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William Hayward
William Hayward was born 25 February, 1817 at North Bradley, Wiltshire, England, a son
of William Hayward and Hannah Wheeler. He had three sisters and four brothers,
Elizabeth, Mary, James, Thomas, John and Walter. He grew up in England and became a
professional cook. On 20 January 1837 he joined the King's Navy. Later that same year
he married Ruth Hughes, daughter of Richard and Mary Turner Hughes, at East Church.
Ruth was born 1 May 1814 on the Isle of Sheppy, Kent, England. A daughter, Hannah was
born to them 23 February 1839 at Sheerness, Kent, England. Another daughter, Emma,
was born to them, but died in infancy.
William was away at sea much of the time and was often absent from home for months and
years at a time, being stationed at various ports. When his first daughter was born, he was
scheduled to return home two different times, but changes in his orders kept him away until
she was nearly four years old. His position was that of Deputy Commissaries General; he
served in this capacity for 16 years. William happened to be in Palestine when Orson
Hyde went there to dedicate the land to the return of the Jews. At the time, William was
puzzled at the proceedings.
William was a great lover of the theater and fine arts and would much rather attend them
than any of the churches he had been attending--feeling that none of them were giving him
the satisfaction he was seeking. Ruth was a religious woman and wanted to attend church
so they made a compromise. He promised her that he would accompany her to church
and she promised that she would attend the theater with him. Ruth was baptized into the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 4 February 1849 by Elder Caffall.
He baptized Hannah on 20 February 1849. On one of William's occasional trips home he
listened to the new word of truth from the Mormon missionaries and became more
interested than he had ever been in any religion. In fact, it was the first time he had ever
been influenced by any religious speeches, and as he listened to more of this wonderful
gospel, he was converted. He was baptized by Thomas Wilkins on 20 April 1851.
He and his family immediately began to make preparations to go to America and to Utah.
They saved their money and paid on their tickets as they could. On 10 March 1853 their
application for sailing was acknowledged and the balance of their ticket was paid. They
were to set sail 23 March 1853; however, they did not leave until 28 March. They had
signed a contract of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company which had been organized
at Great Salt Lake, Desert, USA, October 6th, 1849, through their Liverpool Agent, SW
Richards. The agent was appointed to superintend the passage of refugees from Great
Britain to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, arriving at the several ports of New Orleans, St.
Louis, and Kanesville. The contract was signed by William Hayward, age 36, Ruth
Hayward, 38, and Hannah Hayward, 14. English emigration microfilm shows that the
Haywards of 3 Colden Street, Mill Lane, Yorton Godport, sailed from Liverpool on Ship
Falcon no. of N-110. Balance paid ticket #49, Outfit Book page 26. Captain AF Wade to
sail For New Orleans 23 March 1853; sailed 28 March 1853. Elder Cernelus Bagnall,
president of the company: adult 229, children 77, infants 16, cooks 3.
They arrived in New Orleans and then left Kanesville, Iowa, 14 July 1853 in the Appelton M
Harmon Company to cross the plains on their last lap of their journey to Utah. There were
200 people in the company and 20 wagons. The Haywards finished this part of the journey
by walking across the plains with their daughter, arriving in Salt Lake on 16 October 1853.
They stayed there until 1855 and then moved to Ogden, Weber County, Utah.
Some time before coming across the plains, the Haywards met another convert named
Emma Dewey. She had been converted to the gospel in England by Isaac Allred and left
England in 1852 to come to Zion. She had been disowned by her family for joining the
church and had to stay in the East working to pay her way to Salt Lake City. She left
Mormon Grove, Kansas on 1 July 1855 with the Richard Ballantine Company, walking all
the way. The company came into the Salt Lake Valley on 25 September 1855, two years
after the Haywards. She settled in Ogden, which was about the same time William and
Ruth moved to Ogden, and she there became very close friends with both of the Haywards.
Plural marriages were being practiced in the church at this time and Emma Dewey
became the third wife of the missionary who converted her on 7 October 1856. A daughter,
Emma, was born in Ogden, and a son, Adelbert, was born to them after they moved to
Ephraim. In 1859 Isaac moved his family to Mt. Pleasant where he was accidentally killed
by his best friend, and Emma was left a widow with two babies.
About 1859 William was one who was called to Sevier Valley to help make a a settlement
to be known as Richfield. They drew lots for building spots and Albert Lewis, who served
as president of the people until April 1864, built the first house consisting of cottonwood
logs, ceder posts and plastered mud. William built a house on his lot of adobes.
William and Ruth, after moving nearer to Emma, came to her aid and befriended her
during her period of bewilderment when she had known nothing but hardship and
discouragement. On 6 June 1863 William Hayward married the widowed Emma Dewey
Allred, making her his second wife. William made a home for Emma in Moroni, Sanpete,
Utah. On 26 April 1864 a son, Thomas Henry, was born to them. Thus, in the triangle of
plural marriages Thomas had a half brother and half sister who were not even related to his
other half sister. Emma, being a second wife, was obliged to do what she could to help
earn a living for herself and her three children. The children helped their mother as they
could as she bent over the washboard or perspired over the hot irons or nursed the sick or
whatever She could to earn a few pennies. She was a real help to everyone and was
lovingly known as "Aunt Emma" to all who knew her.
William and Ruth were living in Richfield at this time and he built a double house and
moved Emma and her children there. They saw much poverty and during the grasshopper
famine went barefoot, poorly clothed, and often hungry. They were too proud to beg and
too poor to eat. At one time Ruth emptied a pin cushion she had brought from England
that was filled with bran, and she baked a bran cake for them. They were very hungry and it
tasted good. During this time William got a job digging ditches. One day he fainted from
weakness and his employer gave him a loaf of bread; as they ate the bread he said, "This
is the sweetest morsel I have ever tasted." They once went for nine days without bread to
eat and lived on greens, roots and pig weeds.
They had much trouble with the Indians who would steal their stock and burn what crops the
grasshoppers left. William was engaged in the battle of Marysvale at this time. They were
soon forced to leave their home in Richfield because of the Indian disturbances. They
moved to Nephi from Richfield. A little daughter was born to Emma and William on 18
June 1866, whom they named Ruth. She died from dysentery while still an infant. William
was much in need of work at this time. The great rush of railroad building was on to
connect the rails from coast to coast so William got in touch with Union Pacific Company
and applied for work. He was immediately accepted as cook. On 10 May 1869 at the
famous celebration of both railroad companies were there and William was asked to cook
the banquet for the occasion. For this service he was given the choice of a $10 gold
pieace or a large wall clock; he accepted the clock. It gave him service as long as he
lived, and at his death it was given to his daughter, Hannah. Claude Baker of Brigham
City, Utah now owns the clock. It is nearly 100 years old and is still running.
While living in Richfield William Hayward served as a Counselor to Nelson Higgins who
was appointed president of Sevier Valley.
President Young gave William a blessing in the St. George Temple promising him the gift
of healing and the answers to his prayers. Many times his prayers were answered. At one
time the Haywards were traveling from Moroni to Nephi and were obliged to make a camp
in Salt Canyon. Another family had camped at the same place and after they had all
retired and everything seemed peaceful, William awoke. He awakened the rest of the
camp and told them he had had a warning of danger and they must move on. The other
campers decided not to go, but William took his family and left. During the night the rest of
the camp were murdered by prowling Indians. A monument was erected to their memory
and still stands in Salt Creek Canyon. The lives of William Hayward family were spared.
William was often called upon to administer to the sick. He had a very firm testimony of the
gospel and was a regular attendant at meetings. Because of his former experience as
cook he was often put in charge of banquets when distinguished guests were present or
when there were numerous people in attendance.
While living in Nephi William had sheep in a cooperative sheep herd. Nephi records show
on 22 April 1887: "This is to certify that William Hayward owns in this cooperative sheep
herd 9 head of sheep and $.64 valued at $2.25 per head and interest For 1886. Total $21.
Recorded by Theo Knowles, Secretary.
In 1872 William had been called to help resettle Richfield. He took Ruth with him while
Emma continued to live in Nephi until 1875. She then moved to Chester where she lived
until 1893 when she moved to Mt. Pleasant to live with her only daughter, Emma, until she
died, 21 April 1909. She was buried in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
Ruth's health was very poor in her later years and William was very concerned and
thoughtful concerning her comfort. He formed the habit of serving her breakfast in bed
each morning. He was very devoted to his family and was known throughout the valley as a
kind-hearted gentleman. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him to do for his children.
He would pick huge bouquets of lilacs for them and say "God gave them to me to make
others happy." He was kind to animals, too, and he dug a hole in the porch door so the cat
could come in to her basket under the fruit cupboard. He would hold that big cat in his
arms and stroke her fur and talk to her with his own soft curly beard surrounding the smile
on his face. He was kind, generous, thoughtful man all his days. At the age of 74 he was
internally injured while over lifting and died a week later after much suffering without
complaint. He died in Richfield on 27 September 1891 and was buried in the Richfield
City Cemetery.
Ruth's last years were spent in the home of her only living child, Hannah Hayward Baker.
For many years after William's death her children and grandchildren carried on the tradition
that he had begun. It was considered a real honor to be the one chosen to carry her
breakfast to her bed. The children adored her. She was active and busy until the last year
of her life. She was the oldest citizen of Richfield and probably the oldest lady in Sevier
County when she died on 13 October 1904 in Richfield. Her body was placed beside
William's in the Richfield City Cemetery.
William has a large posterity even though there were only two living children from his two
marriages: his daughter Hannah through Ruth, and his son Thomas through Emma.
Thomas had 10 children--5 of them sons who lived to carry on the Hayward name. Hannah
had 13 children and many of her children and grandchildren used Hayward as a middle
name. Although there is not a complete number of his posterity available, Hannah's
posterity numbered 99 children and grandchildren (with one of her daughters having a
posterity of 114); Thomas' posterity numbered 38 children and grandchildren and his total
line is now around 150. (This number is not up to date.)
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