John Deveraux

John Deveraux was born 6 April 1840 in Dymock, Gloucestershire, England, a son of Joseph Deveraux and Elizabeth Hayward. He married Esther Cockshed in Ledbury, England 26 February 1827. They had five children: Ann, Joseph, John, (he lived only one year), Harriet, and Esther. John and his wife, Esther, became dissatisfied with the Wesleyan Methodist Church to which they belonged. They joined a group that called themselves the “United Brethren”. John and Esther later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized in June 1840.

When they were converted, they lived at Clencher’s Mill, Eastnor, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. They lived there sixteen years after they were baptized and then decided to go to Zion. Esther was not well but was anxious to get started. She was afraid if she died, her husband or children would not go. John and Esther, with their daughter, Harriet, and her husband Thomas Richins, and their 14-month-old son, Albert Franklin, registered with the ship the “Enoch Train” 10 March 1856. John listed his age as 57 and his occupation as wagoner. They embarked 22 March 1856 and set sail the next day. After they had been on the water for about 10 days, John’s wife, Esther, died. She was buried at sea 9 June 1856. John, Harriet, Thomas, and baby Albert arrived in Boston, USA on 1 May 1856 and travelled to Iowa City, Iowa where they joined the first handcart company to travel to the Salt Lake Valley.

John had enough money to come by wagon team but gave his money to the Perpetual Emigration fund so others could come. After nearly 4 months of weary travelling, having been delayed by the breaking down of handcarts, and by sickness and death, they reached the Salt Lake Valley. On the same ship and handcart company as John and his family was a small, blue-eyed widow with her two daughters. She was Ann Perkins Price. John and Ann were married 10 July 1857 and lived in Salt Lake City for a few years before being called to settle what is now Goshen in Utah County. They built a cabin and lived there for more than 20 years. Ann became blind and John cared for her until she died 23 May 1888. John then moved back to Pleasant Grove with his daughter, Harriett, and son-in-law. He also became blind and bedridden for the last six years of his life. Harriett cared for him and did everything she could to make him comfortable.

John died 9 February 1895 in Pleasant Grove, Utah - Age 95.