This document provides biographical information about William Twiggs, who was born in Wales in 1804, and his wife Mary Reed Twiggs, who was born in Wales in 1814. It details their marriage in 1840 and their ten children. William died in 1854 and Mary decided to emigrate with her surviving children and relatives to Utah to join the Mormon church. In late 1854, Mary and her family boarded the ship Clara Wheeler in Liverpool to travel to New Orleans, along with over 400 other Mormon emigrants. During the voyage and after arriving in New Orleans, 23 people on the ship died from an outbreak of measles. The family then traveled by steamboat to St. Louis and on to Mormon Grove near Atchison,

1. William Twiggs (1804 – 1854) &
Emigration of Mary Reed (1814 – 1855)
William Twiggs
Born: 22 January 1804 at Roch, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Died: 15 January 1854 at Roch, Pembrokeshire, Wales
MARRIED: 29 September 1840 at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Mary Reed
Born: 7 May 1814 Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Died: 1855 Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas
CHILDREN:
Emily Twiggss
Born: 6 July 1841 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas
Thomas Twiggs
Born: 14 February 1843 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 13 November 1928 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
John Twiggs
Born: 24 May 1845 at Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas
Martha Twiggss
Born: 9 May 1847 Milford, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 15 June 1847 at Skye Mill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
George Twiggss
Born: 8 August 1848
Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansa
Emma Twiggs
Born: 9 March 1850 at Sykemill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 22 October 1878 at Salt Lake City,Salt Lake,Utah
Ellen Twiggss
Born: 7 January 1853 at Sykemill, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Died: 1855 at Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansa

2. http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3022
William Twigg was born January 22, 1804 Roch Parish, Pembroke, Wales. He was the son of Thomas
and Martha (Wade) Twigg, and grandson of David and Martha (John) Twigg. William married in this
parish on September 29, 1840 to MARY REED, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Lloyd) Reed, baptized
May 7, 1814 in Little Newcastle, Pembroke, Wales.
A sad day in their household occurred on June 15, 1847, when their daughter, Martha, died at the age of
six days. A day of happiness was with them when they were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and baptized by Elder William Vaughn in the winter of 1849; in fact it was so cold that
they had to break the ice atop the water before the baptism could be performed.
William played an active role in the early LDS Church, as evidenced by the journal of traveling elder
Daniel Williams, which states under the date of October 1, 1851, concerning a general council meeting at
Havordfordwest, Pembroke, Wales: After addressing the council at some length showing the importance
of regularly attending the council meetings, Elder William Bowen, William Twigg, and Thomas Rees
appeared by order of last council to show the cause of their absence from that council. They showed
reasons which satisfied the council and were free to officiate in their offices. Another mention in the
journal may be referring to William since he was residing in Rickeston Mill. Under the date of February
5, 1852, Williams recorded: Started for Marloes by Rickeston Mill; Elder Twigg came to me to Marloes
that night; we both preached to a small congregation in the home of Elder Hughes, and returned that
night to Rickeston Mill.
William let his house be used as a meeting place for church meetings as evidenced by the journal of David
Williams, which states under the date of July 24, 1852: Rickeston Mill Council Meeting held at the house
of Wm Twigg Rickeston Mill. Elder David Williams, traveling Elder, came in to council and Pres.
William Thomas asked him to give some instructions. Elder D. Williams then stood up and said, The time
is but short, the time is not far hence, that the judgments of God will be poured out without mixture; then
it is our duty to be up and doing and preach the gospel that our fellow man may be truly warned of the
approaching calamity. And in so doing, we shall have the spirit of God to showeth us that we may have
faith to travel to Zion. For the time will come that the Saints will have to travel to Zion amidst plagues
and pestilence; and inasmuch as we will obey counsel and keep the commandments of God, we are the
people that will be enabled to go through all to the land of Zion.
William worked in the flourmills and due to his continual inhaling of the fine flour dust he died from
congestion of the lungs on January 15, 1854 in Rickeston Mill, Pembroke.
Mary, with her six children, and her sister and brother-in-law John and Martha (Reed) Twigg, decided
to sail to America with the desire of going to Salt Lake City, Utah. They went to Liverpool, England and
set sail on November 24, 1854 on the Clara Wheeler. These two families were among the 422 passengers
heading for their eventual Utah destination.

3. Liverpool to New Orleans on the Clara Wheeler (27 Nov 1854 - 12 Jan 1855)
PASSENGER LIST
http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_MII/t:passenger/id:57833/keywords:TWIGGS
(William Twiggss died 15 Jan 1854 in England) - John Twiggss is William Twiggss younger brother
AND brother-in-law.
Family members on this voyage:
Twiggs, John (Age: 35) (William Twiggs Brother, Children’s Uncle)
Twiggs, Martha (Age: 34) (John Twiggss wife, Children’s Aunt)
Twiggs, Mary (Age: 41) (Willaim Twiggss Wife & Childrens Mother)
Twiggs, Emily (Age: 13) (Willaim Twiggss daughter) x
Twiggs, Thomas (Age: 11) (William Twiggss Son)
Twiggs, John (Age: 9) (William Twiggss Son) x
Twiggs, George (Age: 6) (William Twiggss Son) x
Twiggs, Emma (Age: 4) (Willaim Twiggss daughter)
Twiggs, Ellen (Age: 2) (Willaim Twiggss daughter) x
http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/Search/showDetails/db:MM_MII/t:voyage/id:95/keywords:Clara+Wheeler
Liverpool to New Orleans on the Clara Wheeler (27 Nov 1854 - 12 Jan 1855)
Ship Name Clara Wheeler
Departure 24 Nov, Returned 30 Nov & Departed 7 Dec 1854 from Liverpool
Arrival 12 Jan 1855 at New Orleans
Arrival 22 Jan 1855 St Louis aboard steamboat Ocena
Source BMR, Book #1040, pp. 172-89 (FHL #025,690); Customs #261 (FHL #200,181)
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
"Monday. 27 Nov. 1854 -- The ship Clara Wheeler sailed from Liverpool, England, with 422 Saints, under
the direction of Henry E. Phelps. The company arrived at New Orleans Jan. 11, 1855, and
at St Louis Jan. 22nd
1855. "
"SEVENTY-EIGHTH COMPANY -- Clara Wheeler, 422 souls. The ship Clara Wheeler, with four
hundred and twenty-two Saints on board cleared the port at Liverpool November 24 1854, bound for
New Orleans. Elder Henry E. Phelps was appointed president of the company, with Elders John Parson
and James Crossly as counselors. After a rough
experience in the Irish Channel, being unable to
proceed against the incessant head winds and
rough weather, the Clara Wheeler was obliged to
return to port on the thirtieth of November. During
this extraordinary experience the Saints suffered
considerable with seasickness. After receiving
further supplies of water and provisions, the ship
again put to sea on the seventh of December 1854
with a favorable wind, and on the tenth she cleared
the Irish Channel after which she had a very quick
trip to New Orleans, where she arrived on the
eleventh of January, 1855.

4. Soon after leaving Liverpool the measles broke out in the company, resulting in the death of twenty
children and two grown persons. One child also died after the arrival at New Orleans which made twenty
three deaths in all.
On the twelfth of January, James McGaw, the church emigration agent at New Orleans, contracted with
the captain of the steamboat Ocena, to take the passengers to St. Louis at the rate of three dollars and a
half for each adult, and half of that for
children between three and twelve
years old; and twenty-four hours after
their arrival in New Orleans, the
emigrants were on their way up the
river. Nearly one half of the company
had not the means wherewith to pay
their passage to St. Louis; but the
more well-to-do Saints who had more money that they needed themselves, were influenced to lend to
those who had none, and thus all who desired to continue the journey were enabled to do so.
At St. Louis where the company arrived in safety, the emigrants were met by Apostle Erastus Snow and
others, who gave the new arrivals a hearty welcome, and conducted them to comfortable quarters, which
had been secured for their accommodation. This company, although leaving England in the latter part of
1854, really belonged to the emigration of 1855, in connection with which the Saints who crossed the
Atlantic in the Clara Wheeler continued the journey to the Valley.
(Millennial Star, Vol. XVI: pp.778, 815; Vol XVII: pp.10, 142, 184)."
Twiggs’ moved from St. Louis, Missouri to Mormon Grove near Atchison, Kansas
After a period of time the Twiggs family moved on to
Mormon Grove, Atchison, Kansas. About 47 Miles
NW of Kansas City, Kansas
This was a very difficult time for the family. Mary
Reed Twiggs and four children are reported to have
died at Mormon Grove during 1855 (Cholera
epidemic).
Thus leaving only two children, Emma and Thomas
plus Uncle and Aunt John & Martha Twiggs to make
the journey on to SLC, Utah.
The remaining family members are reported to have
traveled on to SLC, Utah with an unidentified
Company during 1856.
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/47677/Mormon-Grove.html
Mormon Grove, a site four miles west of Atchison, Kansas. In 1855, about 2,000 saints from the United
States, England and Denmark gathered in Mormon Grove. Though one or two permanent structures
were erected at Mormon Grove, most residents lived in tents, wagon boxes or make-shift dwellings.
Unfortunately, cholera epidemic struck and took a heavy toll at the way station and some of the
companies that left from Mormon Grove. A makeshift cemetery outside the tent city was created for the
victims.

5. Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main
symptoms are profuse, watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water
or eating food that has been contaminated. The severity of the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid
dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and death in some cases.
The trail from Mormon Grove, Kansas was North East until joining the Mormon Trail in Central
Nebraska
http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompany/1,15797,4017-1-356,00.html
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868
Unidentified Companies (1856)
Twiggss, John (37) http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3019
Twiggss, Martha Reed (36)
Twiggss, Thomas (13)
Twiggss, Emma (6)

6. Emma Twiggs (1850 – 1878) married John Gabbott (1842 – 1926)
on 2 May 1868 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Immigrant_View.aspx?id=1627
Emma Twiggs (1856 – 1878) Biography
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3038
Mary Reed (1814 – 1854) A Biography
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3023
Thomas Twiggs (1843 – 1928) Biography
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=3019
John Twiggs (1819 – 1888) Biography - William Twiggs’ Brother – Emma Twiggs Uncle
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Default.aspx
The Welsh Mormon Immigrant project is sponsored by the
Center for Family History and Genealogy at
Brigham Young University
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Thomas Twiggs – Brother of Emma Twiggs
http://welshmormon.byu.edu/Immigrant_View.aspx?id=1626
The three sons are (left to right): Robert "Bert" James Twiggs Leo Stevenson Twiggs
John Thomas Twiggs