Fannie Mary Ann Romriell (Singleton)
Deseret S. Salt
Fannie Mary Ann Romriell Singleton was born at Groviel, St. Johns, Jersey Island, England, April 26, 1840. She was the daughter of Francis Romriell who was born at St. Johns, Jersey Island, England, Aug. 18-1799 and Mary Billot Romriell who was born at St. Lawerence, Jersey, England. April 18, 1801 Fannie Mary Ann was the Grand daughter of Joshua Billot, born in 1766 and Elizabeth Gibot born about 1750.
Tradition has been handed down through the generations. The Gibot owned a large farm which occupied what is known as the Balley of the St. Lawerence. There was an old and very deep well on this farm supposed to have been dug when the Island was first settled. A peculiar thing of this well was that when a pin had been dropped into it, it sounded as though a great rock had been dropped into it. This well is still a place of interest to tourists and visitors to the Island. Joshua Billot was a widower with one son when he married Elizabeth Gibot. He was twelve years her senior. Seven children, five girls and two boys were born to them.
They lived on a nice settlement and built a beautiful home near Elinizor Chapple, Trinity, Jersey. They were will-to-do people and classed among the gentry of the Island.
In the year 1846 Fannie's grandfather Joshua Billot died, and according to the English law two-thirds of the estate went to the oldest son by his former wife. This son was a spend thrift, however, and went through his inheritance rapidly. Grandmother Elizabeth Billot, and her seven children were left with but one third. Sad indeed, the story of how bad they felt to see their beautiful home sold and passed into the hands of strangers.
Betsy, the oldest daughter, married Abraham Marriot, a well-to-do farmer. They had but one child, a daughter, whom they named Elizabeth. Margret the second daughter married Joshua Marriot, brother to Abraham who was a well-to-do merchant. They were both very saving and accumulated great wealth. Having no children at the death of Joshua, two-thirds of the property went to his brother Abraham. The shock of losing her wealth was too much for Aunt Margret and she suffered from consumption and she died within a year after her husband. All the property went finally to the only daughter of Abraham. Lucky Elizabeth as they called her.
Fannies grandmother, Elizabeth G. Billot died in the year 1854. Uncle Charles married a Marriot girl a relative of Abraham. Uncle Phillip Billot, at the age of 18 while at work in the mills was injured by an explosion, causing the total loss of his sight. However he learned to read and write, to knit stockings and do fine work. Fannie had a pair of stocking he knit and sent to her just before his death.
Fannie Mary Ann1
Phillip was a great factor in gathering genealogy of his family for he kept the records in the Trinity church. He was a staunch Methodist in his faith, but he was not so prejudiced against the Romriell family for joining the Mormon church as were the rest of the Billot family.
Mary Billot was married to Francis Romriell about the year 1820. Francis Romriell had been bound to her father as a shoemaker apprentice, and because of his lowly position the marriage was not accepted very well, because the family was an annoyance to the society people who almost abolished them upon one occasion the Billots were to enter at a splendid affair on Christmas, and also the family were to be present. Sophie and Mancy feared that Mary's children might be assembled there and suggested that the children eat in the kitchen with the servants. However Grandmother Billot vetoed the suggestion declaring that if they were sent to the kitchen she would go with them.
The children of course did not go to the kitchen after Grandmother's intervention and years later when relating incidents in later life in Jersey were fond of telling of the grand affair.
The Romriells lived a simple and industrious life, Father Romriell working on his trade as a shoe maker and mother Romriell running a store, operating a baking department, and also keeping carrying the mild a long way to market. There was plenty of work for each member of the family to do.
The family numbered ten children. The boys were John, Frank, Charles, who died when an infant, George and Abraham who is still living whale and hearty at the age of (?), and the girls were myself, Jane, Fanny, Ann, who died as a child, and Sophie.
They were a very happy and affectionate family, all religiously inclined. They spoke the French language, although the children were taught the French and English in school. The school was sponsored by the Methodist Church of which they were all members until the year 1849. At this time they heard and embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Grandmother's home was always a home of welcome to the Elders among whom were the late president John Taylor, Curtis E. Bolten and John Pack. Apostle John Taylor became imprisoned in France and though Grandmother's influence and tact a goodly sum of money was raised and used as an aid in releasing him from prison.
Fannie Mary Ann Romriell was the eighth child of the family. On the day of her birth her god father and her mother's brother Uncle Philip presented her with a French Bible. She kept this Bible as long as she lived keeping her family record in it.
When she was six years old she went to live with her aunt Margaret Marriot. Mrs. Marriot was rich and well-to-do and she wished to have a daughter of her own, (she) wished to adopt Fannie and make her heiress to the Marriot possessions.
Fannie Mary Ann2
Fannie was baptized into the Mormon Church when nine years of age, and though young she was greatly enthused over the glad tidings and listened attentively to the teachings of the Elders. She remembered how anxiously they all were to gather to Zion forsaken by their friends and neighbors, and the children were looked down upon in school. But they rejoiced the more for they had found the truth. Their only wish was to go where they could live up to its wondrous principles unmolested.
Fannie enjoyed her girlhood days in Jersey. She use to go with her brother Aberum to the wharves, to gather shellfish as soon as the tide had gone out. One time her sister Jane went with them and she went too far in the rocks when she got ready to return the tide was coming in so fast she had to climb on top of the rocks while Abe ran home for Grandfather who brought a boat and rescued Jane. They all had a good scare.
The place where they lived had a house (that was) very old with huge oak beams across the ceilings, pillars stairways and banisters, also of oak but decaying with age. Ivy covered most of the walls while cherries and apricots, bearing an abundance of fruit were trained up the side of one of the walls. Fannie's Aunt Margret persisted in coaxing her to stay in Jersey with her and inherit all her money and her beautiful stone mansion but oh no. Not for anything would Fannie stay. The dear mother, so kind and loving her father and brothers and sisters whom she loved so dearly, her religion which she appreciate more every day and going to Utah meant every thing in the world to her.
The next four years after joining the church were spent in earnest toil and labor scheming and saving to make ready for the long journey. Great chests were made which they packed full of clothes and other necessities.
In the early part of April 1855 they left their Jersey home and went to Liverpool, England together with seventy other saints all from Jersey. This party with a company of four hundred and some odd people sailed on the ship "Chimbarigo" Apr. 17, 1855 under the direction of Edward Stevenson. Landing at Philadelphia May 21-1855 They proceeded to the headquarters of the Latter Day Saints where they obtained an ox-team and wagon.
Elder Andrew L. Lamoreaux their captain who had accompanied them from Liverpool was taken ill at St. Louis, Missouri and died there on June 14th That was a sad blow to the family for they had learned to love Elder Lameaux and they often spoke of the wise council which he gave to the saints. Starting on the journey he advised the young people to neither court nor marry on the way. After Bro. Lamoreau's death Captain C. U. Harper was put in charge of the company. One of the young men in the company had made advances in the way of courtship to Fannie. She however thrilled with the advice of Elder Lamoreaux (that she) rejected him. He then got Captain Harper to talk to her in his behalf on the matter. Fannie answered the Captain quickly saying "No Captain Harper. Elder Lamoreaux said that there was no relationship between us." So that ended the matter.
They journey on the long wearisome trail sometimes walking, sometimes driving the stubborn oxen shouting "whoa! Gee! Ha!" and invariably the oxen would go just the reverse from where you wanted them to go. Sometimes the oxen would stampede then
Fannie Mary Ann3
they would run taking the wagon over bumps and hollows and it would be hard to get them into subjection again. Sometimes Fannie would drive the oxen for an aged couple in the same train.
When the evening came and the great corral was formed with the wagons, Fannie and Sophie and Abe would go out in search of wood with which to make the camp fire. When wood could not be found they used buffalo chips which made a good fire.
When the supper was over and the things put by, the captain would call everybody to the corral to a dance in the corral to which very man, woman, and child must go. Soon by the music of the people in the train they had the people one and all would dance either in quadrille or reel until all thoughts of being tired had disappeared and everyone was laughing and chatting happy as the morning. Sometimes members of the camp would dance in their bare feet to save their shoes.
Fannie thought it was hard and tiring at times, but she declared it was the happiest time of her life. They arrived at Great Salt City Nov. 12, 1855. Too late in the year to prepare for winter the family were forced to endure many hardships. Though they had plenty of money and clothes they wanted for food. Grandfather Romriell paid ten dollars for a sack of flour, and that they rationed out giving to each one a little bit each day. Bran bread was all they got then. We eat it now for health. They ate it then because they had to. Digging roots was a common thing and an absolute necessity. Fannie and Jane use to go to the fields and dig artichokes. They also did their share of gleaning the fields of grain for the kernels that might be left for kernels kept them in bread.
The first place Fannie went to work was at Joseph Young's home. Here she gained many instructions in the way of house keeping, cooking, etc., which became useful to her lots during the next few years.
She had left home in the early part of 1859 to work for some people who were taking in work from the soldiers of Colonel Johnson's army in the way of washing, ironing, and serving. It was at this time that she became acquainted with Maurice Ducloux, a young Frenchman from Alabama an employee of the Government. A gunsmith by trade, he sought Fannie's company having heard that she was of French descent. Their acquaintance developed into friendship and finally into matrimony. They were married Aug. 19, 1859 at Salt Lake City.
On the 14 of June the following year their first child was born. A little girl whom they named Mary Ann Eagenia. Later on that same year they took the journey back across the plains this time by mule team. They went to Mt. Vernon where Maurice's step father resided. In fact his close friends was there for he was very influential in an and around Mt. Vernon.
It was Fannie's lot while living in the South to witness many trying scenes. On April 12, 1861, the great civil was broke out. Troops of soldiers passed by her door day after day, going as though to protect their homes and rights.
Fannie Mary Ann4
On the 28th of September the same year she was forced to pass through the deepest sorrow a mother can ever witness. Death stole into her home and robber her of her darling little baby girl just fifteen months old. Then came bitter remorse. She had done wrong. She had married a man who was not a member of the church and God had punished her for her wrong doing. This were her thoughts. Always, always, remorse.
On March 27, 1862, a little boy was born to her. They named him James. In this wondrous gift of God her wounded heart was partly healed because this was something else for her to treasure. He grew rapidly strong and healthy but hot July came his second summer. He too had become fifteen months old, So short the duration of her joy. She must go through the exact same of death and sorrow again and lose her dear little boy on the third of July, 1863.
Oh how empty was her life now. How she pleaded with the Lord to comfort her heart! Only send the missionary there with words of truth and comfort that none in her community could give. How alone how lost she was. She said, "I could never describe the depth of my remorse."
And then in the midst of all this sorrow, the cruel injustice of war remanded that all mechanics in and around those parts must go to Warrington to the arsenal to repair warfare. This included her husband, he being a gunsmith. He must go and leave her.
Though deep and bitter these trials she earnestly sought the help of the Lord as her companion. And He did not fail her. She was blessed with kind friends who were ever ready to aid her. And then word came from her husband. He could arrange to have her near him, if she could sell her belongings and come. It would be a great risk! She would have to cross the line of battle. Part of the way she could be passed, but the greater part of the way was infested by gorilla gangs who thought nothing of killing or robbing anyone whom they suspected of having money in their possession.
Fannie's goods were all disposed of. She sold everything and was possessor of a large roll of bank notes upwards of $500.00. As confederate money was of little value at that time her roll was exceedingly large. However huge bustles were in vogue at that time and she found it very convenient to put her roll inside her bustle, leaving out only what she thought would be enough to pay her expenses on the way. She was accompanied by a little slave boy that her husband had presented to her shortly after she went to the South.
To be considered anything at all in Alabama at this (time) one must be a slave owner. And though she protested, her husband insisted and she became the owner of little Ligie. However hearing her tell of hem I imagine she treated him more like her own child than a slave.
Everything being ready she and Lige set off in a one horse shay to undertake a most dangerous journey. Her neighbors and friends begged her to give up the idea but no giving up in her. She had no fear. She trusted in the Lord and knew he would protect her. This adventure proved to be a great manifestation to her of answer to prayer.
Fannie Mary Ann5
She journeyed along listening to Lieg's prattle.
"Miss Fannie we done ginnu lose our meeks sure nuff if them gorilla mans gets hold of us. You done deep that money out of sight. Dey kill us bofe fo dat Miss Fannie."
A very good friend of Fannie's by the name of Mrs. Rogers who had been so kind and good to her in time of trouble desired Fannie to call on her mother and spend the night since it was on her way and near the lines of battle which Fannie must pass. Mrs. Rogers said that her mother would be glad to help and would be glad to tell Fannie which road to take from there. And so at night fall the two adventurers found themselves at the place described by Mrs. Rogers.