Rosina Mary Dafford Gibbons (Hawkes)

This history was found on reocities [link] and appears to mostly be written by Rosina. All the information in it appears to be accurate from the names of the family to the years that they traveled across the plains. It matches the records of the Church. Also, before Grandma Rhea Marriott Snow died she told me (Melissa Snow Prince) when I had asked her about William Alvin marrying his cousin that Rosina Mary had been adopted.

Rosina Mary Dafford Gibbons was born 21 June 1862 in Bath, Sommersetshire, England. Her father abandoned her mother who could not care for her. Her mother struggled for awhile but finally ask James Gibbons and Ann Shuttleworth Gibbons to adopt her, which they did.
"I was an adopted daughter of James Gibbons and Ann Shuttleworth Gibbons. I had two sisters, Lucy Gibbons and Annie Gibbons and one brother Joseph Gibbons. I came to America when I was 6 years old and I do not remember much of England. "
"My adopted parents joined the L.D.S. church in England. My father joined the church on October 16, 1848 and my mother joined in 1855. They had previously been members of the Baptist Church before being converted to Mormonism. Father, on hearing a Mormon Elder preaching in the streets, stopped and listened to him and was convinced that what he said was true, he said it was Bible doctrine and that he had always believed that baptism was necessary to salvation and should be performed by someone who had the authority to baptize."
"Conditions in England at this time were very bad with much poverty and hunger. My mother gave me to James and Annie Gibbons to come to America where I could have more advantages and a much better life."
"I left my home in Bath Somersetshire, England June 2, 1868 and sailed from Liverpool, England June 4, 1868 on the sailing Vessel "John Bright", being six weeks and 3 days on the seas. During the voyage we encountered a severe storm and our boxes and utensils were thrown from one side of the ship to the other. We had to hold on to our bunk to keep from being thrown out. Boxes and utensils were thrown everywhere. The storm raged all night and we were so thankful to see daylight as the storm abated toward morning."
"The next morning the Captain called us all on deck, as it was the custom to have prayers and a meeting at 9 o'clock. He talked to us all and said that it was the worst storm he had ever been in at sea, and he felt that if he had not had a ship load of Mormon emigrants on board, he was afraid that we
would have been at the bottom of the sea. He said, there was something about the Mormon emigrants he could not understand, (as he had carried over many of them), he always
felt he would land safely when they were on board. There were 800 people on the ship."
"We arrived in New York on July 14, 1868. We came by rail to Fort Laramie, Wyoming where the teams from Utah were waiting for us. We crossed the plains with mule teams in Captain Murdock's Company. My mother and young sister Ann and I rode in the wagon most of the way as we were not old enough to walk and my mother was unable to walk. Father and my brother Joseph and sister Lucy walked nearly all the way. Those that could had to walk. As the wagons were being loaded sometimes we got a catch ride for a few miles. We generally traveled about 25 miles a day, sometimes more, sometimes coming into camp long after the teams. There were always a good many stragglers and many times we sat down on the roadside to rest."
"We arrived in Salt Lake City on August 19, 1868 and came to Ogden 3 days later. We lived there most of the time until I was married. However, two years after we came to Utah my father, mother, sisters, brother and I moved to Bear Lake. My mother died shortly after arriving there on February 26, 1871."

Rosina was baptized in 1872 at Ogden Utah. She was a very refined lady and not unaccustomed to the hardships of pioneering, as there were no conveniences at the time in the new settlements. In the spring we returned to Ogden where I was educated and lived until I was married."
"I worked at various places as a domestic for several years, but as father had lost his sight I would take him about wherever he wanted to go. He was a very kind and gentle man and loved to go to all his meetings. "
"We lived at grandmother's some of the time and sometime at my sister Lucy's home, who was married at the time. Her brother Joseph was generally the breadwinner for the family." "I was married to William Alvin Gibbons in the Logan Temple April 28, 1886 and had six children; William, Elizabeth, Mary, Herman, Annie and Francis. Francis Richard died at two weeks of age. We moved to Preston after our marriage."
William, (my husband) had very poor health and was ill very much of the time. He was subject to epileptic seizures. She had a very had life, especially after his death. They sold the 40 acres and bought 80 acres three and half miles out of Preston. The whole family worked very hard at anything that would pay any money. "I came to Preston, Idaho in 1886 and lived there most of my life."
She also cared for her father in law who had lost his arm early in his life. She later married her daughter Elizabeth's, father in law, Heber Hawkes November 21, 1908 at Preston, Idaho. who had lost a leg in a car accident. After he died she lived with her daughters families. Rosina Mary Dafford Gibbons died March 27th, 1953 at Wendell, Idaho in her daughter Elizabeth's home. She was buried in Preston buried March 30th, 1953 at Preston, Idaho.

Mrs. Rose Gibbons born June 21th 1862 at Bath England, she left England on the sailing vessel "John Bright" on June 4th 1868, being six week on the water, arrived in New York July 14th 1868.
Crossed the plains by mule team in Captain Murdock's Company. Arrived in Salt Lake City 19th of August 1868 and later moved to Ogden, they then moved to Bear Lake, where they lived for two years. But due to hard ships and inconveniences, they moved back to Ogden Utah, she was nine years old when with her parents they went back to Ogden.
April 28th 1886 she married William A. Gibbons. He died June 1th 1899 at Preston, Idaho. After his death she took up practical nursing and cared for many sick people. She boasts good health. Spends most of her time reading and crocheting, and has been an ardent Church worker all her life having worked in Relief Society most of the time. She later married Heber Hawkes and on June 21th celebrated her 85 birthday in Logan Canyon at the Gibbons reunion, where 250 attended.
After Grandpa died, mother sold the farm and we moved in town. She married a man with 5 children 3 boys and two girls and my brother and I. So there were nine of us. I remember mother had to bake bread every day. After she would get the ingredients it was my job to do this and I remember how I disliked turning that bread mixer every morning that was my job, a little on. I that I was quit grown up. I wanted to get a job, but mother said no after a lot of coaxing. She finally decided I could. The Bunkers wife stopped mother on the street one day and ask her if I could come work for her. They were well respected people, so mother said I could. They had four small girls. They were such nice people. They payed me three dollars a week. She said I was such a good worker and was so good with the little girls they payed me three dollars a week. And then every two weeks, she gave me an extra fifty cents. The first 3 dollars I earned I bought me a pair of white button shoes . Was I ever thrilled.
On July 24, 1947 She was given a metal for one of the oldest pioneers given by the Utah Centennial Commission in observances commemorating their hundredth birthday.
Her sons and daughters five of whom are living, Herman Gibbons, Preston Idaho, Mrs. Mary Smith, Rexburg, Idaho, Anna Snow lava Hot Springs, Idaho. She has 21 grand children and 27 great grand children. After her marriage to William Gibbons, they settled in Preston, Idaho. They homesteaded the property south of where the mill now stands having lived in Preston for sixty years.

William Alvin Gibbons
He was born June 26, 1859 in Treforest, Wales, England to William Belcher Gibbons and Mary Wilkes. He came to Utah with his parents when he was about 9 years old. He married Rosina Gibbons, who had been adopted by his uncle James Gibbons when she was six years old before they left England. This marriage took place April 28, 1886. William Alvin was an epileptic. The seizures started when he was about 19 years old. It is believed the marriage was arranged by the parents so that Rosina could care for him. He and Rosina did have six children, three girls and three girls. One boy, Francis Richard died at two weeks of age. William Alvin was a sickly man and at times had violent seizures which caused Rosina to take the children and seek help from relatives and friends. There was no medication for epilepsy in those days. They lived on a 40 acre farm which had been willed to them by his Grandfather. He died just before his 40th birthday leaving a very young family. This was June 1, 1899. He was buried in Preston, Idaho.

ARTICLES ABOUT ROSE GIBBONS HAWKES

Funeral Services Held Monday For Rose G. Hawkes

March 27, 1952

Funeral services for Mrs. Rose Gibbons Hawkes, 90, were held at 2pm, Monday in the L.D.S. Fourth Ward chapel in Preston with Bishop Sherwin Webb officiating.
The body was taken to Preston Sunday by Weaver Mortuary service. Wendell, and burial was made in the Preston cemetery under the direction of Webb Mortuary, Preston.
Mrs. Hawkes died Friday morning in Wendell at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tom Hawkes. She was born June 21, 1862 in Somersetshire, England and came to America with her family when she was six years old. They came west with a mule team, arriving in Salt Lake City August 19, 1889. The family first settled in Ogden, then moved to Bear Lake county and later back to Ogden.
She married William Gibbons April 28, 1886 and they settled at Preston. He died June 1, 1899. She then followed the nursing profession and married Heber Hawkes December 8, 1908. He also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Hawkes was a life long member and active worker in the Latter Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ. She served mostly in the Relief Society.
During the past few years she had resided here and with another daughter, Mrs. Anna Snow, Lava Hot springs. Other survivors are a third daughter, Mrs. Mary Smith, Rexburg, two sons, Herman Gibbons, Preston and Will Gibbons, Arco; 21 grandchildren, 37 greatgrand-children and two great great grandchildren.

Death Claims LDS Pioneer

Wendell, March 27-Mrs. Rose Gibbons Hawkes, 90, died Friday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkes, Wendell.
Mrs. Hawkes was born June 21, 1862 in Somersetshire, England. The LDS pioneer came to America when she was 6 years old, crossing the plains with mule team and arriving in Salt Lake City August, 19, 1868. Her family first settled in Ogden and then moved to the Bear Lake country, later returning to Ogden.
She was married to William Gibbons April 28, 1886, and they made their home in Preston. When he died June 1, 1899, she took up nursing. On Dec. 8, 1908, she was married to Heber Hawkes, who also preceded her in death. She was a life-long worker in the LDS Church, serving mostly in the Relief Society. The past few years she made her home with the daughter in Wendell and with another daughter, Mrs. Anna Snow, Lava Hot Springs.
Other survivors besides the two daughters are another daughter Mrs. Mary Smith, Rexburg; two sons, Herman Gibbons, Preston, and Will Gibbons, Arco; 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Fourth Ward LDS Church in Preston. Interment will be made in the Preston Cemetery under direction of the Weaver Mortuary, Wendell.

Rose Gibbons Hawkes

Among Original Pioneers Honored at Festival

Mrs. Rose Gibbons Hawkes, the third resident of this country who claims the honor of being among pioneers who entered the great Salt Lake Valley before the year 1870, will be given a seat of honor at the coming county Centennial Festival, July 15, with the two ladies mentioned here previously, Margaret Lemmon of Weston, and Katie Chatterton of Preston.
Mrs. Hawkes was born June 21, 1862, at Bath Somersetshire, England. When six years of age she left England for the United States, sailing on the Vessel, John Bright. The voyage took six weeks, and the ship docked at New York on July 14, 1868.
Her family crossed the plains with mule team in Captain Murdock's Company, arriving in Salt Lake City, August 19, 1868.
They first moved to Ogden and later continued on to Bear Lake country where they lived for two years. Due to the extreme hardships there they returned to Ogden.
On April 28, 1886 she married William A. Gibbons and the two made Preston their home. Mr. Gibbons died here on June 1, 1899. After his death she took up practical nursing and cared for many sick people. In 1908 on Dec. 8, she married Heber Hawkes.
Mrs. Hawkes boasts good health and spends most of her time reading and crocheting. She has been an ardent church worker all her life, serving mostly in the Relief Society. On June 21, 1947 she celebrated her 85th birthday at the girls camp in Logan Canyon while attending

Mrs. And Mrs. T. H. Hawkes, Mrs. Blair Smith and Willis Hawkes of Wendell attended the services at Preston. Others of the immediate family attending were Mrs. Keith Merrill of Paul, Mrs. Mary Simpson of Ketchum and Mrs. Earl Winegar, Ontario, Ore.

the Gibbons Reunion. Her sons and daughters, five of whom are living, are Herman Gibbons of Preston; Will Gibbons, Arco; Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkes, Wendell; Mrs. Mary Smith, Rexburg; and Mrs. Anna Snow, Lava Hot springs. She has 21 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren