Deep Roots-Henry Clegg, Sr. & Ellen Cardwell

Deep roots on trail to Mt. Timpanogas Caves, American Fork, Utah

In July our family was able to hike up American Fork Canyon to the Mt. Timpanogas Caves.  It was harder than we expected.  The trip up was challenging but the vistas were stunning and the rock tunnels and outcroppings made for a great experience.  

One interesting feature that caught my eye was the tree with its exposed roots pictured above.  Clinging to the rock for life and sending its roots deep, this little fir tree was a survivor.   In a way, I guess we are all survivors.  We seek for our required nourishment by sending our roots deep. 

The stories of our ancestors are like the deep roots.  They keep us grounded.  They provide nourishment, and sustain life, even when exposed on hot summer days.  They have survived many stormy winters and dry summers.  They have been tried and have survived.  There is a story in these roots.

Some time ago I posted the stories of the "First converts to Mormonism" (see Part 1 published on 2/22/14).  This post contains the story of another "first convert" in our Moulton family line.

Henry Clegg, Sr, & Ellen Cardwell.

Henry Clegg Sr. was baptized at age 49 on July 30, 1837.   He was the second man to be baptized in England by Heber C. Kimball in the River Ribble in Preston.  Henry Clegg, Senior lost the race to see who would be first baptized to a younger man, George Watts.

River Ribble Baptismal Site, Preston, Lancashire, UK

The information below was from: 

http://mormonhistoricsites.org/river-ribble-baptismal-site/

Site of the first baptisms in England
Photo courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh

The first LDS missionaries to Great Britain arrived in England in July 1837 and felt prompted to first journey to Preston. While there, they preached three times in the Vauxhall Chapel and several individuals petitioned them for baptism.

The first baptisms in England occurred on July 30, 1837 where nine individuals were baptized in the River Ribble in the presence of approximately eight-thousand onlookers. By August 6, nearly fifty individuals had been converted and Elder Heber C. Kimball organized a branch in Preston.¹

Heber C. Kimball described the first baptisms as follows:

“I had the pleasure, about 9 a.m., of baptizing nine individuals and hailing them brethren and sisters in the kingdom of God. These were the first persons baptized into the Church in a foreign land, and only the eighth day after our arrival in Preston.

A circumstance took place which I cannot refrain from mentioning, for it will show the eagerness and anxiety of some in that land to obey the Gospel. Two of the male candidates, when they had changed their clothes at a distance of several rods from the place where I was standing in the water, were so anxious to obey the Gospel that they ran with all their might to the water, each wishing to be baptized first. The younger, George D. Watt, being quicker of foot than the elder, outran him, and came first into the water.” ²

Since those initial baptisms, the Preston area has remained an area of strength and the Preston England Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 7, 1998.

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Henry Clegg, Sr. was a shoe and clog maker.

Clogs similar to those made by Henry Clegg, Sr.

When the call came to gather to Zion, Henry Sr. felt his wife was much too frail to make such a trip.  However, two of Henry's sons both came to America leaving Henry Senior and his wife, Ellen, in Walton Le Dale, a suburb of Preston.

Henry Clegg, Jr. was the youngest of the eight children and emigrated in at age 30 in 1855.  Henry Clegg, Jr.'s wife (Hannah Eastham) and young son (Henry Clegg III) both died near "Mormon Grove" near Atchnison, Kansas in 1855.

Jonathan Clegg was 9 years older and was part of the Willie Handcart Company in 1856.  The two sons of Henry and Ellen, (Henry Clegg, Jr. and Jonathan Clegg) would send money back to their parents.  We have copies of some of their correspondence.  (See Clegg Family History Site:  http://www.clegghistory.org/1856letter.htm).

Read a transcription of the 1856 letter from Henry Sr. to Henry Jr. at the website: http://www.clegghistory.org/1856letter.htm

Clegg Family Crest The sentence Qui potest capere capiat is Latin for "Let him who can take, take". It appears in the Latin (Vulgate) Bible at the end of Matthew 19:12, where it is translated "He who is able to receive this, let him receive it." in the Revised Standard Version.

There is an interesting story about the grave marker for Henry Clegg, Senior found here:  http://www.clegghistory.org/gravemarkerstory.htm.

Sandy and Craig Ostler were able to see the new headstone in 2007. 

This marker was placed by descendants in the Walton-Le-Dale Parish Church in 2000.  The quote was in a letter Henry Sr. wrote to Henry Clegg, Jr.

Tombstone of Henry Clegg Sr. and Ellen Cardwell

Placed at their Grave June 14th-15th, 2000

Halver and Miriam Clegg located the grave site at St. Leonard's Cathedral,
at Walton-Le-Dale, near Preston, England and the River Ribble.

The stone was designed and ordered by Cal and Gayle Clegg, and was made by
stone mason Mike McMurray of Preston, England.

When it was finished, Cal and Gayle Clegg, Milton and Mary Ellen Clegg, and Charles and Dixie Clegg (all three brothers) placed in on the grave.




In Remembrance of
HENRY CLEGG
of Walton-Le-Dale
Born 4th Aug. 1788
Died 9th Feb. 1865
ELLEN CARDWELL
Born 15th April 1788
Died 7th Oct. 1874

Who relied wholly on the
mercy of God in Christ Jesus.


It is interesting to note that at the time it was ordered, Ellen Cardwell's
resting place was not known. After placing the stone, they found her name in
the cemetery register, and she was indeed buried next to Henry. One of
their children who had passed away at a young age was buried near them also.

The quote is from the New Testament, in particular, from a passage that Henry
Sr. quoted in a letter to Henry Jr.

Cemetery Register for Henry Clegg, Sr.

Henry Clegg was registered in this book at the time of his death.
His name is listed 4th up from the bottom. It says:

771 Henry son of late Thomas Clegg Walton-le-Dale 77
d.d./dido (Old Age) (Feb.) 13th 5 42

The "5 42" specifies the location of his burial. The last column, which is
blank on Henry's entry, was a note about who it was. The vicar at the parish
explained that this was left blank when a person was very well known, as was
the case with Henry Clegg Sr.
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How thankful I am for the faith of Henry Clegg, Sr. and his family "who relied wholly on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus."

Their roots went deep.  We are the beneficiaries of Clegg tenacity and strength.  These early converts clung to their faith as the pine tree clings to the cliff.   May we likewise cling to our faith in our Lord,  Jesus Christ.