Loren DeLance Squire Family History Chapter 3

This is a rather lengthy chapter so I am saving part of it for next week.  I hope you take the time to read it as you will see it is full of church history.  It was exciting to read about my 4th great-grandfather, Joseph Knight, and his role in our early church history and to read some of the words that the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote in regards to him.  It also includes Freeborn DeMill's Patriarchal Blessing given to him by the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I am so grateful for my Grandpa Loren Squire and that he took the time to research and write our family history.

CHAPTER THREE

DE MILL AND KNIGHT LINE HISTORY 

Anthony DeMill, Jr. the first DeMill to come to America was a son of Anthony DeMill, Sen., and Maria Cobraysse who were religious refugees from Flanders, France and were living in Haerlem, Holland.

(In Antwerp, Holland in an old church cemetery a tombstone marking a grave has the following inscription: "Here lies hurried Francis DeMill, Lord of Western and Faerden, who died in the year 1544, Feb. 28th". Also on a shield a coat of arms show three eagles and a head and shoulders of a female figure the hair being tied with a ribbon.)

Anthony DeMill Jr. married Elisabeth Van Der Liphorst in the Dutch reformed church of Haerlam Holland on Sept. 19, 1653. They moved to Amsterdam, Holland where he was engaged as a grain merchant and here their first child, a daughter was born in 1654 and named Maria. They moved back to Haerlem, Holland in the spring of 1657 and on Aug. 21, 1657 a second daughter was born and named Anna. When she was about nine months old, the family sailed from Amsterdam, Holland in May, 1658 on the ship De Vergilded (Gilded Beaver) for New Amsterdam (which later became New York.)

On Dec. 7, 1659, their first son was born in America (New York). He was named Isaac and our family line comes through him. One son and two daughters were later born to this couple.

Isaac DeMill lived in New York and worked as a ship builder. He married Sarah Van Joosten about 1664. Their first child was a son born Aug. 23, 1685 and named Anthony. Our line comes down through him. He had eight brothers and two sisters.

Anthony married Maria Provoost April 26, 1706 in New York and they had ten children. We are descendants of their third child, a son whom they named Benjamin. He was born Feb. 5, 1710. He married a woman named Elizabeth about 1740. They were the parents of eight children. Their second child named Garrett born August 12, 1743 is our line of decent. 

In the year 1771, Garrett married Delana Eighmay or as some records list her as Lanah Amey. He was a farmer in Duchess County, New York and was thirty-three years old when the Revolutionary War started in 1776. He was in the Duchess County Militia under command of Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff and fought in some of the battles against the British. (In one of his son's record, Isaac a brother of Freeborn stated he had the barrel of the rifle his father used in the Revolutionary War and that Freeborn had his sword and had taken it to Utah. Possibly the one which hung in the old school house as it on the same lot where they lived in Manti.) Between the years 1791 and 1794 the family moved to Plattskill, Ulster County, New York. They were the parents of ten children the last two being twins and were named Freeborn and Garrison, born March 3, 1795 in Plattskill. Their father was fifty-two at that time. Some time after this, the family moved to Colesville, Broome County, New York, where Freeborn met and later married his wife Anna Knight. my great-grandmother. She was a daughter of Joseph Knight and Polly Peck.

Early Knight history shows that a John Knight born about 1595 in Romsey, England came to America in 1635 with his family. They had four children, their second, a son named John Jr., born in 1622, Ramsey, England and was about thirteen years old when he came to America and is our line of decent, During his life he married five wives the third named Mary Bridge had six children. The fifth, a son was born July 12, 1675 in Charleston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts and was given the name of Samuel. On July 19, 1700, Samuel married Rachel Chase and to them were born six children. Their fourth, a son born March 4, 1709 was named after his father Samuel Jr. and was born in the same town as his father, He married Annie Eames April 23, 1740 and they had four children. The third child, a son was born Dec. 26, 1744,in Sudbury, Middlesex County Massachusetts and given the name of Benjamin. He married Hannah and they were the parents of five children. Their first a son was born Nov. 26, 1772 in Oakham, Worchester County, Massachusetts and was named Joseph Knight who married Polly Peck, the parents of Anna Knight. 
In the year 1811, Joseph Knight and family moved to Colesville, Broome County, New York from Marlboro, Windham County, Vermont, where the first six of their seven children had been born. He took up a farm along the Susquehanna River and had a grist mill and carding machine. He hired Joseph Smith, when a young man, on various occasions to work for him and so the prophet became well acquainted with the Knight family. The Prophet had told them of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the near future. Joseph Knight was taken into the confidence of the Prophet to the point that he purposely so arranged his affairs to be at the Smith family residence, near Manchester at the time the plates of the Book of Mormon were given into Joseph's possession. Mr. Knight had driven to the Smith residence with, black horse and carriage and in this conveyance according to the statement of both Lucy Smith, mother of the Prophet and Joseph Knight, Joseph Smith in company with his wife Emma, drove away very early, before daylight, on the morning of September 22. They went to Cumorah and there the Prophet received the plates of the Book of Mormon, the Urim and Thummim and Breastplate which were, for some time, excepting the Urim and thummim, concealed in the woods. 

Mr. Knight remained at the Smith residence several days and was there the day Joseph Smith brought home the plates; and in company with Joseph Smith, Sen. and Mr. Stoal, went in search of those men who had assailed the prophet while on his way home with the plates: but failed to find them. (I remember my grandmother on various occasions relating the above story, adding the fact that the horse used was a beautiful black one.)

In the History of the Church, Vol. I, Period I the Prophet Joseph Smith writes: "About the same time an old gentlemen came to visit us of whose name I wish to make honorable mention, Mr. Joseph Knight. Sen., of Colesville, Broome County, New York, who having heard of the manner in which we were occupying our time, very kindly and considerately brought us a quantity of provisions in order that we might not be interrupted in the work of translation by the want of such necessaries of life; and I would just mention here, as in duty-bound that he several times brought us supplies a distance of at least thirty miles, which enabled us to continue the work when otherwise we must have relinquished it for a season."

Anna Knight was born March 5, 1804,in Marlboro, Windham County Vermont. She was seven years old when the family moved to Colesville, Broome County, New York. Here she met and later married Freeborn DeMill on March 11, 1819 when she wasjust past fifteen years old. Her husband was just past his 24th birthday. They made their home in Colesville. 

Anna Knight & Freeborn DeMill

Anna Knight

Their first child was a daughter that they named Mariah who was born May 12, 1820.On December 24, 1822,a second daughter was born and given the name of Orpha. The third child was also a Freeborn DeMill daughter, that they named Lora Ann, born June 2 1828. Their 4th child, a son was born March 30, 1830 and given the name of Oliver. This was just a month before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints was organized.

In Freeborn's own record he states that he was baptized in the Susquehanna River at Colesville and a few months later his wife was baptized in Sept, 1830 in New York State, He does not give the date of his baptism but his church record gives it as June 30, 1830. Church history shows a number of the Colesville members were baptized in June 1830. However, all the Knight family had joined the church and became members in 1830. Freeborn and wife were numbered with the total of seventy members, in all of New York State in Dec. 1830.

In Dec. 1830, section thirty-seven of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by the prophet in which the Lord told him to visit and strengthen the church at Colesville and commanded the church members in New York State to assemble in Ohio.

The latter part of January, 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his wife with Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge left New York for Kirtland, Ohio, with instructions from the prophet that the members of the church in New York should follow in the spring. 

In Freeborn's own written record, he states that on April 21, 1831, he with his wife and family, the oldest being eleven years old and the youngest thirteen months, left Colesville for Ohio. They arrived in Thompson, Ohio on May 16, 1831. The church History relates that the members of the Colesville branch, (which included all the Joseph Knight family) were instructed to settle in Thompson, Ohio, about ten miles east of Kirtland, where arrangements had been made for them to settle.

Leman Copley had a considerable tract of land in Thompson, that he (a member of the church) had offered to let the saints from Colesville occupy. A contract was agreed upon and work commenced in good faith. However, Copley broke the agreement and some trouble over it caused the prophet to receive the 54th section of the D. and C. early in June, 1831.As a result of this revelation, the church, at Thompson composed of the members of the Colesville branch made all possible haste to leave Ohio for Missouri. In John Whitmer's history of the church, chapter 8, it states that Newel Knight was appointed leader of the company which was made up of the Colesville branch and under his leadership they made the entire journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri.

In the record of Freebom DeMill, he states that they left Thompson, Ohio, June 28, 1831, and arrived at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri on July 25, 1831. (twenty-seven days) The Colesville branch did not settle in Independence, but in Kaw Township a few miles west of Independence, in the valley of the Blue River. The saints rejoiced in the revelation of section 57 of the Doctrine and Covenants naming the land of the Missouri as a gathering place for the Saints and the place for the City of Zion; here they felt they could make their home in peace and safety. 
History of the Church, chapter 16 starts out, and I quote, ''On the 2nd day of Aug., 1831, I (prophet Joseph Smith) assisted the Colesville branch of the church to lay the first log for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township, 12 miles west of lndependence. (This was in between Independence and Kansas City, and is now covered by suburbs of Kansas City.) The log was carried and placed by 12 men, in honor of the 12 tribes of Israel. At that time the land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Sidney Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints." 
Freeborn DeMill was one of the 12 men and it was from his record I gave the church historian the names of the 12 men. The church did not have the names of all 12 before I gave it to them. 
I quote from the same chapter 16 of the History of the Church as written by the Prophet as follows: "On the 4th of August, I attended the Ist conference in the land of Zion. It was held at the house of Brother Joshua Lewis, in Kaw township in the presence of the Colesville Branch of the church. The spirit of the Lord was there. On August 7, 1831, I attended the funeral of Sister Polly Peck Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, Sen. This was the first death in the church in this land, and I can say, a worthy member sleeps in Jesus Christ till the resurrection." 

She was my great-great-grandmother. According to her son, Newel, her health had been failing for some time and she was very ill during the journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. Yet she would not consent to stop traveling. Her greatest desire was to set her feet upon the land of Zion and to have her body interred in that land. While traveling on the steamer down the river, Newel went on shore at one of the stops and bought lumber to make a coffin, in case she should die before they arrived in Missouri.

History of the Church, Chap. 20, the Prophet states he visited the Saints in Kaw township a few miles west of Independence. He reported that the Colesville Branch, in particular rejoiced as the ancient Saints did with Paul. The foot note states that as the Colesville Saints were among the 1st to receive the gospel and were mostly converts of the Prophet that his heart was very tender toward them. 

Sept. 29, 1832 Freeborn DeMill and his wife had their fifth child born to them. A daughter given the name of Adelia. She was born in Kaw township, Jackson County, Missouri and is my Grandmother. 
I will not take the time and space to tell of the persecution and hardships of the Saints in Missouri as it is on record in the Church History. It must have tried the faith of the best of them after coming to the land of Zion and rest for them to have mobs and persecution drive them from their new-made homes. 
In Freeborn's own account he relates that on Dec. 1, 1833 as winter was setting in they were driven from their homes by mobs and out of Jackson County. They crossed the Missouri River to the north into Clay County where they took up their new homes. Here a little over two years later, in the spring of 1837, they were driven with the rest of the Saints out of Clay County and went north-east to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. Here on January 12, 1838, their sixth child, a son was born and given the name of Ellias DeMill. 

The following is a copy of the Patriarchal blessing of Freeborn DeMill, the original is in the possession of myself and is at this date one hundred twenty one years old: 

"A Patriarchal blessing pronounced by Joseph Smith, Sen. upon the head of Freeborn DeMill, son of Garrett DeMill, who was born in the town of Plattekill, County of Ulster, and state of New York, AD 1795 in the third month, and on the third day of the month:

"Brother, in the name of the Lord, even Jesus Christ, I lay mine hands upon thy head, to bless thee; and I desire that thou mayest be confirmed in the covenant made with Abraham, and that thou mayest become great in the kingdom. And I bless thee with the blessings of a father, and say unto thee, thou art of the household of faith, thou art one of the covenant people, and hast a right to the priesthood, for thou art of the seed of Abraham and hast come down, from Abraham to Joseph, and from Joseph to Ephriam, and thou art of the pure blood of Ephriam, and thou must become rich, by the labor of thy hands, but if thou wilt labor diligently in the vineyard, thou shalt receive thy penny: and blessings shall be multiplied upon thy head, and God will give thee knowledge, and wisdom. You must go forth in the name, and in the strength of Israels God; realizing the worth of souls, and your labors, shall be crowned with success; and many souls shall be made to rejoice, through your instrumentality. I seal the seal of God, upon thy forehead. Thou hast been driven from thy home for the testimony of Jesus, thou was't one of the first to come into the kingdom and thy substance has been wasted; but God will make up thy losses; and thou shalt have the Holy Ghost, and shall behold things that are shortly to come upon the earth; when God shall come forth out of his hiding place, to vex the nations. God shall keep thee and make thee rich in the things of this world. Faint not for thou shalt yet perform great things ...Thou shalt rend the prisons; thou shalt burst the bands of iron and the sick shall be healed the blind shall see the lame shall walk and the dumb shall hear when thou speakest in the name of the Lord. I seal all the blessings upon thee that will be for thy good. I seal thee to long life thou shalt live as long as thou shalt desire even if it is to behold the winding up seen, and I seal thee up to eternal life in the name of the Lord: Amen ..." 

Done at the residence of Joseph Knight, Jr. in the city of Far West County of Caldwell and state of Missouri on the 6th day of the second month A.D. 1839. Sysander M. Davis Scribe 

Freeborn states that in the spring of 1839 they with the rest of the Saints were driven out of the state of Missouri. They crossed the state for about one hundred miles to the east came to the Mississippi River crossed that and settled in Quincy Ill. on the bank of the Mississippi River. While here in Quincy their oldest daughter Marl at the age of 2I on April 22, I84I was married to Daniel Buckley Funk. After coming to Utah this couple made their home in Sterling Utah (six miles south of Manti) and raised a family of nine children.

Freeborn's record states that they left Quincy in I842 and moved to Nauvoo Ill. Here on Jan. 8 I843 their second daughter, Orpha at the age of twenty-one was married to Perry Davis and she died the same day. Here also in Nauvoo on May 13, I843 the seventh child of Freeborn and Anna was born. This was their last child a daughter and was named Lovina Ester. 

On Thursday Dec. 25, I845, (Christmas day) Freeborn and his wife received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. (There were 107 endowments given that day) on January 27, I846 they were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple. 
Freeborn states in his record that they left Nauvoo for the west on April 22, I846, being again driven out of their homes by mobs they arrived in Mt. Pisgah on May 26, I846. Freeborn DeMill had injured his leg with a saw and was laid up for about five years while in Missouri. Most all the time they were in Mt. Pisgah he was laid up with fever sores. 
Here in Mt. Pisgah on Oct. I, I848 their third daughter Lara Ann married Samuel K. Gifford. After coming to Utah they were called with others to settle in Utah's Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg southeast of Springdale. Later moved to Springdale. They were the parents of ten children. 

In the spring of I850 they left Mt. Pisgah for the valleys of the Great Salt Lake and arrived in Salt Lake City Sept. I7 I850 with the Capt. Warren Foot company. After a short rest in Salt Lake, they left for Manti Utah and arrived there Nov. 5, I850. Freeborn was now past fifty-five years old and his wife past forty-six. Manti was their home for the rest of their lives, never again to be driven by mobs. 
On Dec. 3I, I852, their fifth child Adelia married John P. Squire Sen., Manti's first school teacher. They made their home in Manti and had a family of 8 children. More will be told of them later. 
On May 13, I855 the oldest son Oliver at the age of 25, married Emily Almina Beal. They had eleven children. He married a second wife, Fidelia Winget June 3, 1865, and they had seven children. This family was also called to settle in Utah's Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg later moving to Rockville. 
On December II I859 the youngest child, Lavina Ester not quite 17 married John Alma Beal. They had eleven children and lived in Manti until about I875 and then moved to Shonesburg. 
On June 11, 1863, the youngest son, Ellias, the last to marry, was married to Malvina Winget. He was 25 years old. They made their home in Manti and were the parents of nine children. 
Freeborn was a member of the first High Council organized in Manti and was a member for many years after. 
Anna Knight DeMill died on July 28, 1878 in Manti at the age of seventy-four and is buried in the Manti Cemetery. 
Freeborn DeMill died in Manti, Jan. 23, 1881 at the age of eighty-five and is buried in the Manti cemetary by the side of his wife. 

On May 3, 1856, Freeborn DeMill married a second wife by the name of Lynittee Janett Richards and to them two sons were born: Orrin, born Jan 29, 1858, Manti, Utah, and Benjamin born Jan 23, 1860.In Manti, Utah. In his record he relates that one died and the other was living in Ephraim with his mother, dated April 21, 1864. I have been unable to find any trace of this other son...don't know if he died before age of marriage or not. 

A note from Cyndee:
I looked for Freeborn and Lynittee's sons in New Family Search and it showed that both died as children.  The first son, Orrin, only lived a year and the second son, William Edmund, died at the age of five in 1865.