Benbow's Pond
Hill Farm & Benbow's Pond
Close to Gadfield Elm Chapel is Hill Farm, the historic LDS Church History site of 'Benbow's Pond'.
Hill Farm was originally the homestead of John and Jane Benbow who played a pivotal role in the conversion and baptism of all but one of the 600 members of the United Brethren's congregation, culminating in the bequeathing of Gadfield Elm Chapel to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June of 1840. At the pond near the Hill Farm farmhouse, Wilford Woodruff baptised the first of these converts on March 6th 1840, many of which ultimately migrated to the Western United States helping to settle parts of Utah, California and Arizona. Today, the pond is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is available to visit. As you do so, please be considerate to the residents of Hill Farm which is a working farm that is not owned by the church. Hill Farm can be found just off the B4214 just south of Castle Frome, England at co-ordinates 52.104153,-2.479043 or at PostCode HR8 1HL. |
John Perry Life Sketch
Life Summary Condensed from Life Sketch of Edith F Hatch (wife of grandson Ezra Taft Hatch)
John Perry was born 22 June 1799 Bishoptown, Herfordshire
He was the husband of Grace Ann Williams and father of Elizabeth Melissa Perry and Eliza Ann Perry.
Father: Richard Perry of Castle Frome, Herefordshire
Mother: Elizabeth of Bishoptown, Herfordshire
Occupation: master carpenter, cabinet maker and wheelwright
Minister of United Brethren 7 years
Conversion:
He heard gospel preached by Wilford Woodruff 5 Mar 1840
and baptized 8 Mar 1840, one of first 6 to be baptized.
He soon after was ordained an Elder.
Wife baptized 27 Mar 1840
Immigration:
Parents of nine children four of whom had died.
Left home in Ashperton, Herefordshire 7 Sep 1840
John, wife Grace, daughters Eliza Ann, Alice and Elizabeth Melissa
and sons William and John.
Immigrated on ship "North America" under direction of Theordore Turley.
Son William died on the voyage and was buried at Staten Island 11 Oct 1840.
Nauvoo Period:
Alice and John died in Nauvoo.
Worked as a carpenter on Nauvoo temple during its entire construction.
Endowed 21 Jan 1846. Ordained a seventy in the same buiding.
Early Utah pioneer:
John, wife and daughter Elizabeth Melissa arrived in Winter Quarters
late August or early September.
Spent time building shelters for families and wagon for the trek.
Left in Charles C Rich Company left from Elkhorn River 17 June 1847 .
Arrived in Salt Lake 3 Oct 1847.
Helped Construct the Old Fort and family wintered there.
Early in May 1848 family moved about 10 miles north to Barton Creek
(now 2nd South and 3rd East, Bountiful)
Later he moved to Stone Creek at a point just west of State Street.
Early spring of 1849 he moved down into a hollow along Stone Creek
in what is now called Old Call Corner, West Bountiful.
In Summer of 1949 built a log home and later a two-story adobe home in Woods Cross.
Called to preside over people of "South Bountiful"
Member of the high Council of the first Stake of Zion Sept 1850.
Mission to England
1852 Called on a mission to England.
Left Salt Lake 15 Sept 1852 arrived in England January 1853.
Served in Herefordshire.
Called to preside over the Wiltshire conference 7 Jun 1854.
Released spring of 1855.
Sailed from Liverpool 5 May 1855 with British Saints on "S Ship Curling"
Appointed captain of a company.
At Mormon Grove, Kansas he contracted cholera and died after 9 hours. One who was with him reported that he spent several hours singing hymns before his death.
Addition by Ada Dittli
One day his wife saw a man standing under a tree some distance from the home. The next day she realized that there was no tree at that spot. Later she got word that her husband had died that day. When John Parry was set apart for his mission, he was promised that he would return to his family. I believe he did.
