Charlottle Gailey Clark History by David Mark Smith

Charlottle Gailey Clark History
by David Mark Smith

There’s an old Joke in the LDS church that when the Church authorities are looking for a Bishop they find the most righteous, most capable person in the Ward and they call her husband. This fits perfectly Charlotte Gailey Clark, wife of Thomas Henry Clark first bishop of Grantsville, Charlotte was bornJan 27 1803, in Much Cowarne,Herefordshire,England. Thomas Henry Clark and Charlotte Gailey were marriedNov 28, 1825in Bishops Froome, HerefordshireEngland. First child John William Clark was born thereJan 12, 1826. Charlotte Gailey was one of the very first of the group of about 600 people baptized by Wilford Woodruff.

The following timeline shows her place in these significant historical events.

March 1, 1840Wilford Woodruff’s birthday (33 years old)

March 3-4 1840Wilford Woodruff travels by coach and foot to Herefordshire

March 6, 1840Wilford Woodruff baptized 6 persons, John and Jane Benbow and four preachers[1].

March 7, 1840, (Saturday) Elder Woodruff “spent the day in preparing a pool for baptizing, for I saw their [there] was much to be done”.[2]

Mar 8, 1840, (Sunday) Charlotte Gailey Clark was baptized, along with her younger sister Jane.[3]

March 21, 1840Thomas Kington and his wife are baptized by Wilford Woodruff.

Mar 24, 1840,Charlotte’s brother John Gailey was baptized (also baptized is Ann Graves (Greaves) John Gaileys future wife).

Mar 30,1840,Charlotte’s husband Thomas Henry Clark was baptized.

April 29 1840, Thomas Clark ordained a priest. (WW 189)

May 13, 1840, Eleanor Gailey, Charlotte’s mother is baptized at Froomes Hill by John Cheese.[4]

June 20, 1840, Charlotte’s first three children, eldest son John William (baptized by his father Thomas Henry Clark and confirmed by Elder Wilford Woodruff) and daughters Eleonor and Eliza Clark were baptized on this day[5].

June 21, 1840. Her husband Thomas Henry Clark is ordained an Elder at the hands of Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards.

Charlotte Gailey Clark’s faithfulness in being the first to accept the gospel and the example and legacy she set for her immediate family and numerous posterity is un-measurable in this life. She continues to be a support and shows much faithfulness even through tumultuous times.

Charlotte Gailey Clark’s faithfulness is evident in promises to her in a Patriarchal Blessing given in Nauvoo “A blessing by John Smith, Patriarch (uncle to the Prophet Joseph Smith)

…”[&] a lawful heir to the priesthood with all its powers in common with thy companion, thou shalt have faith to heal the sick by the laying on of hands, in thine house, and also in other places when there is no Elder present;…thou shalt have a numerous posterity and their names shall be written with the sons of the mighty…thy name shall be had in honorable remembrance to all generations…”[6]

Charlotte Clark’s death is mentioned along with her daughter Hannah, in the journal of Mary Ann Weston Maughan, “The grasshoppers are very thick. They have destroyed a part of our crops in Cache Valley; our wheat is all gone that is up. Many Brethren’s crops are eaten as soon as they come up. The Black Measels are very bad in Tooele. In Grantsville they buried 30 in 4 months, Sister Clark and her daughter Hannah Parkinson being in the number. She left a child 8 or 9 months old”[7].

You can learn more about Charlottes’amazing life by reading the history of Thomas Henry Clark in this book or his complete history in a book by this author[8].

[1] From Wilford Woodruff’s journal it say’s he baptized 6 persons: John and Jane Benbow, Ann Bourne, Mary Rowberry, Charles Price, & John Cheese (both preachers of the United Brethren) British Mission History, Church Historian’s Office.

[2] Times and Seasons “Truth Will Prevail”City of NauvooIllinois,March 1, 1841. Volume 2, Number 9 [Whole No. 21 Theological. (Original) Elder Woodruff’s Letter, (concluded)] www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v2n09.htn

[3] Wilford Woodruff lists 7 persons he baptized on March 8, Joseph & Margaret Pullin, James Hill & John Parry (both preachers of the United Brethren), Jane Gailey, (Charlotte Clark’s younger sister) John Wm Benbow & Charlotte Clark. British Mission History, Church Historian’s Office. (March 8 is the date Wilford Woodruff records as the “constable story” see next chapter.)

[4] Wilfrod Woodruff’s Record of Baptisms, (BYU Family History microfilm file) Eleanor is misspelled Elener.

[5] Ibid

[6] Recorded in Volume 7, page 321 Number 294 and 295.

[7] Journal of Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Hyrum’s Mission, A Tribute: Our Pioneer Heritage Volume 2

[8] Written by David M. Smith 3rd great grandson (SpringvilleUtah)