From the census of 1841 we learn that George Criddle age 3 years old lived with his grandparents at Bradford, while his parents lived atTaunton. His grandfather Robert Bull was a stone mason and he taught young George that trade because in the 1851 census of Bradford,George, a boy of 12 years is called a mortar boy and he was living with this grandparents at Bradford.
Just when young George left Bradford and returned to Taunton his birthplace or when he was first baptized and confirmed a member of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, we do not know, but he must have been baptized before May 1853 because he was ordained a Deacon at Taunton by Edward Frost on 2 May 1853 when he was 15 years and 17 days old. Members were often ridiculed or persecuted and many lost thier jobs or found it hard to obtain work because of their unpopularity and because of the power which the Priests and vicars inthe Parishes had.
On the 3 Jan 1857 the record shows that George paid some money for Elders traveling and lodging, some for Branch expense and some for Elders clothing.
George was again baptized at Taunton 16 Mar 1857 by Thomas Phillips and confirmed the same day by Elder W. Brown. 31 Mar 1858 the Taunton Branch record shows George and other members of his father's family as paying tithing.
He was just past his 20th birthday when he married on 21 April 1858 Mary Ann Campyan, a widow who had been married to James Campion--who had been killed in the Crimean War. She had a son born at Crewkerne 14 Sep 1854 named James Campian. Mary Ann was the daughter of Bernard
Lacey Jr and Priscilla Perry. Mary Ann was baptized in Crewkerne 10 May 1848 by Samuel Webb and confirmed a member the same day by George Kendall into the L.D.S. Church. Because of inactivity in tehh Church she and many more in Crewkerne were cut off from the Church and they lost thier membership. Her sister Amelia was baptized 3 Feb 1848 by John Ostler and confirmed that same day by George Kendall in the L.D.S. Church. As the record shows Amelia remained true and faithful
and was re-baptized 4 Mar 1861 in Crewkerne by Martin Lederlan and confirmed the same day by the same person into the L.D.S Chruch. From that day she was true and faithful and did everything she could to encourage her children to be active in the Church.
After George and Mary Ann were married George moved to Crewkerne as we find on the L.D.S. Church records of Crewkerne dated 10 July 1858 as paying tithing in the Taunton Branch. He also helped with Elders expenses, fast donation, Temple expenses & Branch expenses and other
expenses. In the year 1857 by commandment of the Lord by the First Presidency of the L.D.S. Church there was a reformation and all members were commanded to be re-baptized. On 16 Mar 1857 and at other times George was re-baptized although he had remained true and faithful from the first baptizm as the records show by his advancement in the priesthood, and by his tithing and donations, and his help in baptisms and confirmations. The Crewkerne Mission Record of the L.D.S. Chruch show George regularly helped with the baptisms and confirmations.
In Oct 1862 George Criddle and his family and his sister Sarah Ann arrived in Utah, the gathering place of of the L.D.S. Church. After his arrival he wrote to his father at Taunton, England and advised his father to come to Utah, too. So 4 years after George emigrated, Henry Criddle, his wife Mary Bull Criddle and 4 children, Jane, Charlotte, Selina and Charles sailed on the ship, Conelius Grinnel, which set sail from London 30 May 1866. There were 26 persons under the charge of R. Harrison. What ports the Conelius Grinnel docked at is not known or at what port this Criddle family embarked on the ship is not known but the ship sailed to the New York harbor. From New York they went to Nebraska. Kenesville, Iowa was where most of the outfitting was done for the overland wagon trains going to Salt Lake Valley after Winter Quarters was evacuated. Other stations used were Keokuk, Iowa; Kansas City, Mo; Mormon Grove, Kansas; Iowa City, Iowa; Florence and Wyoming, Nebraska. Florence, Nebraska was established for outfitting about 1858 and Wyoming, Nebraska about 1864. The Henry Criddle family were in the company of Josehp S. Rawlins which left Wyoming, Nebraska
2 Aug 1866 and arived in Salt Lake Valley on Oct 1866. There were in the company about 400 people and 65 wagons. When half way across the plains between Nebraska and Utah, Henry became sick. As the company continued on to the Salt Lake Valley, Mary Criddle with her 4 children and sick husband remained behind at a temporary camp. After the death of Henry on 16 Sep 1866 and his burial on the lonely plains, the wife and children joined another company who were going through to Salt
Lake. So the Criddle family did not arrive in Salt Lake Valley when thier orginal company arrived, but came a few days later. Sad was the meeting of the son, George and his sister Sarah Ann who had preceded this little mother to Utah whn told of the lonely unmarketed grave on the plains, which was the haunt of the wild Indian, buffalo and coyote.
“George and Mary Ann Lacey Criddle of Taunton Somersetshire, England came to America 25 June 1862. They crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley going to Richville, Morgan Co, Utah in the late fall.
George was 6’2” tall and presided over the first Sunday school at Milton, Utah and he was Justice of the Peace there for many years. He was 2nd ward clerk of Milton and was called to work one winter as a stonemason on the St. George Temple. Four years later his parents Henry and Mary Bull Criddle with several of their children came from England to join them, but crossing the plains when near Antelope Springs, Wyoming he and 15 others froze to death.
From the census of 1841 we learn that George Criddle age 3 years old
lived with his grandparents at Bradford, while his parents lived at
Taunton. His grandfather Robert Bull was a stone mason and he taught
young George that trade because in the 1851 census of Bradford,
George, a boy of 12 years is called a mortar boy and he was living
with this grandparents at Bradford.
Just when young George left Bradford and returned to Taunton his
birth place or when he was first baptized and confirmed a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, we do not know, but he
must have been baptized before May 1853 because he was ordained a
Deacon at Taunton by Edward Frost on 2 May 1853 when he was 15 years
and 17 days old. Members were often ridiculed or persecuted and many
lost their jobs or found it hard to obtain work because of their
unpopularity and because of the power which the Priests and vicars in
the Parishes had.
On the 3 Jan 1857 the record shows that George paid some money for
Elders traveling and lodging, some for Branch expense and some for
Elders clothing.
George was again baptized at Taunton 16 Mar 1857 by Thomas Phillips
and confirmed the same day by Elder W. Brown. 31 Mar 1858 the Taunton
Branch record shows George and other members of his father's family as
paying tithing.
He was just past his 20th birthday when he married on 21 April 1858
Mary Ann Campyan, a widow who had been married to James Campion--who
had been killed in the Crimean War. She had a son born at Crewkerne
14 Sep 1854 named James Campian.
Mary Ann was the daughter of Bernard
Lacey Jr and Priscilla Perry. Mary Ann was baptized in Crewkerne 10
May 1848 by Samuel Webb and confirmed a member the same day by George
Kendall into the L.D.S. Church. Because of inactivity in the Church
she and many more in Crewkerne were cut off from the Church and they
lost their membership. Her sister Amelia was baptized 3 Feb 1848 by
John Ostler and confirmed that same day by George Kendall in the
L.D.S. Church. As the record shows Amelia remained true and faithful
and was re-baptized 4 Mar 1861 in Crewkerne by Martin Lederlan and
confirmed the same day by the same person into the L.D.S Church. From
that day she was true and faithful and did everything she could to
encourage her children to be active in the Church.
After George and Mary Ann were married George moved to Crewkerne as we
find on the L.D.S. Church records of Crewkerne dated 10 July 1858 as
paying tithing in the Taunton Branch. He also helped with Elders
expenses, fast donation, Temple expenses & Branch expenses and other
expenses. In the year 1857 by commandment of the Lord by the First
Presidency of the L.D.S. Church there was a reformation and all
members were commanded to be re-baptized. On 16 Mar 1857 and at other
times George was re-baptized although he had remained true and
faithful from the first baptism as the records show by his advancement
in the priesthood, and by his tithing and donations, and his help in
baptisms and confirmations. The Crewkerne Mission Record of the
L.D.S. Church show George regularly helped with the baptisms and
confirmations.
In Oct 1862 George Criddle and his family and his sister Sarah Ann
arrived in Utah, the gathering place of the L.D.S. Church. After
his arrival he wrote to his father at Taunton, England and advised his
father to come to Utah, too. So 4 years after George emigrated, Henry
Criddle, his wife Mary Bull Criddle and 4 children, Jane, Charlotte,
Selina and Charles sailed on the ship, Conelius Grinnel, which set
sail from London 30 May 1866. There were 26 persons under the charge
of R. Harrison. What ports the Conelius Grinnel docked at is not known
or at what port this Criddle family embarked on the ship is not known
but the ship sailed to the New York harbor. From New York they went
to Nebraska. Kenesville, Iowa was where most of the outfitting was
done for the overland wagon trains going to Salt Lake Valley after
Winter Quarters was evacuated. Other stations used were Keokuk, Iowa;
Kansas City, Mo; Mormon Grove, Kansas; Iowa City, Iowa; Florence and
Wyoming, Nebraska. Florence, Nebraska was established for outfitting
about 1858 and Wyoming, Nebraska about 1864. The Henry Criddle family
were in the company of Joseph S. Rawlins which left Wyoming, Nebraska
2 Aug 1866 and arrived in Salt Lake Valley on Oct 1866. There were in
the company about 400 people and 65 wagons. When half way across the
plains between Nebraska and Utah, Henry became sick. As the company
continued on to the Salt Lake Valley, Mary Criddle with her 4 children
and sick husband remained behind at a temporary camp.
After the death
of Henry on 16 Sep 1866 and his burial on the lonely plains, the wife
and children joined another company who were going through to Salt
Lake. So the Criddle family did not arrive in Salt Lake Valley when
their original company arrived, but came a few days later. Sad was the
meeting of the son, George and his sister Sarah Ann who had preceded
this little mother to Utah when told of the lonely unmarked grave on
the plains, which was the haunt of the wild Indian, buffalo and
coyote. Alice Lovenia Wilcox Lee, April 1963