Note: many of the words are
spelled as written by George; it would appear that some of the pages are
missing. This journal primarily covers
the Utah War and includes dates for genealogy purposes. We don’t know if it was
written as events occurred or written at a later date. We have broken the text into logical
paragraph, the journal was written as a continuing text.
George Bailey was baptized on the 26th of May 1851 in Bath England by Thomas Brown and was confirmed by George Bailey - was ordained a Deacon in March by Elder Luff and emigrated in February 1853 and arrived in Liverpool on the 26th - set sail in March on the Ship Falcon and arrived in New Orleans on the 17th day of May, we boated up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and then to Keokuk then took to wagon and oxen and came by way of Hainsville to Salt Lake City – arrived here in Oct 8, 1853 –
- was ordained a Teacher in November by Bishop Hunter served as Teacher two years and was ordained a Seventy in June 1855 by A Ralige in the 5th Quorum. Elizabeth was Baptized 15th of Feb 1849 in Bristol by Edward Brain and confirmed by Alfred Roses.
- Brother Isaac Young died in Sept. 1854. Bro Willard Richards died - he was one of the first presidency 2nd councilor to Bro Brigham Young.
My Mother, Sister Elizabeth, Reuben and William left England in March 5th and arrived safe in Salt Lake in October.
Through draught and grasshoppers the crops were very light and frost set in early. January 1st very cold severe winter indeed several thousand head of cattle were killed by the continued depth of snow covering the grass to the depth from one to 4 feet on the level ground especially north of the city and the intensity of cold and frost.
March we moved down 6 miles from the city to Mill Creek and put in the biggest crop in my life. I asked the Lord to bless it and so he did abundantly very hard living before harvest. Hundreds of the Brethren and sister me with the rest lived upon root and greens for day’s and week together but thanks be to God my father he bless’s me above any some of my brethren with a little flour and meat we have a good Bishop even Bro Reubin Miller who took an interest in behalf of the poor and destitute and gave them butter and meat to eat with their greens and my prayer is may the choicest of heavens blessings rest upon him for ever, Amen.
Harvest came and a great deal of the grain had to be pulled like flax owing to the scarcity of water light crops and a prophecy that before another harvest the Brethren would be harder run for provisions than ever they were before for their was not enough raised to support the inhabitants and this made the people careful of their crops
Bro. Jebbedeah Grant was one chosen in place of W. Richards as councilor a project was entered into early in the season to bring the saints across the plains by walking and pulling a handcart with their luggage and provisions in to Utah which took first rate among the saints and the companies that started in July and August from Iowa City came along first rate and beat ox teams by a month but through missionary agreement some started in September to come a thousand miles before winter but the snow came and caught them in the mountains and some died through fatigue and cold
but the President made a call for the Brethren to go out and meet them coming with handcarts and the horses and wagons were rolling across the mountains and over the plains to meet them they went 2 miles from home even to sweet Water river the snow being a foot there but they brought them in some with frozen feet others with their fingers and hands frozen so it learned the Authorities a lesson for the future
-about this time Bro Brigham Young the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said that this people were growing in wickedness instead of growing in righteousness and in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God so he told his councilors Heber and Jebbediah that he would go from one end of this territory to the other and wake the people up to a sence oft heir duty to ward God if no one els would do it, and he did go forth as a mighty champion in the strength and power of Israel God and cried return repent and reform from your evil way’s and serve the God of Joseph and Brigham even a God whom the World dispised one that will lead us comfort us hear us when we pray and answer our prayers beyond our expectations he counciled the saints to renew their covenants by Baptizm and serve our God aright from that time henceforth and for ever- -
But he grew sick and on the 3 of Dec 1856 he died and was buried he was a great good and wise man in the Church Bro Daniel H. Well was ordained in his stead.
The work of Reformation proceeded and brought about amighty alteration in thousands for the best a few apostatized but the majority are doing well
I must not pass by a thing of great note it was prophecied we would want provisions before harvest but I will say the Lord expected our repentance and blessed our wheat in our bins our flour in our barrels and everything pertaining to us so we had plenty to eat all the time Blessed be the name of the Lord God of Jacob for his mercy unto us likewise in our crops so that their was never as great as harvest gathered in these valleys nor near as good
We received the news that Bro Parley P. Pratt one of the twelve apostles was murdered in Arkansas by one McClean he was shot at six times and not hurted and then was Stabbed with a Kinfe and died.
The United States is all in an uproar concerning the Mormons in Utah the President James Buchanan ordered Genl. Karney and twenty five hundred men with seven hundred wagons loaded with provisions and clothing and ammunition with cannons marters (mortars) and implements of war to proceed to Utah to place Gov Cummins in the Government of Utah and to misplace Bro Young we expect a fuss several hundred men has gone out to reconnoiter them and we all expect to fight
August 22nd 1857
Sunday Aug 22nd - This people came out and declared their independency of the United States from this very time The Presidency put it to the people wither they would maintain it to the last and it was carried by unanimous vote of uplifted hands and a shout of Yea which made the place echo.
They prophesied that when they moved from this valley they would pitch their tents in Jackson County and brother Kimball confirmed what Daniel Wells said to be the truths of High heaven.
Sunday the 29th - Thos B. Marsh one of the twelve Apostles who apostatized 19 years all but one month from this date was presented to the Brethren and gave a short History of his life during the time he has been absent from the church and as did the Brethren to be received him back again into the Church he gave some good advise in relation to apostasy and afterwards Bro Brigham Young motioned that he be received into full faith and standing among the Saints the motion was carried.
Captain Van Vlete of the U.S. Army arrived Sept 2nd to act as Commissary for the troops but the Governor gave him no encouragement and he returned to the States without accomplishing anything. The Govn. said the troop’s should not come in here among this people and took votes upon it before Captain Van Vlete and also many other things - there was an express sent out by President By Young to the States and to England both San Richards, G. Knowlton and G. Snider to call all the Elders home. Bro Knowlton has proven himself a friend again to me God Bless him.
Monday Sept 13th - J.N. Bernershel and Van Vlete started for the States to Washington City with letters to Mr. Buchanan Gov and to congress stating that if they did not honnour his draft that he would put on attachment on the government goods and sell them at a sheriffs sale and get his pay.
Sept 17th – I was ordered to march on the 19th for a three day’s campaign find my own provisions Saturday came and I marched off and camped on Jordon river for two day and was dismissed with orders to be on hand on hours warning.
Sept 28th – received orders to march out and meet the enemy next day Tuesday by break of day we were moving on our way to the City got their safe and paraded mustering C O men was much praised for our good appearance and turn out we waited their for order’s to move forward but the express which came in said The enemy was camped and was going to stop there for a few weeks till Genl Karney came up so the President gave orders for us to rendevouze in our own wards to call roll every morning and evening The Gov Young sent out by D. Wells to the United States troops desirning them to leave this territory or State his Proclamation stating he would not allow any army to stay in this State
Oct 7th – attended conference had a good time of it The President gave some good remarks he said he was going to reserve his sermon till after the war
November 16th – received orders to march we left and stayed in the city that night and startedforthe plains next Tuesday it was very cold indeed and snowed all day and blew like everything we camped the foot of little mountain of the Wassach range their were four feet of snow on the mountains and the same night we arrived at east canyon creek. A volenteer was call for us to go back with a team and they could not get one so they pressed me and sent me back after a weeks absence from home the whole army return after a months absence from home for all the winter through the winter we talked about raising a stand in army it was allotted to our ward to raise 35 men which cost the Ward $22013.00 dollars W. W. Cooper was appointed Captain of fifty
Fed Colonel T. L. Kane arrived from the States as a delegate to stop impendings difficulties and he did so until an Investigating committee which brought with them the Presidents free pardon for all the Mormons forgiving them for all murders thefts and every other crime imputed against us by unprnceple men wether we were guilty or not and we say we are innocent verily so we agreed to let the army in to this territory if they would behave themselves like honest men which the officers in command pledge their word’s that they should and previous to this word came out at conference held April 6th 1858 that we should vacate our homes farms Orchards and every thing from the point of the Utah Valley range of Mountains to the most Northern settlement
- and then I was called to go to the Mountain to guard the passes in the Mountains I was out one month camped on Lost Creek came home at the last day of May
- and in week I was rolling south with my family was camped out by the river Jorden for about a month and then pease was made we moved back to our homes again which was very acceptable news to the whole community in general for they were in poor condition for clothing
The army came in and took up their quarters for the winter in Ceder Valley 40 miles South West of Great Salt Lake City
I have planted myself a peach orchard of about 600 trees.
Elizabeth Russell daughter of William Russell
Hannah Bath born July 1784 Wookey Sommerset and died 1857 aged 67 years and was the wife of George Davis
Hannah Davis born Daughter of Elizabeth Russell
Elsie Maria Andrews born 13th Sept 1852 married Feb 8th 1868
Joseph Hyrum Bailey was born in Great Salt Lake on the 14th day of September 1854 3 oclock a.m.
Ellen Maria was born on Mill Creek Salt Lake County on the 10th day of December 1856 at 8 oclock p.m.
George Smith was born on Mill Creek on the 13th day of April 1859 and Elizabeth Davis on the same day being twins born with in two minutes of each other at ˝ past eleven a.m.
Isaac Young born August 10th at 2 oclock p. m., at Spanish Fork Utah
Anna Russell born Feb 13tdh 1863 at ˝ past 5 a.m. and died aged ten minutes
Reubin Josiah born August 1864 at ˝ past 1 oclock in the morning at Mill Creek
William born 16 Mare 1867 ˝ past two p.m. Mill Creek
Aaron Charles born Jun 17th in 1869
Joseph Bailey was born in Aveberry on the day of 1891 was the son of Brown and Bailey
Ann Smith was born in Prince Edward Island North America on the day 1800 was the daughter of Joseph Smith and Katrinina
George Bailey was born in Bath England on the 15th day of Feb 1833 was Elizabeth Young was the daughter of Isaac Young was born in Lemmingsfield on 17th of January 1808 who was the son of Abraham Young and Betty Carter
Anna Davis was born in Wookey on the 7tdh day of April 1810
Elizabeth Young was born in Bristol on 30th day of April 1833 was married on the 10th day of Feb 1853in was sealed by Heber Kimball
Left Liverpool on board the ship Ellen Maria on February the tenth reached Salt Lake Sept 3 this was the first company of perpetual company he had his luggage on board the steamer Salidia the Spirit told him hot to go on board he took his things off and this saved his life he worked at Ira Ames tanners in the ninth ward he died on 26 Sept 1845 of blood poison from skinning a poisoned cow, He was a faithful Latter Day Saint.