Christina McNeil
A James G. Willie Handcart Company Pioneer
Known Vital Information Christina McNeil was born on 22 September 1832 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and died on 1 August 1901 in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. She is the daughter of Daniel (Donald) McNeil and Christian (Christina) Taylor. She married Warren Ford Reynolds on 28 Jun 1857 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on 7 June 1823 in Avon, Livingston, New York, and died on 10 July 1900 in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. He is the son of Asa Douglas Reynolds and Betsy Artlip. Their marriage of 44 years produced seven children. |
Christina was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the fourth of six children. Her parents, Donald McNeil and Christian Taylor, were married the 14th of January 1825 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland by the Gaelic minister, Kenneth McKenzie, and made their residence nearby -- only a block from the River Clyde. In a neighborhood of textile, cotton and carpet mills, Christina was sent out to work as a Yarn Winder when only seven years old. Her father, who plied his trade as a journeyman copper-smith died when Christina was fifteen. Two years later on the second of October, 1849, at age 17, she responded to the message brought by Mormon missionaries and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder John Gray. The only member of her immediate family to look with kindness upon the newly established church, she soon left her childhood home and threw her lot with the widow Margaret Ann McFall Caldwell and her family of Mormon converts (See 1851 census). In May, 1856, at age 23, Christina and the Caldwell family joined a large group of Saints, numbering over 1500 souls to sail for America on the tall ships Thornton and Horizon.
Crossing the Atlantic and then overland by train, the Fourth Handcart Company under the leadership of Captain James G. Willie, and the Fifth Handcart Company under Edward Martin reached Iowa City on June 26, and July 8, 1856, respectively. At this point Christina committed to helping Margaret Caldwell and her four young children push and pull their newly made handcart over the 1,350 miles that lay between their Iowa location and their long sought destination in the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah territory. They were assigned to travel with a group of about 100 individuals under the direction of Elder Millen Atwood, councilor to Captain Willie.
With great trepidation over the lateness of the season, and with the days growing shorter, the Willie Company left Iowa City on July 15. Before reaching their destination in the Great Basin of Utah, many in the party died of hunger, exhaustion, and hypothermia while others experienced frostbite and other tribulations. A few abandoned their trek. A large party from Salt Lake City, called by Brigham Young, came to the rescue. With faith and endurance in her chosen course, and endowed with both physical and moral courage, Christina was numbered among the successful survivors who finally reached the Great Salt Lake Valley on November 9. Having experienced her 24th birthday on September 22, 1856 as "a long and hard day....along the Platte River in Nebraska......with the road being very heavy and sandy," she was committed and ready to spend the rest of her life in "Zion" beneath the "protecting shadows" of the Wasatch Mountains. At journey's end, Christina found refuge in the pioneer home of Edna and Warren Ford Reynolds where she contributed a helpful and grateful hand. Seven months after arriving Warren took Christina as his second wife, sealing their union in The Endowment House on 28 June 1857. Their marriage of forty-four years was blessed with four daughters and three sons. When Christina died in 1901 she was survived by her seven children and 34 grandchildren.
Crossing the Atlantic and then overland by train, the Fourth Handcart Company under the leadership of Captain James G. Willie, and the Fifth Handcart Company under Edward Martin reached Iowa City on June 26, and July 8, 1856, respectively. At this point Christina committed to helping Margaret Caldwell and her four young children push and pull their newly made handcart over the 1,350 miles that lay between their Iowa location and their long sought destination in the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah territory. They were assigned to travel with a group of about 100 individuals under the direction of Elder Millen Atwood, councilor to Captain Willie.
With great trepidation over the lateness of the season, and with the days growing shorter, the Willie Company left Iowa City on July 15. Before reaching their destination in the Great Basin of Utah, many in the party died of hunger, exhaustion, and hypothermia while others experienced frostbite and other tribulations. A few abandoned their trek. A large party from Salt Lake City, called by Brigham Young, came to the rescue. With faith and endurance in her chosen course, and endowed with both physical and moral courage, Christina was numbered among the successful survivors who finally reached the Great Salt Lake Valley on November 9. Having experienced her 24th birthday on September 22, 1856 as "a long and hard day....along the Platte River in Nebraska......with the road being very heavy and sandy," she was committed and ready to spend the rest of her life in "Zion" beneath the "protecting shadows" of the Wasatch Mountains. At journey's end, Christina found refuge in the pioneer home of Edna and Warren Ford Reynolds where she contributed a helpful and grateful hand. Seven months after arriving Warren took Christina as his second wife, sealing their union in The Endowment House on 28 June 1857. Their marriage of forty-four years was blessed with four daughters and three sons. When Christina died in 1901 she was survived by her seven children and 34 grandchildren.
Christina McNeil's American Family
Christina and Edna Maria Merrell, as the two plural wives of Warren Ford Reynolds, left an almost idyllic remembrance of their close and loving
relationship for their posterity. The two women became treasured friends and helpmates as they lived in close proximity but in separate dwellings. Their husband was a kind and generous man who treated both woman equally with love and tenderness; and, their families were raised with total concern and respect for one another. Edna died first, on 28 March 1896. Warren Ford passed on 10 July 1900, and Christina died at her South Cottonwood home on 1 August 1901. Her funeral was held at the South Cottonwood meeting house on August 3, 1901 at 3 p.m.
relationship for their posterity. The two women became treasured friends and helpmates as they lived in close proximity but in separate dwellings. Their husband was a kind and generous man who treated both woman equally with love and tenderness; and, their families were raised with total concern and respect for one another. Edna died first, on 28 March 1896. Warren Ford passed on 10 July 1900, and Christina died at her South Cottonwood home on 1 August 1901. Her funeral was held at the South Cottonwood meeting house on August 3, 1901 at 3 p.m.
The Written Record of the Life of Christina McNeil Reynolds
General Observations from Scant Records
Several short published references exist for Christina McNeil. Also, a few life sketches have been created by descendants, starting with
grandchildren and then by later generation progeny. Many of these sketches have circulated via copies of old typescripts. These meager written records create an array of mental images of Christina McNeil that include elements of religious persecution, child labor, poverty, faith, courage, endurance, motherhood, kindness and sorrow.
When writing about someone's life it is important not only to be accurate but to include reliable references for original sources. How one handles this aspect of genealogical record making can often be the difference between stating fact and creating fiction. Unfortunately, in the case of Christina McNeil, the old life sketches fail in some key areas; and, the published references are largely based on the old typescripts. Click here for some examples and a short discussion of a few important discrepancies that exist.
Published References and Early Typescripts Related to the Life of Christina McNeil Reynolds
Important references and old documents are here...PLEASE CLICK
Several short published references exist for Christina McNeil. Also, a few life sketches have been created by descendants, starting with
grandchildren and then by later generation progeny. Many of these sketches have circulated via copies of old typescripts. These meager written records create an array of mental images of Christina McNeil that include elements of religious persecution, child labor, poverty, faith, courage, endurance, motherhood, kindness and sorrow.
When writing about someone's life it is important not only to be accurate but to include reliable references for original sources. How one handles this aspect of genealogical record making can often be the difference between stating fact and creating fiction. Unfortunately, in the case of Christina McNeil, the old life sketches fail in some key areas; and, the published references are largely based on the old typescripts. Click here for some examples and a short discussion of a few important discrepancies that exist.
Published References and Early Typescripts Related to the Life of Christina McNeil Reynolds
Important references and old documents are here...PLEASE CLICK
Chronology of Christina's Life (Timeline)
Back in Scotland
Gorbals
The image to the left is an Aerial view of Gorbals, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland where Christina's parents were married. Enlarge the image to see the location of Christina's childhood residence on McAlpine Street and Margaret Ann Caldwell's boarding house on Dyers Lane.
Of Gorbals we learn from the Internet: The Gorbals (Scottish Gaelic: Na Gorbals) is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialization. It became widely known as a dangerous slum and was subject to efforts at redevelopment, which contributed to more problems. In recent decades, some buildings have been demolished for a mixture of market and social housing; others are being refurbished and restored to a higher standard. |
Marriage of Christina's Parents
The names of both of Christina's parents are found in existing Scottish records. Her father is recorded as Daniel or Donald, an interchangeable anomaly of early Scottish culture. The same holds true for the name of her mother Christian or Christina. The first record known of Donald and Christian's life is their marriage in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland on the 14th of January, 1825.
Donald and Christian's 1825 marriage documentation in Glasgow includes the interesting references that he was an established Glasgow Copper-Smith and that she resided in that city. Their marriage by a Gaelic Minister signifies that the ceremony was that of a civil ceremony, rather than that of one of the prominent churches, as a Gaelic Minister is a post in the Scottish government. From it we may conclude that neither Donald or Christina were Catholics. Their protestant leanings, if any, are not known; and, their exact, respective ages at marriage are not documented.
Of sixteen great-great-grandparents, only Christina's father and mother, Donald (Daniel) McNeil and Christian Taylor failed to set foot on American soil. Daniel McNeil is reported to have died in Scotland in October 1847 when Christina was in her fifteenth year. His death record has not been located. Christian Taylor's death record is better known and will be presented here as a digital image.
Of sixteen great-great-grandparents, only Christina's father and mother, Donald (Daniel) McNeil and Christian Taylor failed to set foot on American soil. Daniel McNeil is reported to have died in Scotland in October 1847 when Christina was in her fifteenth year. His death record has not been located. Christian Taylor's death record is better known and will be presented here as a digital image.
Death of Christian (Christina) Taylor McNeil
Emigration to Zion
The journey from the banks of the River Clyde in Scotland to the barren landscape of the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1856 became an epic event to be shared in colorful stories, innocently embellished and handed down from generation to generation. This trip achieved historic proportions that enlarged through the years because of the tragic consequences of an immigrant company that left Iowa City far too late in the season with handcarts to carry the sick among them and their personal belongings. With food supplies exhausted the company found itself trapped in the upper reaches of the Sweetwater River of Wyoming when killing frosts and early winter snows descended upon them. Many froze and several died. Rescue parties sent from Salt Lake City provided the saving relief.
Several books have been written through the years to tell the story of the Willie and Martin Handcart ordeal, but the one illustrated in the image on the right is the mother of them all as it captures every kernel of substance -- and the very heart and soul of what has become an honored and cherished chapter in Mormon trail history. |
The two prominent woman in Christina's early life, her mother, Christian Taylor McNeil and her benefactor Margaret Ann Caldwell, provide a
stark contrast to illustrate the saving benefits of the gospel. Both Christian and Margaret Ann were widows. Christian's impoverished life was one easily forgotten, whereas Margaret Ann is remembered to this day with her image and story told in print on the Internet. Likewise, our Christina McNeil can be said to have taken the high road. Her faith and labours resulted in a multitudinous progeny who honor her name and remembrance.
stark contrast to illustrate the saving benefits of the gospel. Both Christian and Margaret Ann were widows. Christian's impoverished life was one easily forgotten, whereas Margaret Ann is remembered to this day with her image and story told in print on the Internet. Likewise, our Christina McNeil can be said to have taken the high road. Her faith and labours resulted in a multitudinous progeny who honor her name and remembrance.