Rachel David
Chambers -- Biography
By one of her
daughters
Rachel David Chambers was the daughter
of Morgan and Elizabeth Bowen David. She was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire,
Wales, on 3 March 1842. When Rachel was five years old her father, being
desirous of coming to this country worked to that end, and set sail for America
on 5 March 1849. They first traveled on the Troubador, a steamer that
took them from Swansea to Liverpool. On arriving they found out that the ship Hartley,
on which they were to sail was not ready and would not sail for three weeks.
They were permitted, however, to live on the ship during the time.
On the second night an unfortunate
accident happened. Betsy, the nineteen-year-old sister fell from the top deck
to the bottom of the hold. She was severely cut and bruised and unconscious
when they found her. She was taken to a hospital but did not regain
consciousness until the next day. Little hope was held out for her recovery,
but through the prayers of the Elders she was made well again.
The ship left Liverpool on 5 March 1849.
The voyage to America was without any mishaps, as the weather was very calm.
After seven weeks and five days on the water they landed in New Orleans. From
New Orleans they journeyed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis arriving on 12
May 1849.
The dreaded plague of cholera broke out
at this time claiming many of the saints. Mother's mother was stricken with the
disease and died the night they landed in St. Louis. The grief stricken family
was not allowed to see her. She was taken away in the night and buried. They
were not allowed to see where she was buried. Their father then moved his
family to Day Hill where he worked in a coal mine.
Nine days after the death of their mother
the hand of death reached out to them again, claiming their sister, Mary, wife
of David Bowen and soon after, her nine-month-old baby died.
Some time later a Welsh family by the
name of Williams who were living at Blue Ridge, four miles from Day Hill, heard
of the Morgan David family. The Williams family traveled to Day Hill to become
acquainted with the David's.
In the spring of 1852 the family started
for Utah. They stopped at Council Bluffs Iowa, where they remained for ten
weeks. During this time Rachel's father was busy preparing for the big journey
with two oxen, two cows and a wagon. The family, consisting of ten people,
started to the West. We have all heard of that memorable journey across the
plains by our fathers and mothers, of the many things they endured for the sake
of their religion, and we know the many things they suffered for.
They arrived in Salt Lake City on 19
September 1852 where they remained for three days. They then moved to Palmyra
during the winter. At that time the Indians were still very unfriendly to the
white people.
The family thus far had been living in
dugouts, but it was now necessary to build a house for the coming winter.
During the building of the two-room house, which was made of adobe, mother's
sisters Hannah and Emma tended masons, drying the adobe in a basket on their
head.
For three years they resided in Palmyra.
In 1859 Brigham Young gave the orders to move to the present site of Spanish
Fork, as Palmyra was not considered a desirable place for a settlement. When
they moved to Spanish Fork their pioneer life was fraught with many hardships.
Their first crop of wheat was among the
many to be destroyed by the grasshoppers. Following the catastrophe, the family
lived on rations. Their bread was made from corn which was grated over a pan
with holes driven in it. The next crop of wheat was a little more profitable.
As patches here and there would ripen they would cut it, dry it, and thrash it
with a flail.
The early morning wind from the canyon
would blow away pounds of flour from the first grinding, and the rest was
distributed among friends and neighbors. Even the bran and shorts were given
away. The soaps they used were made from saleratus, which was gathered from
clay beds and from grease. For lights they used a cloth dipped in grease which
was kept burning in a pan. This was called bitch light.
In the summer of 1858 many people went
to Provo and camped for three days for the purpose of picking manna, a sweet
substance like sugar which they found on the bushes. Many said it was a direct
message from heaven and had been sent by God. The pioneers were generous and
shared what little they had, sharing with all alike, and in spite of their many
trials and worry they were all happy.
