Sorry for the previous bad formatting.
Nancy Aretta Warriner is my 4th Great Grandmother. Nancy was born July 29, 1790 in Vershire, Orange, Vermont.
She died May 2, 1864 in Porterville, Morgan, Utah. Her gravesite is next to her husband Sanfords in the old Porterville Cemetery.
A neighbor of ours, also related to Nancy, provided me with a genealogy history that take her lineage back to Adam. The research was completed by his Certified Genealogist brother who has written Porter Family History books. I find this interesting. Having served in the Church History Headquarters as a missionary I get a funny look from other genealogists who I share this Adam information with.
I find it interesting that Nancy genealogy as he has it goes to British Royalty. I have a sense this is correct based on the research I have been able to perform myself.
Nancy and Sanford were early Mormon converts. I take the following from history found on www.SanfordPorter.org. "It was in the month of July, 1830, perhaps a little over three months after the organization of the Mormon Church at Fayette, Seneca, New York, that Sanford Porter, had the first opportunity of learning anything of this new religion. During that month, two Mormon Elders, Lyman Wight and John Carroll visited Tazewell County while on their way westward, perhaps with the intention of assisting in the location of the Central Stake of Zion. They held a number of meetings in the vicinity of the Porter home, and as is the custom with the Latter-Day-Saint missionaries, visited the inhabitants of the neighborhood at their homes.
This visit was a reinforcement to a previous vision Sanford had received which led to he and Nancy being baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Nancy and her young family were among the members who experienced horrible persecution for the sake of the religion. This ultimately led to their joining the trek westward to the promised valley, The Great Salt Lake.
When the main body of the Mormons left Nauvoo for the west in 1846, Sanford succeeded in selling his farm at a low figure and accompanied them to Winter Quarters, where he and the family lived until the summer of 1847. Two of his sons, Chauncy and Nathan, remained behind at their former home, until the spring of 1847 - the former for the purpose of assisting his father-in-law to dispose of his property, and the latter, who had sometime before taken up a farm of his own and had made some improvements thereon, remaining for the purpose of selling it. Cold weather coming on before they had made disposition of the property, kept them from joining their father and his family at Winter Quarters that year; and during the winter, Nathan cutting wood for the river steamers, thus adding a little to his store of means for the westward journey. Chauncy was let into a trick by a horse thief, who came to him with a well groomed animal representing to be a race horse which he had just purchased at a high figure. He wished to leave the horse with Chauncy, promising to pay for the pasturage and care of the animal when he should return; not suspecting anything wrong, Chauncy accepted the terms offered. It soon developed that the horse had been stolen, and when the thief was caught he accused Chauncy of being accessory to the crime. At the trial, the latter proved his innocence, but not without considerable expense, considering his financial condition at that time. In the spring, these two brothers set out for Winter Quarters, where they arrived about the 1st of June, some time after the pioneer vanguard had left for the Mountains, meeting their father a short distance from the settlement on his way to Missouri for provisions.
They traveled with 126 total pioneers in the Charles C Rich company. Nancy was 57 years old. At the onset it was believed by Sanford and others that Nancy and her youngest child should stay behind as they were concerned that they had lost so much stock and were short on teams. Sons Nathan and John President were not in favor and it was decided they would go with the company. The youngest child is Lyman Wight Porter, he and John are my second great grandparents.
Some excerpts from Nathans journal as Nathan writes about their journey: Still in the fierry ordeal of affliction so crually imposed upon them we found our mother fully as anceous [anxious] to go with us, as we were to have her go. therefore we set too with all our energies in ful[l] faith that we would make the necessary fitout to that end. So that when Father returned some ten days following I had the pleasure of surprising him with the information that the necessary outfit was well nigh compleeted for us including Mother and Lyman—my youngest Brother—which we fully compleeted in a day or so more. So that by the 15th of June we were agane on the move with many others with our faces set for the Rocky mountain Reageon [Region][.] families moved out promiscuously as fast as they got ready. to the Pioneer crossing on a tributary streem of the Platt[e
The following companies commenced leading forth on their trail from the Horn on the 20th of June following forming into 4 colum[n]s of teams abrest as a precaution against the attacts of Indians upon whose borders we were now entering. leaving the Horn, the trail led us a cross on to the Platt[e] River after trav[e]ling a few days the trains were redused in to 2 columns which was maintained for some five hundred miles; terminating at Fort Larima [Laramie] on the main fork-or rather north fork of the Platt[e]. from this point, the componies traveled in Single colum[n]s. having to incounter a mountainous reagon [region] duering [during] the remainder of the Journey Which was a wide contrast from the levil grade of the Platt[e] valley bordered by low hills on either side now & then dotted with large heards of Buffaloes whes [whose] bellowing resembled the distant thunder. Several bands of the Sious [Siouxs] & Shians [Cheyennes] were met with; there were two or three can[y]ons distributed in the several compones [companies] one in the compony [company] I was organised in—led by—Elder Charles C. Rich—these were fiered [ferried] occasion[a]lly to deter the Indians which had the dsired [desired] effect we were met on one occasion by a band who presented a hostile appearence as they approached to ward us. leaving their Women & Children in the background while the Warries [Warriors] advanced carrying a red flag. our componey was soon thrown into a defencive position[.] they came to a halt sent their flag forward which was met by one of our men. the token of friendship was extended by shaking hands and extending the pipe. the Women & children then came forward and with the men were permited to come within our lines. The Wagon b[e]aring the Cannon was drawn out to which their attention was directed. they gathered around to see the curious Wagon[.] it was plased [placed] in position and on motioning to them they step[p]ed back. the torch was applied & off she went, causing a gineral [general] stampede on the part of the Indians[.] men and Women were struck with consternation for a few minutes. We learned that the impression went out among the Indians that all our wagons would Shoot. no one wished to correct the impression as it answer[e]d well; to deter them from molesting us by day or night;
(I will here note that before leaving the Sweet water we were met by President Young & Compony on their return. he informed us that they had penetrated the Bason [Basin] of the Great Salt Lake in which they had selected a location for the Saints. And having left a few of their number to await the arrival of the Emigrating componies & to put in a <few> Seeds to test the Soil—they were returning to bring their families the insuing season. this was cheering news to all and put anend [an end] to our ankzieties [anxieties] as to where we should find a country; where we could subsist; & live undisturbed by a ruthless Bob [mob] & under the Edicts of Mob-Governers. We continued on with light hearts & Boyent Spirits without an expression of doubt as to the results by our labours in that hither-to unknown Reagion [region].
An interesting comment about Brigham Young and the Salt Lake Valley by Nathan: This Moses (of the last days) looked ca.[l]mly on the distructive eleme[n]ts before him. forbiding the approach of the confiding multitude now wending their way forwarad on the dim trail left in his rear. consisting of Men Women & chi[l]dren fleeing from a Modern Phario. destitute: with but a [s]canty supply of provisions: impeled on, with the assuerance that he whome they chosen to lead them would (under God) lead them a right.
And finally the joy of arriving. But to return. Leaving F T Briger [Bridger] we came to Bare [Bear] River from thense to the Weber, these Rivers head in Wacatch [Wasatch] Mountains on the East of the Bason [Basin] <heading> to the south east. entering the Bason [Basin]; & empting into the Salt Lake on the North East on the 1st day of October we made the summit of the pass over these ranges. When for the first time our anceous [anxious] eyes rested on the Silvery Lake & Slopes intervening in the distance below. the dusty hat, & the faded Sunbonnet was seen waveing above the head of its occupant while shouts of joy and admiration, assended up as each in his exciety [anxiety] made the summit. the tears of sorrow having now fled, those of gratitude burst forth with affusion making a pathway down many a care worn face. the contrast, between the long dreary sage plains; and this valley like a rose bed in the Desert, a wating the hand of the husband man to set it Blooming with f[r]uits s[h]rubs and flowers. coupled with the though[t] of peace and safety from the hand of the oppressor was truly Soul stiring. leaving the summit the trail led down a canyon for a short distance then baring to the right passed over a divide into another Canyon—called Emigration Canyon. here we camped for the night. on the morrow we entered the valley, and desending passed over a large tract of table land came to a more level grad[e] extending to the Shores of the Lake. we were met by some of the preseeding companies who were in advance of us: also the Pioneeres who were left—as before mentioned—
We don’t have a journal of Nancy’s writings but one can imagine her being a part of this. The captain of the Company, Charles C Rich’s wife also kept a journal. From this we learn a bit more. My husband [Charles C. Rich] fitted up his wagons and teams and we left Winter Quarters in June, 1847; he having been placed in charge of a company of one hundred wagons. We traveled to the Elkhorn River, here we had to wait until all had crossed the river, as we crossed on rafts, and Mr. Rich had to wait until they all got over so he could tie the raft and bring the rope with him. There was one young man by the name of Weatherby, who was killed by the Indians while we were here, he died in our tent.
We traveled two abreast the whole distance of the Platt[e] River, for greater safety. There were thousands of buffalo on every side, which the men would kill, so we had plenty of meat. There were also hundreds of Indians to be seen at frequent intervals all the time we were traveling up the Platt River. They were very cunning, and we had to watch them very closely to see that they did not steal everything we had in our wagons. They would shoot arrows into our cattle and sheep; so we found it took more hands to herd the cattle and drive the wagons than we had anticipated.
The Saints had made an agreement among themselves that anyone who had brought a hired man or boy with them, should keep that hired man or boy until after harvest the next year so that no one would go hungry or starve after he got to the valley. Mr. Rich thought he would have to hire two more men or boys to drive two of the wagons. There was one of his wives Em[m]eline [Grover Rich] beside myself who had no children; so we volunteered to drive the wagons until we got to the valley. He did not think we could, but we persuaded him to try us one day and see. We did so well that we had our teams every day after that as regular as the men did until we arrived in the valley. We did not grieve or mourn over it, we had some very nice times when the roads were not so bad. We would make the mountans ring with our songs, and sometimes the company would get together and we would have a dance in the evening on the grass. We did not mourn but we rejoiced that we were going to the Rocky Mountains where we would be free to live our religion, and be acknowledged as wives. We felt that we wanted to do everything in our power to help Mr. Rich out, as his children were all small and he needed our help. I had never had very good health until I started on this trip, and I got to fee1ing so well that I felt it was a pleasure to take hold and do anything that lay in my power to help.
When we got to the Black Hills there was no water for the teams they were almost crazy for want of it, and when we got to the bed of the River they had to dig holes to get a little water, but they could not get half enough. Some of the men were greedy and wanted their teams to have all the water they wanted, which would not leave enough for the other teams. Mr. Rich had charge of the company and he had to appoint men to see that justice was done to each team.
This was obviously not an easy journey. Things weren’t easy once they arrived. When the main body of the Mormons left Nauvoo for the west in 1846, Sanford succeeded in selling his farm at a low figure and accompanied them to Winter Quarters, where he and the family lived until the summer of 1847. Two of his sons, Chauncy and Nathan, remained behind at their former home, until the spring of 1847 - the former for the purpose of assisting his father-in-law to dispose of his property, and the latter, who had sometime before taken up a farm of his own and had made some improvements thereon, remaining for the purpose of selling it. Cold weather coming on before they had made disposition of the property, kept them from joining their father and his family at Winter Quarters that year; and during the winter, Nathan cutting wood for the river steamers, thus adding a little to his store of means for the westward journey. Chauncy was let into a trick by a horse thief, who came to him with a well groomed animal representing to be a race horse which he had just purchased at a high figure. He wished to leave the horse with Chauncy, promising to pay for the pasturage and care of the animal when he should return; not suspecting anything wrong, Chauncy accepted the terms offered. It soon developed that the horse had been stolen, and when the thief was caught he accused Chauncy of being accessory to the crime. At the trial, the latter proved his innocence, but not without considerable expense, considering his financial condition at that time. In the spring, these two brothers set out for Winter Quarters, where they arrived about the 1st of June, some time after the pioneer vanguard had left for the Mountains, meeting their father a short distance from the settlement on his way to Missouri for provisions.
Nancy Warriner Porter, the great grandmother of the present writer, died May 4, 1864 being nearly seventy four years old. Although the written record of this event does not state where her death took place, it may be presumed that it was at Porterville, Morgan County, Utah as this was her home and she was buried in the cemetery at that place.
Nancy M Porter Moffett writes the following tribute: “She reared her children in kindness and love. She was amiable to all and very patient through the trials of life. She left these lovely attributes to her progeny down to the present time. She was the mother of 10 children. Five boys and two girls survived her.
Temples are an important part of the Mormon faith. Families are sealed for time and eternity through covenants made in the temple. All will have the opportunity to choose to accept baptism, marriage, and sealing ordinances performed in temples. In researching Nancy’s genealogy and from genealogy research I have obtained from other Porter descendants it appears that Nancy came from British Aristocracy, even those influential in early American times. It appears by looking at when temple ordinances were offered by proxy to these ancestors that Nancy may have known about them. For her parents, grandparents, great grandmother Elizabeth Pynchon, John Pynchon, Amy Wyllis, and even Governor George Wyllis 1581 - 1694 all had their temple work performed in Nauvoo, St George, or the Logan Temple in the very early days of the church. (most around 1899) George Wyllis was the 4th Governor of Connecticut. Much is written about him. I will feature him in his own story.
Emma Porter Walton submitted the following life sketch: “Nancy’s colonial ancestor was William Warriner of England who tradition says, in the year 1600 eloped with the Lady Alice Clifford and made their escape from Lincolnshire along with other members of the Warriner family who fled the wrath of offended noblemen of York. In crossing a river some of the party were drowned - William, Lady Alice, and one other were saved. William Warriner is mentioned in Canterbury Cathedral records many times. His children were christened there and his wife, Alice, was buried there in 1619. He is said to be the same William Warriner who sailed to America in 1639 and married Joanna Searle. William Warriner and his descendants have furnished soldiers for all the American wars, and they have been well represented among the clergy of several Christian churches; Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Baptist. The were sturdy, stalwart patriots and pastors.
Nancy’s father and mother made their homes in Wilbraham, Mass. Where their first three children were born. Then he was called to serve in the Revolutionary War. He served in Colonel Pynchon’s regiment and in Captain Abel King’s regiment of Springfield county. After his discharge from the army, he and his wife and three children moved to Vershire, Vermont where the rest of their family of nine children were born. Nancy was the fifth child and third daughter of the family.
Here in the green hills of Vermont, Nancy grew up and with the children of other homesteads caught the maple sugar sap as it flowed form maple trees and gathered nuts and berries in the wooded rolling hills. Among those children was Sanford Porter. Nancy and Sanford went to the same schools, attended the same socials, went to the same church, and became sweethearts.
In those days the rule of the eldest son in a family to inherit the father’s entire property forced the younger sons to go out by themselves and make their fortune, so Sanford being the third son left Vershire and Nancy to make his way in the world. With Nancy, to whom he was betrothed , he left his promise that as soon as he had a homestead of his own, he would come back for her. He went into Western New York State and made a claim on land and went about the arduous work of clearing and planting.
In the year of 1812 Sanford enlisted in the service of his country in the war with Great Britain leaving Nancy, a bride of a few months, in a little log house he had just finished on his homestead. Her oldest son Chauncy Warriner Porter was born while her husband was in the service.
Sanford’s personal story, published in volume 1of Porter Family History by Joseph Grant Stevenson tells of Nancy and Sanford’s pre marriage days. “I concluded that I must have a house and housekeeper, for the way I had to live was too troublesome. I had agreed with a young woman in Vermont to marry her. I had written two or three times to her, but received no answer, and I concluded she had given up on the bargain and thought she would not go so far from her father and mother. I wrote a letter to that effect and told her to marry to suit herself if she could. I would not stand in her way and I gave up the idea of going back to see her. I went looking about to see if I could find anyone I liked to keep house for me. I went down the creek about 10 miles from Abner’s to a meeting, and I got talking to a young man there and told him what my name was and where I had my claim., and it was very unhandy for me to go so far night and morning to work and I needed a woman to keep house. He said he knew of one he thought I could get and he would introduce me to her. I stayed with her that night; she seemed very willing to marry me and wanted to know when I would be coming again. I told her I did not know; I had no house of my own and I didn’t know when I could get one. Perhaps in a week or two. I thought I would go and see her again. I went over to the spring and was making ready to go to the meeting and see that girl (when) here came a person and handed me a letter from my sweetheart in Vermont. She wrote with so much affection that I sat down and wept freely. She wrote that she was astonished at the last letter I wrote her - that she had written three or four letters and I had got none of them - that she had not changed her mind at all, and had been preparing to go there as soon as I thought proper; that she was willing to go into that country and her folds were willing she should go there. We all were well acquainted with each other, for we lived within a half mile apart for about 10 or 12 years, and been at the same school together every winter. I did not go and see Miss Polly Done and I heard that she was very much disappointed, for she thought to catch me, and was preparing to keep house for me.
Another interesting story about Nancy, from the Porter Family History takes place when Sanford seriously hurt his leg with an axe. After attending to him with what would be like first aid they agreed she should get help from an Uncle Dake, two miles away. He laid on the floor for fear if he stirred much his foot was start to bleeding again. In no time she opened the door and came in. He describes the dialogue: “Said I to her, Who did you meet?” She said she didn’t meet anybody.” “Well why didn’t you go there?”
“She said she had been there.” “What! Dake’s?” “Yes.” “said I, you haven’t for it is not possible.” “She said it was possible and Uncle and Aunt Dake were coming in all the slop and the slush.” “Yes said I, your clothes don’t look much wet nor shoes nor stockings.” She pulled off her shoes and there was but a little water in them. “Why don’t you pull off your stocking and wring the water out?” “She said there was none that would wring out. In about half an hour Uncle and Aunt Dake came. They had on boots -both of them - that came nearly came to their knees, and as full of water as they could hold and have them walk. Their clothes were dripping wet, “why said I, Nancy’s clothes, shoes or stockings don’t appear much wet, Why said I?” “No because she flew. They knew she flew because they saw her start from them, and her feet did not touch the water. They called her to stop, but she paid no attention, but kept on flying and soon was out of their site. He clothes were not muddy like theirs. This was a mystery to us all. We could not solve or comprehend it, try as we would. To go 4 miles through deep slop and slush, mud and water almost knee deep, and come home dry! It was beyond the supernatural.
The story of Sanford and Nancy is a legend to what is estimated by some as over 5000 descendants. It is an example of the value of writing our life histories which Sanford did, or in his case dictated it. I have the printout provided showing Nancy to Adam. I have spent some time trying to document this work and feel it is credible to a point. Not that I challenge the work done by Mr. Stevenson, but it would be important to document what it claimed. A sign in the family history mission is appropriate: “Genealogy without sources is Mythology.
Below is a copy of a form provided by staff of the Salt Lake City Family History Library. I like it a lot and it is included below. As you will note, there is little documentation. FamilySearch Family Tree is all about sourcing, collaborating, and working together to document mankind. In Nancy Warriners file there are currently seven attached sources. One source is a census of 1850, three are headstone images, and three are stories. There are dozens of possible sources to add facts to this great story. A complete and accurate story would delve into these many sources. I invite you to assist in this effort. Help us know for a sure about what seems to be a great heritage.
Larry K Cragun
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