Mary Ann Bailey Pollard, 1821 to 1895

This biographical sketch is based on the submission to Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude,Vol III which was published by the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 1996:
'In the year 1848 Mary Ann and Joseph heard the Mormons preach. They were baptised, being the only members of their family to accept Mormonism. On November 18, 1854 they left their home in England to emigrate with a group of 400 Saints on the ship "Clare Mueler" [sic] bound for America.
'By December 30 they sighted land and January 9 they reached the Mississippi and traveled to St Louis by January 22, 1855. Mary Ann was so ill that she had to be carried off the boat.'

This entry does not say what the illness was. The family stayed in the St Louis area until June 1857 when they continued their travel westward. The Biographical Encyclopedia referenced earlier says that their home was open to many Mormon visitors, including LDS Apostle Parley P Pratt, a guest shortly before that missionary's trip into Arkansas where he met his death at the hands of antagonists. Joseph is reported to have found employment in ship building. They were active in the LDS branch in that community.

Pioneer Women says that the family crossed the plains with a handcart, but the Jacob Hoffeins Company was a teamster company. As wagons were full with the necessities of the journey all able-bodied members of the group walked across the great central expanse of America. Esther Stevenson was in the same company; in her pioneer biography recorded in Our Pioneer Heritage/ They Came In 1857 she tells us: "we travelled about 2 miles an hour in a long train of wagons." Encyclopedia does mention the company and both report that during one stampede of livestock there were many injured, including Joseph and Mary Ann.

This company- the Jacob Hoffeins/Matthew McCune Company at times was encamped nearby the camps of Johnson's army which was en route to Utah to put down the reported rebellion. It was a time of great and general unrest and concern. The 'Mountain Meadow Massacre' had occurred on September 11, Governor Brigham Young declared martial law and the Utah Territory militia were ordered to Echo Canyon and other places to impede Johnson's progress. These events can be read in the Church Chronology, A Record of Important Events compiled by Andrew Jenson Assistant Church Historian. The pioneer company arrived in Salt Lake City on or about September 22, 1857

The Pollard family settled in the 15th Ward of Salt Lake City, where Joseph built Mary Ann an "interesting English cottage" (Pioneer Women). He would become Bishop of that ward, as would a couple of sons-in-law. Joseph and Mary Ann Pollard lived the remainder of their lives in that ward, Joseph passing away February 1890 and Mary Ann six years later.

Mary Ann saw many changes in her world- much of it historic, many events heartrending but also many redeeming. Her daughters all married and gave her a great posterity. Pioneer Women concludes with:
'She was firm in her faith and is truly a great pioneer woman to be honored and revered.'