Hannah Knight

HANNAH KNIGHT

John and Hannah Yendell Knight welcomed not only their third child, but also their third daughter on the 27th October, 1830, in Wellington, Somerset, England.  They were not well-to do.  In fact, they were yeomen (tenant farmers).

As a young adult, Hannah worked for a family as governess/nanny.  Her dear friend, Sarah Williams, also worked for this family as a housekeeper and cook.  Their lives became inseparably connected throughout the remainder of their lives.

The two of them joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and felt the desire to join the main body of saints in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah.  Through their associations with this new found religion, they became well acquainted with two men- John Waters and Isaac Daw. Hannah and John fell in love despite a large age difference and were engaged to be wed when they reached Salt Lake.

Isaac and his wife, Jane Balls, left for America in 1855. The others left in 1856, Sarah being the first.  John and Hannah left on May 4, 1856, on the ship Thornton.  After crossing the ocean, they joined up with the Willie Handcart Company and the Hunt Wagon Company.  Hannah didn't have enough money for to pay for the Hunt Wagon Company. John was insistent that Hannah ride in the wagon company and he walk.  So, although they left at the same time, they were separated.

"Rocky Ridge was where many members of the Willie Company met their Maker.  Facing a hillside so steep, windswept, and seemingly never ending, the haggard emigrants tugged at their carts-most numb to the cold, many near death.  That any of them made it up the ridge speaks of divine intervention and their strength of spirit" (Sweetwater Rescue: The Willie & Martin Handcart Story, pg.91). Rocky Ridge was the highest point on the trail 7,300 ft. "Men would dig graves for their brethren, and before night, die themselves" (pg. 88).

John was one of those.  On the morning of October 25th, thirteen of their company were buried in a large hole.  He helped dig the burial plot, but passed away before the company set out for the day's journey.

The really tragic part of this story is that Hannah had no idea.  The Hunt Wagon Company was behind the Martin Handcart Company until about the time they reached Martin's Cove.  Here most wagons were abandoned.  When she arrived in Salt Lake City on November 30th, she discovered that John had not made it.  She also discovered that Isaac's wife, Jane, had passed away and both of his young children. 

Isaac, Sarah and Hannah became close once again- drawing on the support of each other. Many tears were shed.  Isaac and Sarah were married that winter.  On June 28th, 1857, the following year, Isaac stood proxy for John.  Hannah was sealed to him.  Afterwards, she married Isaac for time only. 

Written by Dari Peterson Thacker May 4, 2014 (3rd Great Granddaughter).