safety and I would say unto you that as you are going into a land of strangers, let all nationality alone and do not attempt to touch upon the freedom of the people, but leave all tyrannical spirits and feelings behind you, or if you do not you will find it difficult to get along. Well brethren, we have been greatly helped and your faced are blooming with health as if you were upon the prairie. Some have been healthy and strong all the way while others have been sickly and weak and I wish my face was as blooming as some of yours. I feel my lungs fail me and we will meet in the afternoon and partake the Sacrament. I feel as that I can eat with you and we will see if we can all eat together and if we can we will just manifest it May the Lord bless you. 

 Amen.

He later served as Captain over a company of 56 wagons across the plains to Salt Lake City, arriving in Sept. of 1853.Cornelia was near death. Moses got word of her condition ad arrived ahead of the company. Just prior to her death he married Sarah Ann Inkley on 25 Sept. 1853. Cornelia died 22 Oct. 1853, and was buried in the Salt Lake Cemetery.Moses Died 14 June 1879 of typhoid fever in Toquerville.

My Life Goals

Short terms goals

This semester

· Pass my classes

· Find a job

Next six months

· Prepare for a mission

· Put in my mission papers

· Finish the Book of Mormon

· Work out daily, and eat healthy affordable meals

· Develop a strong relationship with my roommates

Long Term

· Get married in the temple

· Graduate from BYU Idaho in Social Work

· Get my masters in social work

· Work as a civilian for the military as a social worker

· Have a family

· Continue to go to the temple

· Develop a strong relationship with my grandparents

Book of Remembrance

I was born on June 22, 1991 in Tacoma Washington to Cynthia Anne Clawson and Kirk Ladd Davies. I was born into a pretty unique situation; my dad is a lawyer in the United States Air Force. Because of this I have moved on average every two to three years of my life. So when I was only a few months old I moved to the Azores, which are islands in the Atlantic Ocean off of Portugal. In 1993 when I was 2 I moved to Incirlik, Turkey. I probably mention I have an older sister Kathryn Rebecca Davies, and on February 5, 1994 my brother Bradford Clawson Davies was born. I don’t really remember much from this part of my life I vaguely remember our house in Turkey, and going to the market with my mom.

In 1995 my family and I moved to Prattville, Alabama. My neighbors in Alabama were the Cochran family, they were also a Air Force family and we have been fortunate to stay friends with them and live near them more than once. Nellie Cochran and my sister were probably my best friends at this time. Some of the things we did for fun were: feeding the horses by our house, picking raspberries, playing Barbies, and spending endless hours jumping on her trampoline. One year for Thanksgiving we decided to put on a play for our families. In the play Kat, and I were pilgrims who shared their religion with the Nellie and brad who were natives. We were awesome. Also at this time I went into the first grade, my teacher was Ms. Ernest who was plump older woman with white hair. While living in Alabama Kat got head lice at school, this resulted in my mom cleaning almost every thing we owned hair brushes to stuffed animals. Also while living in Alabama my dad was deployed to Saudi Arabia, I don’t remember how I felt during this time but I do remember my mom being really stressed out.

In 1998 my family moved to Charlottesville Virginia for a year, during that time my dad went to school. I was 7 years old and in the second grade, this was probably the best year of school in my entire life, no joke. I had a great teacher named Ms. Yow. I think this was my favorite year because I got to learn about stuff that I like for example we learned about the Egyptians, and Chinese. Also we got to make trail mix, and on Fridays we would go sell it to the fourth graders. It was way fun.

June 22, 1999 I was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter Day Saints in West Jordan Utah. I am so grateful to have been raised in home where my parents taught me the gospel, and have taught me the importance of the gospel in my life.

That same summer my family and I moved to Aviano, Italy. If you ask me the favorite place to live, its Italy hands down. When we moved to Italy my parent asked me and my siblings if we would rather go to school on base with the American kids or, go to Italian school off base. We choose to go to Italian, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it is also one of the most awesome things I have ever done. Here is a snapshot of my first day of school:

I look up past the black uniforms surrounding me at all sides. My eyes flick back and forth for my sister. Brown ponytail? One, two…four…six...too many to count. Purple backpack? Nothing. My stomach sinks to new depths, and the fluttering butterflies are joined by flapping birds trying to escape their cage. I turn to face my new school, but I can’t see much through the embracing students greeting each other after a long summer. I look up to see an unusually tall third grader speaking English, and saying something about her American dad or is it her mom… I try to respond but the words never make it out of my mouth because every part of me is focused on not crying. My eyes begin to sting from the grey smoke curling out of the lips of vogue mothers. They stare at me with judging eyes that say, “you don’t belong here,” spitting out rapid Italian. I feel trapped in a grey box that is my new schoolyard surrounded by voices I don’t believe I will ever understand. How will I communicate? Posse go bango? No, that’s not right…can I go al bagno? How am I supposed to go school if I can’t even ask to go to the bathroom? A tear falls from my hazy eyes. I look around for comfort but all I see is a circle of girls looking down on me with curious eyes. I want to escape to my mom and bury my fears in her embrace. A clear bell rings, there is no going back.

After about a year I was fluent in Italian, and didn’t have many problems communicating at school. Italian school is very different from American school; the schools are not decorated at all, and the teachers are very strict.

While living in Italy I also had some other amazing experience such as going to Rome, Venice, London, and Paris. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to see the world, and I try not to take them for granted. The experiences I have had to see the world have shaped who I am today.

When I was eleven my family moved to San Antonio, Texas, this was a huge change. I remember the first time I met my neighbors. I girl named Emily came over with her brother Chad. They were so excited to have new neighbors but all I remember was hearing their accents and thinking where the heck am I? While living in Texas I joined the Texas Children’s Choir. We met every Tuesday and Thursday for choir practice. We often sang at military functions and at concerts in the local area, we sang at the state capitol, and went on a trip to New Orleans. The highlight of being in the choir was the tour to Europe. We traveled to France to sing at the 60^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. While we were there we sang at the Norte Dam Cathedral, and in various churches in France and England. This trip was amazing I am so blessed for the opportunities I have had in my life. One this trip I went with my dad because he would sometimes direct the choir or play the piano, it was really cool to share that experience with him.

Also while living in Texas I started junior high. Although I have moved many times it is very hard for me to make friends. In 7^th grade I really had one friend at school and that was Lindsay Hillhouse.

When I was 13 I moved to Cheyenne Wyoming, I had never lived in a place so small before and it came with its own challenges. One of them was getting involved in activities; many people did not want outsiders in these activities. At school I was in chamber singers and jazz choir. My first year there my best friend was Camdeyn, we had quite a few classes together and we would hang outside of school every so often. What was hard about being Camdeyns friend was that a lot of her old friends were kind of sketchy and I felt uncomfortable hanging out with them. The next year I made a new group of friends mostly with people from choir. While living in Cheyenne I also got to go on Trek at Martins Cove. This was an amazing and spiritual experience.

When I was 15 I moved to Springfield, Virginia. While living in there I started color guard and did three fall seasons, I was in the Music Man at school. My senior year I was accepted into Applied History. While taking this class I volunteered at Mt. Vernon. I would go every Thursday and Friday and every other Saturday. Most of my days were spent working on essays. I didn’t always enjoy my time there but looking back I was so blessed so work there. Also while living in Virginia I graduating high school on June 15, 2009, after I graduated I went to Virginia beach for the weekend with some friends it was super fun!

A month later in July I moved with my family to Okinawa Japan. I lived there for a semester before I went to school. While living there I worked at the bookstore at the BX.

My first semester at school I lived in the dorms. My roommate was Lindsay Adams, and the other girls were Chante green and Jessica Cotrell, semester I lived with with Ellie Harnish and Hannah, and again with Lindsay.

In 2011 I moved into Carriage House, and I had amazing roommate: Linsday Adma, Emily Ham, Hailey Farrar, Averi Hansen, Briana Kerr. The next semster I lived with Lindsay, Hailey, Averi, Meagan Bott, and Jenica Hansen.

In the fall of 2011 I went to Mexico and taught English. My host family was Oco, Pepe, Diego, Salma, and Danny. The girls I taught with were Tracy, Sylvia, Alicia, and Ali. I loved Mexico and I miss it so much, more about that later.

My Testimony of Life

My name is Christina Davies, I am a daughter, sister, student a BYU-Idaho, social work major, Air Force Brat, and a Mormon. I have had an awesome life up to this point I was born in Tacoma, Washington. I then moved to Portugal, Turkey, Alabama, Virginia, Italy, Texas, Wyoming, Virginia, Japan, and then Idaho. Most recently I had the opportunity to teach English in Mexico for a semester, it was one of the best experiences of my entire life. I hope people remember me as someone who brought fun and happiness into their life. This semester I have the great opportunity to take Family History, this semester I hope to learn of my ancestors and of the great things they did, and the sacrifices they made. I am forever indebted to them for the sacrifices they made. Without them I don’t know if I would be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Being a member of the church is a huge part of my life, it guides me in the small choices I make and also the big ones. Having knowledge of the gospel keeps me safe from the evils of the world, and gives me a knowledge of all that is store for me in the future. I know the church is true, and that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. I know that Christ is my savoir and he as atoned for my sins, and that through Him I can return to my Heavenly Father presence. I know that I am not hear by accident, I have a purpose and I am a daughter of God and that one day I can become like Him. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families. It means so much to me that Heavenly Father has provided a way for all of us to live together again.