Harriett Sherwood Parker Renée R. Mounteer

Harriett Sherwood Parker Renée R. Mounteer The following information has been gathered from internet sites and has only loosely been connected to Harriet. More work needs to be done for proof of relationship. Thomas Sherwood was born on 22 November 1686, in Unity, New Trumbull, Connecticut. He married Abigail Darling on 10 January 1708, in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. Thomas passed away on 7 May 1727, in Stratford. The had the following children: John Sherwood Daniel Sherwood Jemima Sherwood Abigail Sherwood Samuel Sherwood Sarah Sherwood Thomas Sherwood Seth Sherwood Ebenezer Sherwood Hannah Sherwood Andrew Messenger Sherwood John (Thomas ) Sherwood was born 13 August 1709, in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. 1 2 He married Hannah Parruck on 26 April 1727, in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. He died in 1783 in Newtown. Hannah Parruck was born 13 August 1709, [?] in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. She was christened on 17 December 1710, in Newtown. She died in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. They had the following children: Sarah Sherwood b. 26 February 1727, in Newtown John Parruck Sherwood Rachel Sherwood Ebenezer Sherwood Hannah Sherwood Bethuel Sherwood b. 18 Nov. 1738, in Newtown Samuel Sherwood b. 3 March 1741, in Newtown Jemima Sherwood b. on 4 March 1743/1744, Abigail Sherwood Justus Sherwood Daniel Sherwood Jerusha Sherwood Benjamin Sherwood b. 10 April 1753 Samuel Sherwood Jemima Sherwood 1

2 1 Seth (Thomas ) Sherwood was born on 18 June 1720, in Stratford. He died in 1784 in Sandy Hill, Washington County, New York. He married Sarah Pitcher about 1743 in Norwich, Fairfield, Connecticut. She had been born 20 August 1728. They had the following children: Elizabeth Sherwood Thomas Sherwood Seth Sherwood Lydia Sherwood Adiel (Dial) Sherwood Sarah B. Sherwood Tamar Sherwood 3 2 3 Adiel (Seth, Thomas ) Sherwood was born on 25 December 1749, in Old Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut. He married Sarah Sherwood in St. Edward, Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut. He died on 12 December 1824, in Kingsbury, Washington, New York. He is buried in Sandy Hill, Washington, New York. Sarah Sherwood was born in June of 1755 in Sharon Litchfield, Connecticut. She died in March 1827 in Kingsbury, Washington, New York. She, too, was buried in Sandy Hill. They had the following children: Mary (Polly) Sherwood Harriet Sherwood b. 20 September 1783 in Kingsbury Sarah (Sally) Sherwood b. 11 November 1784, in Kingsbury. Thomas A. Sherwood b. 28 Nov. 1787, in Argyle, Washington, New York Charlotte Sherwood b. 1788 in Argyle Adiel Sherwood b. 3 October 1791, in Fort Edward, Washington, New York Reuben Sherwood 1 In the 1790 Census for Kingsbury, Washington, New York, there were three 2 Sherwood families: Newcomb, Adiel, and Harvey. Henry Garlie Sherwood who played a very prominent role in the early years of the church, stated in his temple endowment record that he was from Kingsbury, Washington, New York. His father s name was Newcomb Sherwood and his mother s last name was Totman. 3 Henry G. did baptismal work for the dead in Nauvoo on 30 July 1844, for the following individuals: Sister Polly Cuseck Aunt Sally Sherwood Aunt Sarah Adams Aunt Betsey Eastman Aunt Lydia Kerney 1 2 3 www.boap.org/lds/history/html.history/vlc24history.html - Cached 1790 Federal Census of Kingsbury, Washington, New York. Nauvoo Temple Endowment Records 1845-1846, FHL #183371. 2

Aunt Tamer Noble G. Uncle Samuel Sherwood nd 2 Cousin Justus Sherwood Cousin Hannah Spencer Cousin Sally Rich 4 The names Henry G. was baptized for fit into the families of those named above. That does not mean they were his relatives, but it is a place to start looking. Kingsbury is 20-25 miles north/east of Saratoga Springs, New York. Saratoga Springs is within Saratoga County where John Davis was born. Because John Davis s life is such a blank between age 17 and Zion s Camp, we do not know whether or not he knew and was married to Harriet Sherwood before Kirtland. It is possible he married her after Zion s Camp in Kirtland. In 1834 a church member by the name of Henry Garlie Sherwood arrived in Kirtland. He was from Kingsbury, New York. About the same time he appeared, a young lady by the name of Harriet Sherwood appeared. Had John Davis married her prior to participating in Zion s Camp? Or did he marry her in Kirtland? Whether Henry was her father (21 years his junior), or an uncle is not 5 known. Harriet was deaf and supposedly did not speak either. Thoms Hopkins Gallaudet opened 6 his first school for the deaf in New York where they taught sign language. John Davis was intelligent and could learn sign language easily. Possibly they married in late 1834 or the beginning 7 of 1835. Their son, Moroni, was born 29 September 1835. The Parkers and Henry Sherwood saw a lot of growth and change in the church between 1834 8 and 1838. John D. was called into the First Quorum of Seventies on 28 February 1835. The most wonderful event to take place in the church was the dedication of the Kirtland Temple near the end of March 1836. From 1836 to 1838 saw a deterioration of the relationship between the Saints and the rest of Kirtland s townspeople. Joseph and Hyrum had to slip out of town in January of 1838. Most of the Saints had left to move onto Missouri, the new Center for Zion. But the poorer Saints had trouble leaving. The Quorum of 70s formulated a constitution to help the poor members of the church leave. Everyone that wished to leave with the Kirtland Camp signed the guidelines, 9 including John D. At this time his family included three members. Harriet and John D. left later than the rest of the group in mid July. Perhaps it was because of her pregnancy. Perhaps, it was their th not being able to get everything together. However, on Friday, July 27 they caught up with the others near Mad River Township which was 250 miles from Kirtland. He remained with the group 4 Early Church Information File. Earlylds.com/familygroup.php?familyID=F6515&tree=Earlylds. 5 1860 Federal Census for Jacksonville, Illinois, page #103, dwelling 733, Family 707. 6 Rod R. Butterworth, M.A., M.Ed., and Mickey Floden, Signing Made Easy, (New York: Perigee Books, 1989), ii. 7 Cook, Nauvoo Deaths and Marriages, 19. Parker, Moroni. Son of John D. and Harriet Parker; 1 January 1840; 4 years, 3 months, and 4 days old.... 8 B. H. Roberts, editor, Documentary History of the Church, Vol. 2, 203. (Hereafter known as Roberts, editor, HC). 9 Ibid, Vol. 3, 91. 3

for four days when he left. 10 It is thought that John drove onto Far West, Missouri, for instructions from his leaders. When he arrived is unknown. The ride was probably hard on Harriet as she was pregnant. But the Kirtland Camp did not arrive at Far West until the first few days of October. It is believed that Henry Garlie was with the Kirtland Camp, living briefly in DeWitt, Missouri, before being expelled with the entire group of Saints. They then traveled to Far West. The main body of Kirtland s Camp was sent to Adam-ondi-omen to lived. 11 Harriet s daughter, Martha, was born on 5 November 1838. It would seem as though she moved from the boiling pot of Kirtland to the fire in Missouri. Saints homes were burned, Saints killed, Saints were incarcerated and kept if they would not testify against the Prophet. The Prophet and Hyrum were captured and taken to Liberty Jail. Everyone had to give up their arms and were given until the next spring to leave. Now she had two small children to protect and nourish. Early in the spring of 1839 John D. and Harriet left for Illinois. Whether they traveled the northern or southern route is not known. Nor is it known where they lived until Joseph Smith bought Commerce. Commerce was a swamp. The Saints were physically worn out, and they could not fight off 12 the illnesses that touched almost everyone so quickly who moved into Commerce. Harriet and John D. were no exception. Their little Martha took her last breath on 15 September 1839, at just ten months old. 13 If it was true that Harriet was deaf and struggled for speech, being able to express her feelings 14 would have been very difficult. Three and a half months later Moroni died on 1 January 1840. Grief is handled so differently by people. Sometimes it draws grieving couples closer and sometimes it drives them further apart. 15 John D. sunk himself into the work; possibly to forget the deaths of his children. On 3 February 1841, the Nauvoo Legion was organized. John D. was made a first lieutenant. 16 10 11 Ibid, 88-91, 100, 116, 147-148. Lyndon W. Cook, compiler, Nauvoo Deaths and Marriages 1839-1845, (Orem, Utah: Grandin Books, 1994), 19. Parker, Martha. Daughter of John D. and Harriet Parker; 15 September 1839 at Nauvoo; 10 months and 10 days old.... 12 John Henry Evans, One Hundred Years of Mormonism, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Sunday School Union, 1909), 288. The shattered bodies of the Saints proved too weak for the ravages of disease germs lurking in the place, and almost everybody there became ill. Joseph had given up his house to the sick and lodged in a tent in the door-yard. 13 Cook, Nauvoo Deaths and Marriages, 19. Parker, Martha. Daughter of John D. and Harriet Parker; 15 September 1839, at Nauvoo; 10 months and 10 days old.... Also Nauvoo Deaths & Burials, Old Nauvoo Burial Ground. Unpublished. 26. Parker, Martha, Sep 15, 1839. 14 Cook, Nauvoo Deaths and Marriages, 19. Parker, Moroni. Son of John D. and Harriet Parker; 1 January 1840; 4 years, 3 months, and 4 days old.... Also Nauvoo Deaths and Burials, 26. Parker, Moroni Jan. 1, 1840. 15 Sophia Parker Stapley, Together Again, An Autobiographical History, Self-published, 65. Family tradition states Harriet and John D. Had four children. The names of Dorcus, Nephi, and Samuel are mentioned. They all supposedly died as infants. This would have made five children. The fact that the history said they had four children and two have been established, with three more names, gives reason for some doubt. 16 Roberts, editor, HC, Vol. 4, 295. 4

Henry Garlie Sherwood was called on a mission to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the spring of 1841. However, he did not leave until into October. On 7 October 1841, in a meeting of the Council 17 of Twelve John D. Parker was called on a mission to New Orleans, Louisiana. One week later a Mason Lodge was formed in Nauvoo with George Miller as worshipful master. They asked John D. Parker to act as Senior Warden. John D. was never again noted at a meeting. 18 John D. left right after that to serve a mission in New Orleans. Did he and Henry G. Sherwood travel together? Henry returned to Nauvoo by the end of April 1842. Henry Garlie was placed in a position for sale of lots in Nauvoo. Could he have had something to do with Harriet receiving a lot on 2 May 1842, in Lot #4 of Block 106? John D. was still in the missionfield, and the lot was made out in Harriet s name. However, just 3½ weeks later, on 25 May 1842, Henry Sherwood was bringing charges against a John Hodson for unlawfully taking Harriet Parker s home from her. Brother Sherwood was representing Harriet in Court. Brother Hodson was disfellowshipped until he restored the house to 19 Harriet. [Henry always seems to be looking out for Harriet s needs.] The first recorded date that John D. was back in Nauvoo from his mission was on 12 August 1842, when he took word to a hiding Prophet who was at his Uncle John Smith s at Zarahemla, across the Mississippi in Iowa. John D. was a trusted body guard of the Prophet. Shortly, John D. was serving as a law enforcement officer, a body guard to the Prophet, and a leader in the Nauvoo Legion. Later, he would serve on the Council of 50. He never had much time for their relationship. Gradually, their relationship deteriorated until on Monday, 8 January 1844, he and Harriet spent more than two hours in marital counseling with the Prophet. They were having trouble resolving their differences. Tell me, how could they work with another individual, if Harriet could not speak at all? In any case, the Prophet finally left, but not before he told them God would bless them if they would do as he advised. If they did not follow his advice, God would curse 20 them. What did he tell them? Nothing is known of the next couple of years regarding their relationship. It is generally thought that they got a divorce. But why would Harriet keep the Parker name if she got a divorce when she had no children? The next thing we know about Harriet is that on 25 December 1845, Harriet went through the Nauvoo Temple to get her endowments. John D. did not assist her in this endeavor. Mercy R. Thompson assisted her with the Washing, Mary C. Miller anointed her, and she was received by 21 Henry G. Sherwood. It was recorded that she was born on 31 January 1806. John D. was receiving 17 Ibid, 429-430. file://z:/lds archives/cd Volume 1/Disc 2/v10/MH10-377s.jpg 4/9/2009 18 Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830-1859, #FHL 250236, 76. Also: file://z:/ldsarchives\cd Volume 1\Disc2\v10\MH10_377s.jpg 4/9/2009 19 Nauvoo, Illinois, Minutes of the High Council for 25 May, 1842. Susan Easton Black, Harvey B. Black, and Brandon Plewe, editors, Property Transactions in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois and Surrounding Communities 1839-1859. Vol. V, N-R (Wilmington, Delaware: World Vital Records, Inc., 2006), 2957. 20 21 Roberts, editor, HC. Vol. 5, 438-439. Nauvoo Endowment Records 1845-1846 FHL #183371, 44. 5

22 Samantha in the same session that Henry was receiving Harriet. th Back on the 16 of December 1845, John D. took Almeda Sophia through the temple. They both got their endowments. Harriet became lost when the Saints left Nauvoo. This author did not find her in the 1850 census anywhere in the U. S. This is a challenge to everyone out there to find what happened to her from 1846-1860. In the 1860 Federal Census for Jacksonville, Illinois, page 105, Household 733, Family 707, Harriet Parker is listed as a member of Maria A. Sherwood s household. Maria Abbott Sherwood was sealed to Henry Garlie Sherwood in the Nauvoo Temple. She had two children, a daughter Sherwood (16) whose name I cannot make out and a son John Sherwood (12). Marcia had been in Winter Quarters. But she did not followed Henry across the Plains. The reason is not known. In 1860 she is listed as from New York, age 50, and deaf and dumb. Harriet is listed from New York, age 53, and deaf and dumb. 23 Again, in 1870 she was not found in the federal census. In 1874 John D. and Almeda Sophia went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake and had her and Lucy Sherwood sealed to him. They 24 were both listed as deceased. Harriet was listed as being from New York. In Almeda Sophia s widow s pension application, she made mention of the fact that John D. did have a former wife who died in Illinois. 25 Harriet is one of those figures in history that lead an honorable life. She dwelt with handicaps that today would not be nearly the hurdle, it was for her. She had difficult sorrows in her life with the deaths of all of her children that lead to her not being able to express her sorrows to anyone adequately. That probably lead to her separation and divorce from John D. Parker. However, he must have felt something for her to have her and Lucy Sherwood sealed to himself in Salt Lake. 22 Devery S. Anderson & Gary James Bergera, editors, The Nauvoo Endowment Companies 1845-1846 (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2005), 177-178. Harriet is listed as being born in 1806 in New York. Also: Nauvoo Temple Endowment Records 1845-1846, FHL #183371. 23 24 25 1860 Federal Census of Jacksonville, Illinois, page 105, Household 733, Family 707. Endowment House Sealings 1873-1874 Book I, Sealings Living to Dead FHL #0183399, #5138. Almeda Sophia Parker s Widow s Application for Pension, War of 1812 #45224. 6