Caroline McMurray Davies

I found this short bio on my grandmother- I don't know what it was written for, but it is just a short, concise piece:

Caroline McMurray was the 9th child of James S. McMurray and Sarah Orr. She was born on march 11, 1902 in Orton, Alberta, Canada. Her parents and seven siblings moved from Idaho in march.  It was cold and windy, they had no house, and lived in a tent for a few weeks.  Being very windy in March many times her parents and older brothers would stand outside and hold down the tent poles.

Carrie, as she was called, also had a younger sister named Lila. They were the only ones born in Canada.

When Carrie was nine her mother died of a rare disease. Lila was only four months old. Carrie was very sad and lonesome. Her older sisters helped take care of her and little Lila. Before her mother died, Carrie would stand at her side with a fan to help keep the flies from bothering her.

She attended school to sixth grade. She lived with some of her older siblings to help take care of their children. Late she worked for several different families helping with housework.  While she was doing that kind of work she met George Davies and they were married.

About 18 months after George died in 1957 she attendend Nursing School in Calgary and became a successful Nursing aid and worked at three different hospitals until she retired.

She died June 1, 1981 after being ill with Parkinson's disease.

The Move to Canada

Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott Orr

After 8 years of farming and railroading in Sanpete County they moved to a farm at Liberty, Bear Lake Country, Idaho, located on a land later called Sharon.  While they were here, two more children were borne: Mary Rebecca, born  November 9, 1883 and William Ernest born April 19, 1886.

While in Liberty, Idaho they became more active in the church and had 5 of their children baptized on the same day - June 3, 1883.

In the 23 years they lived in this area they raised sheep and cattle, grew some grain and lots of hay.

Then they moved to Canada where some of their sons had moved a few years previously.

Sailing on "The Monarch of the Sea"

In 1861, Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott sailed from England to the New York harbor. They were married on board the ship in the harbor, June 18, the day before they docked.

  A ship similar to "The Monarch of the Sea"

There are several first-hand  accounts from other passengers on "The Monarch of the Sea".  When I read them I try to visualize what it was like for them as they traveled.

"At Liverpool we embarked on the Monarch of the Sea, a very old and rickety ship and entirely unseaworthy.  The sea was so rough and stormy that the waves washed over the top of the deck. When the people were frightened the captain said. "We'll land in New York all right.  We've got Mormons on board and we always get through when we have Mormons."  On its return voyage The Monarch of the Sea, loaded with cargo, sank, but the captain and the crew were saved.

We were on the ocean six weeks.  All of the Mormon families traveled in the steerage. the voyage was very rough.  I can remember the chest sliding and banging from side to side across the wooden floor and all of the other chests and trunks with it.  I can also remember my mother sitting and clasping her hands, praying that we would get to America in safety.  She was a very devout and courageous woman.   We slept in bunks on the sides of the boat.  In the center we children played during the daytime and ate our meals.  Our food consisted of hard tack and a little bacon and coffee.  We used our chests and trunks as tables when we ate our food.  Sometimes the captain would be kinder than usual and send down a little soup."

From -
Alma Elizabeth Miner Felt. Journal, An Enduring Legacy. Volume 7. Salt Lake City: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1984

Sanpete County and the Sanpete Valley Railroad

Circa 1877

Richard and Caroline Orr moved their family to Sanpete county.  They homesteaded two miles east of Moroni and the boys ran the farm while Richard ran a freight train on the Sanpete Valley  Railroad.
three more children were born here: Oliver, January 1, 1875, Joseph, January 8, 1877, and Bertrand Oscar, April 28, 1880.

At this time the nearest church was at Moroni, Utah, and the family didn't get there too often.Caroline began to worry about the children growing up without the benefit of the gospel which she and her husband had left England to keep.  They began to make active plans to get the family closer to church activities and family relations.

When the 10th child arrived, Arthur, born July 13, 1882, they sent a letter of announcement to one of Caroline's brothers (Charles Derricott) in Liberty, Idaho.  He wrote and advised them to come to this area as there were several church in the area as the church had been colonizing this part of Idaho along the Bear River.

still more to come...

Salt Lake City, November 1862

Richard Orr and Caroline Derricott Orr arrived in Salt Lake City in November 1862.  After a year they moved to Morgan county in Weber Valley and rented a farm and went into farming.  By now, they had 2 children.  Thomas Charles Orr, January 16, 1863 and  Elizabeth Caroline born on June 1, 1865.  Three more children were born in Morgan; Sarah Ann Orr, December 29, 1867 (my great-grandmother), Rosa Lee Orr, January 28, 1869, and Josiah Orr, September 11, 1870.  He worked for Union Pacific Railroad, and then the Utah Southern Railroad.

Richard was the engineer on the train that hauled rock from the quarry into Salt Lake City to help build the temple. They moved into Salt Lake again where the sixth child was born, Richard Orr on September 30, 1872.

President Brigham Young called him to go down to Kanab.  It was about this time that their surname was changed from Hoar to Orr by Utah Legislation for the good of his daughters growing up.

more tomorrow...

Sarah Ann Orr, born  December 29, 1867  was my great-grandmother.

The "Monarch of the Sea" and beyond...

Caroline's parents wanted their children to go to Zion as they already had one daughter in Zion who had gone across the plains with a handcart company.

In May 1861, Richard and Caroline set sail for America on a sailing vessel called the "Monarch of the Sea".  They were married June 18, 1861 the day before they landed in New York Harbor.  they were married by Elder Jabus Woodward; he had presided over the group on this voyage. they stayed a year in New York to make some money for their journey to Zion.  In spring 1862, they made their way to Winter Quarters, Florence, Nebraska. In May 1862, they hired out to Wagon Master John R. Young.  Richard was to act as teamster to four yoke of cattle wagons of merchandise from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake city for the John R. Murdoch Company.  Caroline also had to drive a team.

more to come....

Caroline Orr's parents - 
Charles Derricott 1803-1885
Mary Ashley 1805-1885

Richard Charles Orr's parents - 

Charles Hoar 1813-1887
Elizabeth Webb 1816-1841

Caroline Derricott - Grandmother to my Grandmother

Caroline Derricott, was born October 1, 1843 at Oakengates, Shropshire, England.  She was from a family of 12 children.  Her father was Charles Derricott who was born in England in 1806.

Caroline was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was a young girl.  Those who joined the Mormon church at that time were baptized at night because the people were so bitter against those who joined.

The family moved to Neuslain, Willinghall, England due to persecution.

She met her intended husband Richard Hoar, when she was about 18 years old.  Richard was considering going to America to Zion so he got consent of Caroline's parents to go with them and they would be married in Zion.  At this point in time it was not possible to marry anyone outside of your own class or title and so he would not have been able to marry Caroline in England.

My grandmother- Caroline McMurray 
Her mother - Sarah Ann Orr  (my great-grandmother)

Her grandmother - Caroline Derricott (my great-great grandmother)


to be continued...

What Names Will I find?

• McMurray
• Orr
• Nowlin
• Davies
• Fowler
• King
• Bradshaw
• Stevenson

Off the top of my head, these are the family names that come to mind- however,  with the exception of my grandparents and  their fathers parents I am not sure exactly how some of the names fit.

I know Jabus Nowlin got his nose shot off in an Indian skirmish- my mom told me that when I needed an interesting ancestor story.  However, I am not quite sure how I am related to the Nowlins.  These are some of the things I want to know.