Martha Matilda McGill Nelson - Life Story Part Four

Martha Morgan: A Journey to Zion

by Alan Morgan Kendall
(pictures and documents added)

A New Religion 

Shortly after it's founding in the United States, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent missionaries worldwide, with particular interest in the United Kingdom. Apostle Orson Pratt was sent to preside over the mission there, and early in 1840 climbed to the mountain peak of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh to dedicate Scotland to the preaching of the restored gospel. It was a prophetic act, and converts to “Mormonism”, as the new religion became known, multiplied rapidly.

Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh

For the Morgan and Nelson families, hearing the proclamation of a new order of things based truly upon ancient biblical principles must have been a welcome source of hope. Over a period of four years many family members entered into the waters of baptism, and became members of the new Dunfermline Branch of the church. The first was Martha's brother John in July 1846 followed by William's older brother David in September. William was next on the first day of 1847. The siblings followed, Thomas Morgan and Edward Banks Nelson on 1 June. About a week later Martha was baptized on the same day as her older sister Jane McGill Nelson Morgan, whom, it is believed, was married to a brother of William. Through 1850, Ninian Nelson, Janet Morgan, Jane Morgan, Agnes Ann Morgan, and William's mother Agnes Beveridge Morgan also joined the church. Apostle Orson Pratt must have personally ministered to the Saints in Dunfermline, it was he who confirmed Agnes Morgan a member of the church.11

Church records in Dunfermline Page one

Church records in Dunfermline Page two

In 1849 the families moved to the village and branch of Oakley, a collier town to the west of Dunfermline, where John Nelson served as the branch president.12

Blair Tower, northeast of Oakley

Persecution followed, but William and Martha were anxiously engaged in the work of the gospel in the Oakley Branch. William received the priesthood and exercised it to the blessing of others. Of course, their desire was to join the central body of the saints in America. Not all of the family emigrated, however. David Morgan and his wife Grace emigrated to America in 1852. Edward and Agnes Morgan Banks left about 1862 and settled in New Mexico. Janet Morgan eventually settled in Northern California where she died in 1908. John Nelson settled in the Logan, Utah area and brother Ninian just to the north in Dayton, Idaho.13

For the William Morgan family, the desire began to be realized when William registered with the church emigration service in July 1849.14 Martha's journey to Zion was about to begin. For the long voyage she would care for four children under the age of 8 years. Fortunately, she would have the help of a dear older sister, Jane McGill Nelson Morgan15, now a widow. Martha and Jane must have had a close relationship, judging from the many parallels in their lives.

11. Record of Members in Dunfermline Branch. Family History Library [FHL] Microfilm

104150, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

12. Record of Members in Oakley Branch. Family History Library [FHL] Microfilm 104154,

Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

13. Kendall, Alan M. The History of the Morgan Family (Unpublished), and

www.new.familysearch.org, 2011.

14. The History of the Morgan Family.

15. Ancestry.com. New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945 [Database on-line]. Provo, Utah,

USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2006. Jane Morgan traveled with Martha and family.