Elizabeth Mainwaring Brockbank

I am copying this history directly from An Historical and Genealogical Record of Isaac Brockbank, Sr.

    Elizabeth Mainwaring, daughter of Peter and Jane Molyneux Mainwaring, was born 22 May 1808 at Liverpool, England.  She married Isaac Brockbank, Sr. in the year 1835 in Liverpool, England.  She was a devout Methodist and when her husband embraced "Mormonism" she was quite upset.  She was a loving mother and a devoted daughter.  When her mother needed extra care Elizabeth and her husband moved into her mother's home that she might care for her.  When her husband decided to come to America she tried to influence the children to stay in England with her.  When they would not she agreed to go for the sake of the children but she told some of her family that if things didn't work out she would return. 
    Quoting Isaac, Jr., "In the latter part of July as we journeyed along and having passed Fort Laramie, my mother seemed more reconciled.  Just before noon we came to a very steep hill and those who had been riding in the wagons got out and my mother did the same.  She gave the baby to my sister and proceeded down the hill.  There were many wild currant bushes and quite a patch of them at the bottom of the hill.  This is the last place she was seen by anyone of the company.  We did not miss her until we made noon camp.  I rode back to this place but could find no traces of her.  In the morning my father and Bro. Layton, Assistant Captain rode back and though they found her footsteps around a spring and osome on the road to Laramie they could not find her.  Three or four men who had left a sheep camp told us of seeing a woman on the road but when she saw them she left the road.  They back tracked to Laramie but found no trace.  Authorities there promised to notify them if any thing turned up.  She was always willing to bear everything for the sake of her children and I cannot even think, even at this time, that she wilfully went away."  She must have been of strong character and strong in her belief of what was right and wrong.

For anyone who is curious the line from Elizabeth to me is as follows: Elizabeth to Isaac Jr. to Taylor Park to Vaoma to Reed Jensen to Janell Jensen Oelkers.

Benjamin Reed Jensen Outdoorsman

Pictured from Left to right Vaoma Brockbank Jensen, Benjamin Reed Jensen, & Elaine Brockbank Evans.  Today's reminiscences are about Grandpa Jensen.  One fond memory I have is being invited to Grandpa's house for a fish fry which was a regular occurrence.  He fried up his fish in the garage and then spread out the results on the table in their tiny kitchen.  Grandpa preferred being out hunting or fishing to being home.  My father commented once that he was a teenager before he knew what beef tasted like.  Grandpa took the women in his life with him whenever they would go.  He must have been fun to go with because Grandma Va went with him often as did his Grandma Ted whom he married after Grandma Va, that's Theodora, I think.  Grandpa loved to tell tall tales. I remember one about a pen built using trees as the posts. The stock all got away because the trees grew and lifted the fence off the ground!! Think about it. I, of course, fell for it. Grandpa could be a little growly and I was a skittish kid so I also remember being a little afraid of him. I SO regret not spending more time with my Grandpa Jensen. AND I regret that no one has written down his stories.  Do you remember Grandpa's stories?

Mighty Cyprus Pirates

I had a conversation with my Dad today.  I called to ask about this picture.  Here is what he told me:

The boys are from left to right, Park Brockbank, Wayne Keys, Reed Jensen and Loren Brockbank.  Reed Jensen (Ronal Reed Jensen, my father) explained the picture for me.  These four charmers were mascots to the Cypress High School Basketball team.  Dad’s grandfather, Taylor Park Brockbank was the principal of the school at the time.  My grandmother Vae Jensen looked over the uniforms of the basketball team and created these outfits to match so that the boys could attend all the games in their very important capacity of mascots to the mighty Cyprus Pirates. 

Park, Wayne, Reed, and Loren are cousins.  Park and Loren were the sons of Bernard Park Brockbank, Wayne was the son of Glennis Brockbank Keys, and Reed Jensen was the son of Vaoma Brockbank Jensen.  Dad shared the tale that these cousins spent happy hours at their grandfather’s house on Highland Avenue in Salt Lake City.  On one occasion they collected rotten apples from the ground in the apple orchard and conceived the game of tossing them at passing cars.  The game ended when they scored a direct hit on a couple in a convertible who then stopped the car and chased the boys off.  He did manage to catch one of them – which one will remain a mystery until further installments.  

Isaac Brockbank Sr.

This is my father's mother's paternal great grandfather.  My sweet father gave me a book published by the Brockbank family containing genealogical information and brief histories.  I don't know how many copies of this book exist but, as promised, I will be sharing some of what I know in this blog for anyone who might be interested. 

Here is the history for Isaac:

    Isaac Brockbank, son of Daniel and Agnes Morris Brockbank, was born in Bowness, Westmoreland County, England.  He followed an agricultural life and won may prizes at County Fairs.  He was very proud of these accomplishments.  He went to Liverpool where he prospered at several enterprises.
    He was always quite religious and early in life he joined the Wesleyan Methodists.  He became acquainted with Elizabeth Mainwaring who was a very zealous member of this sect.  They were married shortly after this.
   In 1843 he heard Parley P. Pratt deliver a lecture on "Mormonism".  He was convinced of the truth of this message and was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
   In 1852 the family emigrated to America and was the first company under the auspices of the Perpetual Emigration Fund.  They landed in New Orleans being on the water eight weeks and three days.  The family, at that time, consisted of the father, mother and four children: Isaac Jr. (Grandma Va's grandfather), Elizabeth, Joshua and the baby, Agnes.
   The company in which they traveled arrived in Salt Lake City on 4 Sept. 1852, being six and three quarters months from Liverpool.  Isaac having lost his wife (Elizabeth) on the plains, later married Sarah Brown.  He went to Utah County where he built a home in Spanish Fork.  This was made of handmade adobe brick.  He was willing to make any sacrifice for the Church.  He continued to live in Spanish Fork where he played a big part in the growth of that town in spite of trials of pioneer life.
   He died in Spanish Fork 1 April 1878.

Taylor Park Brockbank

 

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