Amy Hancock Hancock

The sisters of the Payson Relief Society were called upon to write a brief biography of their lives to contribute to a box that was to be put away for 50 years, to be handed our posterity and now I will comply with this request. AMY HANCOCK, 2nd Counsel of the Relief Society, February 22, 1881.

I, AMY HANCOCK, daughter of Joseph Hancock and Experience Wheeler, was born in Clay County, Missouri May 12, 1835. My parents joined the church of Jesus Christ in its early days and endured many persecutions of the Saints.

Father, who was in Zions Camp, returned to Kirtland, then returned and was gathered with the church in Missouri, first to Clay County and then to Caldwell County. In 1838, the Saints were driven from Missouri. My parents were among those that had to leave their homes for the sake of their religion.

I was 3 years old at this time. My father with a few families settled in Iowa for a short time and from there we moved to Montrose, Iowa. At this time, the headquarters of the Church was across the river at Nauvoo, Illinois. They were busy building the Temple, and in that Temple, my parents received their Endowments.

Shortly there after, the mobs began to threaten to drive out the Saints and to take away the Prophet from among us, which they did finally accomplish. I saw the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother many times when they came over the river to Montrose to visit their friends there.

Now they were fleeing from their enemies, and I saw how they felt. Joseph said, "If we go back to Nauvoo, we are like lambs going to the slaughter". Joseph repeated these words several times, but Hyrum, his brother, thought they would be protected, so they returned to their pursuers, to Nauvoo. My father went to the river to see them start back across. In a few days word came that they had been murdered in Carthage jail by a wicked mob.

I went with my father to the Prophet's house to behold their lifeless corpses, which had been murdered. It was a scene I never could forget, with the weeping and mourning of the dear Saints f or those, they loved so well. My feelings were deeper than pen can describe.

In 1846, the Saints had to leave their homes in Nauvoo. We were among some of the first companies and we traveled to Grand River or Mt. Pisgah. We stopped and planted some grain for the poor that we had left at Nauvoo and Montrose, until they could be brought on to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

I was baptized into the Church at Council Bluff, Pottowatomie County Iowa in 1846.

In the Spring of 1847, my father was called as one of the Pioneer Company to go to the mountains of the Great Salt Lake to assist in finding a place where the Saints could live in peace.

During the summer, while my father was gone, I went with my mother to Clay County Missouri to see her children by Erastus Harper Rudd and try to get them to come with the Church, but to no avail, so we bid them farewell. It was a hard trial for my poor mother to leave her children behind in the gentile world. While there, I saw our old home where I was born.

When we returned, father had got back, having not tasted bread for forty days. He had lived on meat or anything he could get. The health of mother was quite poor at this time on account of much hardship and trouble. Circumstances would not permit us to emigrate to Utah until 1851.

We started from home at Council Bluff on May 1, having a long tedious journey, and arrived in Salt Lake the middle of September. We then went to Provo in Utah County and expected to make our home there, but my poor mother took sick and died in one short week, which was a hard trial for me.

It seemed as though I had no friends left, I had not been away from her for any length of time before. She lived a good and faithful Latter Day Saint life and died in good Faith of the Gospel of Christ and in the hope of a glorious resurrection. She was buried in Provo in October 1851. None of her children were there except me. She had eleven living children at that time. Lorenzo Dow Rudd, her son, lived in Salt Lake at that time and all the rest were in the East.

With permission of my father, I went to Payson to live a while with my friend. I was so lonely without my mother. I then went to Salt Lake and lived with my half brother, Lorenzo D. Rudd.

It being the Order of the Church to be re-baptized after coming to the Valley, I was baptized in 1851. In the spring, my father went to California and tried to persuade me to go too. I had left kind friends and dear relations that were near and dear to me for the sake of the Gospel. To live with the Saints was my desire and so, I would have to forsake my father.

I did not see my father for ten years and then he came to live with me for awhile. He is living at this date at Council Bluff and is 81 years old March 18.

In the spring of 1852, I was married to George W. Hancock on April 4th, to my cousin, a widower with two small children. So the Lord provides for those who try to serve him, although it was quite an undertaking for me to be a wife and a mother as young as I, 16. During the summer, I went with my husband to the house of the Lord and received my Endowments. In 1855 my husband was called on to go on a Mission and while he was gone, death came and took my 2^nd child, his name was George W. Hancock Jr. and in 1856 we moved to Payson, Utah County, Utah. Record of my children:

(1) AMY EXPERIENCE HANCOCK born in Davis Co. Feb. 11, 1853

(2) GEORGE W. HANCOCK Jr. born in Davis Co. Nov. 15, 1854

(3) SOLOMON HANCOCK born in Davis Co. Dec. 13, 1855

(4) ALTA MARIE HANCOCK born in Payson, Ut. Sep. 20, 1857

(5) JULIA ELLEN HANCOCK born in Payson, Ut. Aug. 18, 1859

(6) CLARICA HANCOCK [Twin] born in Payson, Ut. Apr. 25, 1861

(7) ASAEL HANCOCK [Twin] born in Payson, Ut. Apr. 25, 1861

(8) AMELIZA HANCOCK born in Payson, Ut. Dec. 16, 1865

(9) JOSEPH HANCOCK born in Payson, Ut. Jul. 23,1868

(10) CYRUS HANCOCK born in Payson, Ut. Sep. 4, 1871

(11) LOVEL HANCOCK [Twin] born in Payson, Ut. Sep. 24,1876

(12) LAVINA HANCOCK [Twin] born in Payson, Ut. Sep. 24,1876

Anyone that reads this may know that I have had trouble, but the Lord's will be done. He gives and He takes away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. The Savior says, "Let the little children come unto me for such is the Kingdom of Heaven".

In 1857 the Authorities called for all the Saints to be re-baptized and I was baptized at that time. I worked in the Payson Relief Society, but it was never fully organized until 1868 and I joined the organization May 29, 1868 and labored in it.

In 1875 the Church was called to renew their covenants and I was baptized again. In 1877, I received my Patriarchal Blessing under the hands of Zebidee Coltrin. In 1878 the Relief Society was organized into four districts in Payson. I was set apart as a 2^nd counselor of the fourth district under the hands of Bishop Joseph S. Tanner and his Counselors. I am now a teacher in the Payson Sunday School in 1880 and was set apart for that purpose.

I am now in my 46^th year and the mother of 12 children, yet I have only 3 of my own and my husbands 2. And now my dear descendants, I can truthfully say that "I do know that this is the Kingdom of God and I know Joseph Smith Jr. was a true Prophet of God, and am truly thankful that I am numbered with the Saints. I have a knowledge for myself, that this is the Kingdom of God, which neither wealth nor worldly honors could tempt me to part with, for I have seen the Power of God manifested in many ways. This is a world of sorrow and trouble, everything in this world is uncertain, but beyond is Eternal Life for the Faithful".

Dear children, most likely I will be molding in the dust when you read this and my angel spirit with my dear children and friends. Remember, remember the testimony of your dear mother or grandmother and keep the commandments of God so there will be no family tie broken, that we may meet again where there is no parting or sorrow. This is my earnest prayer, I have tried to keep the commandments of God and I truly hope that I shall be able to the end. This is from your own true mother, to all her children living, and the grandchildren also.

Written by: Amy Hancock, for her children; Solomon Hancock, Alta Hancock Townsend, and Asael Hancock.

George Washington Hancock Md. Betsy Jane Fackrell/Fackerall at Pott. County Iowa on May 14, 1848 and begot 2 children; Charles born 24 March 1849, Pott, Iowa. Betsy Jane Hancock born 21 Feb. 1351 in Davis Co, Utah. The wife, Betsy Jane Fackrell died the next month March 19, 1851 in Davis County, Utah.