Edward Ockey

Edward Ockey was born in the Parish of Bishops Frome, in the county of Hereford, England on 27 February 1816.When he was about 7 years old, his family moved to Castle Frome, the adjoining parish, where they lived until his mother died about six years later. When his father died, he left Edward possession of the farm. He lived there until 1840 when he heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached by Wilford Woodruff and was baptized in August 1840. Edward had much opposition while he remained there. In April 1841 Edward left his native land and brothers and sisters. One of them, Ann, had been baptized and accompanied him to Liverpool where his older sister, Elizabeth, was baptized by Elder John Taylor. Both later went back and left the church. On 20 April on board the “Rochester”, in company with seven of the twelve apostles, he set sail for America. Wilford Woodruff records in his journal, “Elder Edward Ockey has done much for the cause of God. Has helped many families to go from England to Nauvoo & has paid out 2 or 300 pounds of late for this purpose. Besides he has this day presented me as a present to assist me to return home, A purse of gold containing 50 Sovereigns about equal to $250. Truly this is liberality, charity & blessings not often met with. As some of my Brethren were ready I gave A portion of it to them As follows: B Young 5 pounds, W Richards 5 Pounds, and G. A. Smith 5.”

When he arrived in New York 28 days later, Edward married Eliza Brewer who was also from Herefordshire. He and Eliza arrived at Nauvoo on 1 July 1841where the Prophet Joseph Smith was there to meet them. Edward and Eliza settled in Nauvoo and took an active part in the building of the city. Here they had 2 children. They left Nauvoo in the exodus of 1846. Soon afterward, another child was born to them in Iowa. The winter of 1846 was spent in Winter Quarters, Nebraska where Eliza died in the spring of 1847. In June of that year, Edward, with his 3 small children, joined with the Charles C. Rich company and crossed the plains, to arrive in the Great Salt Lake Valley on 3 October 1847. In June 1849, he married Sarah Cole, another convert from Herefordshire, who was baptised by Wilford Woodruff. She bore Edward eight children. The family eventually settled in Nephi, Utah.

Wilford Woodruff said whenever he made the acquaintance of men or women whose integrity to the gospel and generosity to the Saints were notable, their names have an honoured place in his journal. In this connection, it may be said that the names of William Clayton, John Benbow, William Pitt, Edward Ockey, Alfred Cordon, whom he met first in England, and some of whom he baptized, are mentioned many times by him, with feelings of love and admiration.

Edward Died 14 August 1871 in Nephi, Utah – Age 55.