THOMAS BEARD HISTORY. Written by Margery B. Bitter, 1997*. Source: DUP Pioneer History Archive. . Born: 3 October 1814 in Caulir Frith, Derbyshire, England. Died: 7 December 1881 in Coalville, Summit, Utah, USA. Arrived in Utah: 21 September 1868; traveled with the John G. Holman and E. T. Mumford Companies. . Thomas Beard was born to Aaron Beard and Sarah E. Clayton, in Caulir, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England, 3 October 1814. He was the second child born to his parents; Mary, the first, was born 20 February 1811, and Merab was born 20 August 1816.. Thomas married Ellen Elizabeth Platt Clark, 12 October 1836, at Taxal Church, Whaley Bridge, Cheshire, England. To this union were born nine children:. Thomas Beard, born 14 December 1836; married Mary Ann Openshaw and Mahaleth Tanner; died 23 December 1917.. Stephen Beard, 16 March 1839; married Emma Lee, Mary Ann Roberts, and Jane Carter; died 18 January 1905.. John Beard, 23 April 1841; married Mary Vernon; died 2 October 1876.. Aaron Beard, about 1843, died in infancy.. William Beard, about 1844, died in infancy.. Mary Ann Beard, 23 May 1846; married to Thomas Copley; died 19 June 1931.. Sarah Beard, 30 April 1849, married Edward Richins; 9 March 1913.. Elizabeth Beard, 27 June 1852; married George Crompton, then James Stones, then Edward Richins; died January 1935.. George Beard, 21 December 1855; married Sarah Lovinia Bullock; died 3 October 1944.. He worked in Whaley Bridge, Poynton, and Dukenfield, Cheshire, England. He was a [coal]miner. While living in Dukenfield, a great and general turnout of all tradesmen and workmen throughout England happened, lasting many weeks, causing great suffering among the working classes. There was little food. His wife rejoiced when she could get a little meal to make some porridge.. He obtained work on the Manchester on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway tunnel, that ran through a hill for three miles, in a wild, desolate country a long way from any village or town. The family lived here in very poor conditions.. He went to work in the coal mines. After several weeks, he became very ill and was off work for about sixteen weeks; they experienced great poverty.. About this time the Mormon Elders came in the area, and when it became too cold to preach outdoors, Thomas offered his house for them to preach in. The missionaries always had a bed and shared in the best foods that they had to offer. The women folks all sang in the choir and found joy in so doing.. On 10 February 1852, Thomas, Ellen, Thomas Jr. and Stephen were baptized and confirmed by Elder Henry Piccup. Thomas Jr. and Stephen emigrated in 1862 and 1861. Thomas, Ellen, Mary Ann, George and Elizabeth left their homes and arrived in Liverpool on the night of June 18, 1868 and at once started to organize the company that was to sail on the vessel “Emerald Isle” with H. Jensen Hals as captain of the company. Mr. James Salmon was placed in charge of the English, Scotch and Irish and remained so until they arrived in Utah. He did well with them under all circumstances. They set sail 20 June 1868.. Owing to the fact that the vessel had just returned from a trip to Australia, it did not take on fresh water. The water had all been in the tanks from Australia, and a terrible sickness came upon them after three days out. Something went wrong and the vessel went back to Cork, Ireland, to be fixed. Starting out again, many passengers became sick and 37 of them died in the trip across. Thomas' wife, Ellen Elizabeth, was buried at sea in the night. The vessel arrived at Castle Gardens on the 11th day of August 1868, being 58 days in crossing. After three days held in quarantine, they landed and boarded a train for Omaha. They were compelled to ride in box or freight cars as the [rail]road was used for the building of a [rail]road bed [there were no passenger trains running at the time, so they had to ride in freight cars.] They lived as best they could and arrived in 12 days in Omaha, August 25, 1868.. They moved on to Benton City and camped in the swamps until the wagon train was ready. The wagon train left in the middle of the night, as apostates wanted a young girl in the company. The captains were Mumford and Holman. The wagons were heavily loaded and so all who could, were compelled to walk. The dust was knee deep and was very tiring. . After leaving the Platte River, the water was very scarce. The people had to drink out of puddles or bogs along the road. Another terrible sickness came upon them and many died. Frequently there were three of them buried in the grave.. At the Sweetwater River, they camped for two weeks to rest the horses and oxen. While there, some of the wagons took fire, and some lost all that they had.. At Hilliard, Wyoming, they came upon the construction men, laying the rails for the Union Pacific Railroad to Utah. Some of the people at the camp heard of the sickness and trials of the company and Emma Wilde Carruth made a cake for them. She was loved for her act of thoughtfulness.. The company arrived in Utah in September 21, 1868. He [Thomas] settled in Coalville, Summit County, Utah, where he died 7 December 1881.. *Transcribed by Mary Ann Whitehead Overson (3rd great granddaughter of Thomas Beard's 2nd wife, Mary Ann Openshaw Simister Beard.) Brackets indicate corrections or clarifications by transcriber..