Mary Ann Heaps

Mary Ann Heaps was born Nov 15, 1831 in Doddington, England to Thomas and Mary Negus Wool Heaps. Mary is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

Mary's father was a clerk for the Church of England and the Sexton. Because of his work, he provided a sustainable income for the Heaps family, and Mary was able to get an education. At 17, she taught her own class. 

Mary married Thomas Hillyard on July 28, 1850 in Doddington, England. It is not exactly sure when the Heaps family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but Mary was baptized before she married Thomas. 

In 1852, Thomas was called to serve as Branch President in Doddington. He did so until 1854. The Hillyard family began preparations to move to Utah and sailed on the Marshfield. They sailed from Liverpool on April 8, 1854 and arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 29. The pioneer company that the Hillyard family joined is unknown, but the family did arrive in the Salt Lake Valley the same year.

While in Salt Lake City, Thomas used the carpentry skills he learned in England to provide for his family. In 1858, the Hillyard family fled to Provo, Utah, while Johnston's Arm was invading Utah. After the conflict, the Hillyard family moved to Richmond in 1860. In 1865, the Hillyard family moved to Smithfield, Utah.

Epilogue