Hannah Mariah was born 5 April 1836 in Whitchurch, Glamorganshire, Wales and christened on 12 April 1836. She was the second child of Isaac Harris and Esther Ellen Bowering. Little is known of Hannah’s childhood other than her father was an innkeeper at the Mason Arms in Whitchurch, according to the 1841 census.
Hannah’s family first came in contact with the church about 1849. Her mother was baptized first and the rest of the family joined within a few years. Hannah was baptized 20 November 1850. As was the custom in the early days of the church, the new converts wished to emigrate to Utah. Isaac and his son William emigrated in 1850 with the intention of locating a home and investigating the new land – America. On 5 February 1853 the ship “Jersey” sailed from Liverpool and arrived in New Orleans on 22 March 1853. Among the passengers were the rest of the Harris family, namely:
Hannah’s grandmother – Hannah Riden, age 68
Hannah’s mother – Esther Ellen Bowering, age 39
Hannah Mariah Harris, age 16
Hannah’s brother, Jabez Harris, age 10
Hannah’s sister, Elizabeth Rose Harris, age 7
Hannah’s brother, Joshua Harris, age 4
and three cousins, children of Esther Ellen Bowering’s deceased
sister, Elizabeth Bowering and William Evans:
Elizabeth Evans, age 16
Ada Evans, age 14
Henry Evans, age 10
There is an undocumented story in the family that while on board ship, Hannah met a young sailor and they became very interested in each other. However, at the request of Hannah’s mother, the two decided to wait one year before marrying and if at the end of that time they still wished to be married, then they would have the blessing of Hannah’s family. At the end of that year, the sailor came to Utah and found Hannah in Kaysville. Hannah was visiting in the home opf the Raymond family and was holding their newborn infant. The young sailor looked through the window and saw Hannah with the baby and mistakenly assumed it was hers. He turned to one of the Raymond girls who was playing outside and gave her the ring he had bought for Hannah. He then went away and was never heard from again. After the Harris family landed in New Orleans, Isaac came to meet them. A disagreement developed, which resulted in the divorce of Isaac and Esther. The family then hired their gardener, Ebenezer Williams, who had accompanied them on the ship, to drive their wagon to Utah. After arriving in Keokuk, Iowa, Ebenezer and Esther were married. (No documentation can be found of either the divorce or the marriage except for Andrew Jensen’s Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. III, pp. 281-282.)
The Harris family crossed the plains in Captain Claudius V. Spencer’s Company, which crossed the Missouri River on 3 June1853 to begin their trek westward. There were 250 people in the company and 40 wagons. They arrived in Salt Lake City on 24 September 1853. The following letter was written to President Brigham Young by Capt. Spencer as the company was about to enter the valley:
Weber River, 17 Sept. 1853
Revered and beloved Pres. Young:
I have received your notice to emigrating saints and improve the first opportunity to forward the list of our camp, which I believe is correct.
Provisions with us as with other camps are very short and we are making as much haste as possible to reach the Valley but the inexperience of the English brethren in these canyons makes slow progress and much trouble and will forbid my leaving camp until all the wagons are safely landed at the foot of Emigration Canyon. Any instruction you might choose to send by the bearer of this respecting the disposal of the came, that point will be thankfully received.
Very truly yours,
C. V. Spencer
Ebenezer Williams and Esther and the Harris and Evans children settled in Kaysville. Esther was sealed to Ebenezer on 24 July 1854 by Heber c. Kimball and died shortly thereafter on 2 November 1854. Ebenezer then married Ada Mazilla Evans on 19 January 1856 and was then sealed to her and to her grandmother, Hannah Riden on 13 May 1856 by Heber C. Kimball. The grandmother, Hannah Riden, died 15 March 1858, and both she and Esther Ellen Bowering are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
The Harris children, Hannah, Jabez, Elizabeth, and Joshua were living in Williams home. Without a mother or grandmother to look after them the children became quite unhappy and lived with various neighbors off and on. Hannah was approximately 18 when she married Joseph Taylor and became his third plural wife. She and Joseph housed her younger brothers and sisters from time to time.
Hannah and Joseph were sealed on 7 January 1865 and were the parents of nine children: Lamoni, James Henry, Heber “C”, Hyrum, Franklin Daniel Richards, Joseph , Esther, Ada Rose, and Mariah Eveline. Both Joseph and Esther died as infants and Hyrum died at the age of 14. So six of the nine children grew to maturity.
Hannah has been described as very small in stature but very witty and very beautiful She had a lovely singing voice which was enjoyed by the congregation at various church meetings. She had lovely dark auburn hair, which was much admired by her grandchildren. They remember a picture made from her hair. Hannah died on 28 May 1881 at the young age of 45 from a “paralytic stroke,” leaving a young family to be raised by Joseph’s other wives.
Hannah’s life was one of trial and tribulation, common to the early saints who sacrificed so much for the church. We owe her love and admiration for all she endured for us, her descendants.
Compiled and written by Ruth H. Barker, 2ggdaughter
Sources: Journal History, 17 September 1853, p. 1B-4
1977 Church Almanac
Crossing the Plains Index, GS Film 298,442, and 298,441
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia by Andrew Jensen, Vol. III, pp. 281-282
Family members and Joseph Taylor Family Organization
