Recent news
stories of authorities taking away children who don’t match their parents,
especially those who appear to have been “kidnapped by gypsies” reminded me of
an account from my own family history.
My grandmother,
Nellie Hunt Collings’ grandparents,
Thomas Hunt and
Hannah Moon,
Were born and spent the early
years of their marriage in Derbyshire England
Their son, Moroni
Hannah’s family
had rejected her because they thought she had disgraced the family by joining
the Mormons. Her mother went so far as
to say, “If thou were not my own child and I did na know that thou were ever
truthful, the fact that the children are so different and that thou art a
Mormon would prevent me from believing that they are brother and sister.”
In 1855 Thomas
and Hannah took their three children, Sarah Ellen, Moroni
and Frederick Nephi and sailed on the ship, Juventa,
to the United States Alton , Illinois ,
just south of the abandoned city of Nauvoo
In 1862 Thomas Hunt was made a Captain of Ten in a wagon train of pioneers that traveled west to Utah . By then three more children, Ruth, Fanny and Thomas Alvin had joined the family.
I remember my
grandmother telling the story of the wagon train traveling through a town
before reaching the plains where ten year old Rone was seen peeking out under
the wagon cover. Some people there
noticed the boy with coal black hair and eyes and sent word to the officers of
the town that, “Them there Mormons had kidnapped a little Indian boy.” Officers stopped the wagon to search it, but
as soon as the officers saw Rone and Hannah together they were convinced that
the black-haired boy was Hannah’s son.
 |
| Not Hannah but her daughter, Fanny. But I'm guessing Hannah looked as strong and capable when she was this age. |
They were also
glad to cease the search and not molest the train further when Hannah, her eyes
flashing with a mingled expression of humor and annoyance sharply criticized
them for the insolent manner in which they had conducted the search.
The Moroni
Thomas Hunt and
Hannah Moon Life Sketch—Garrett Bohman Masek Keeley Genealogy
15 comments:
What a fascinating tale- and how fortuitous they resembles each other!
Cool! Glad the officers didn't go any further in their investigation. My daughter has a couple friends whose parents are (dad) HIspanic and (mom) White. The two sisters look like they could no more be related than anything. One takes completely after dad's side of the family and the other her mom's side of the family.
What a great family story and collection of photos. It is rather frightening that there are people going around examining your family to determine if you belong together. What a world.
Fascinating! I too wondered about the initial impetus to take that child as it was reported that it was because she didn't look like her parents. Were your great great great (is that right?!) Grandparents born in England? You say spent time there so it sounds like they may have come from elsewhere. It is great to have this history all recorded. Andy's Dad wrote up a lot of his family history though I don't know if it went as far back. There was an Ina in his family too. Lovely name, as is Hannah Moon.
Fascinating!! How would they have handled mixed race or adopted children?
Sarah: Both Thomas Hunt and Hannah Moon were born in Denby, Derbyshire England. My writing was a little vague there so I've now corrected it. Almost all my ancestors came from England, although a few are traced back into Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
how neat! and you didnt have to make any of that up either! ;p
How great is it to be able to tell this story! The photos just brought it to life.
I love reading about ancestors who were pioneers -what courage and sense of adventure they had - Australia has a pioneering history also - also taking away others children - so much so that our indigenous people who were taken from their tribal lands and families (for re-education and domestic help) are officially referred to as 'the Stolen Generation'- now mostly aged 65 to 85 years old.
You would think those pioneer ancestors of yours would have enough to contend with, without having to verify their offspring!
I love this story, Leenie. And that you have these amazing family tales to relay. So often snap decisions are made based solely on appearances and some apples definitely don't look like they fell from the same tree!
Interesting story, Leenie! It is important to preserve these stories from the past. I sadly know nothing of the generations before my grandparents, although I do know a little about our forefather (on my father's side) who first came to South Africa 13 generations ago. But apart from that all is lost in the mists of time.
I'm glad she was able to keep her son...I wonder if now days they would have ripped the child away and placed him in foster care until the courts could decide.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
hannah Moon, what a cool name and she looks like she means it! One look at her determined beautiful face would certainly give one pause before trying to take her "indian" child. Awesome history, I think that my mormon wagon travelers came from Glouchester- what's the deal with england and mormons?
Lucky for you to have photos! I see you in Hannah Moon.
That's so interesting isn't it?
I've noticed that some families have
such resemblance, and others don't. Genes are amazing things...
My sister looks nothing like us, but her kids could be mine. Spitting images of me.
Jen
It was so cool to read this story ... they are my ancestors thru moroni hunt
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