Monday, January 30, 2006

Francis Martin Pomeroy

I transcribe the following from "A Genealogical Development and Testimony" by F.T. Pomeroy (son of Francis Martin), published in The Genealogical and Historical Magazine, July 1935, relating to Francis Martin Pomeroy.


He was born Feb. 22, 1822, in Somers, Connecticut, where his ancenstors had lived for several generations, in a family of 10 children. When a lad of 14 years he was apprenticed to an uncle not appreciative of the ambitions and talents of the youth, who chafing under severe restrictions at the age of 16 years, one night climbed from his attic window, and Benjamine Franklin-like, with his belongings wrapped in a red handkerchief, made his way to New London, and shipped aboard a whaler for the Artic circle.

He was a sturdy youth of large physique, intelligent and ambitious, and won his way doing his share of work with skill, during the six years, and became first mate on the ship. On his last trip down the west coast of Chile he was ship-wrecked, and by the aid of a friendlly spar, he fought his way to safety, and was the only one of the crew, as far as he ever knew, that reached the shore.

He was found unconscious by a young Castillian, and taken to his home and nursed back to life, health and strength. He remained with the Castillian family for two years, incidently learning the Spanish language.

He finally made his way north, across the Isthmus of Panama, via burro train, shipped for New Orleans, and then to Salem, Mass., where he became acquainted with the Haskell family, who had recently been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Francis Martin Pomeroy investigated the new faith, was converted and also joined the church in his 24th year, and soon after married Irene Azula (Ursula, handwritten in the book) Haskell, and with the family migrated to Nauvoo, and thereafter cast his lot with the then distressed and persecuted Mormon people. Their arrival in Nauvoo was just after the martyrdom of the Prophet, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, by a mob at Carthage jail.

(The article continues, but this transcription ends!)

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