Information taken from the Journal of a son, William Marsden and the family group sheet prepared by Edith Bushman, Mesa, Arizona.

Abraham Marsden was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, England about the year of 1781. He was a spinner by trade. In his early manhood he married a woman by the name of Martha. She probably died. He then married Hannah Thornton about 1804. Hannah was born at Lindley near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England about the year 1786. Her fathers name was William Thornton mothers name is not given here.

Abraham and Hannah made their home in Fowleach, Oldham, Lancashire, England. Here their first child Mary Ann was born about 1806, but she died at the age of four, on the 5th of July 1810. Next came Sarah, born about 1809. She only lived to be three years old and died December 22, 1812. She was followed by William, born June 6, 1811, and died February 15, 1813. On March 15, 1814, Hannah’s empty arms and heart was filled by the arrival of another son. They named him William also which was the custom. He was a strong healthy baby and brought much joy into their lives. Two years later, July 18, 1816, Samuel was born at Greatmore, Oldham. He also lived to maturity. A son, Abraham, was added to the family December 27, 1818 at Mt. Pleasant, Oldham, but died November 19, 1819, before he was a year old. The joy of the parents was full when the second Sarah came to gladden their home on August 30, 1821. She was born in Fowleach.Abraham and Hannah took much pleasure with their children which they were permitted to rear. They taught them well in many phases of life. They desired them to grow up to be good citizens.

The Marsdens were members of the Methodist church, firmly believing that religion played an important part in their lives.

However, an event in July 1837, was later to make a great change in the lives of the Marsden family. The story briefly is taken from the book, Essentials in Church History.

In far off America, on April 6, 1830, the true Church of Jesus Christ was brought back upon the earth in the Latter-days. The Lord had prepared young Joseph Smith of Palmyra, New York to be the head of His Church here upon the earth. Many of the honest-in-heart of that area believed that this new religion was of God and became affiliated with it. Others greatly opposed the truth and persecuted those that joined the Church.

Under Divine direction missionaries were sent, almost immediately to preach the gospel to the people of Eastern United States and Eastern Canada, also in England.

It was July 20, 1837, when Elder Willard Richards, Joseph Fielding and others, having been duly set apart to open up a mission in Great Britain, arrived there to begin their labors.

The Marsden family certainly had the blood of Israel strong in their veins because when the sons William and Samuel heard the gospel truths explained to them, they readily accepted them. Records at hand show that Samuel was baptized 7 March 1839′ and William was baptized on 7 October 1839.

William says in his journal that from the time he was ordained a Priest by Parley P. Pratt and Brigham Young, two of the Twelve Apostles, he was sent to Oldham, his home locality, to preach the gospel.

Through the influence of their sons, Samuel and William and the teachings of the Elders who labored in their area, Hannah Marsden was ready for baptism and cast her lot with the Mormons. Thus it was that on the 19th of October 1840, Hannah Thornton Marsden was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as were her daughter Sarah and her daughter-in-law, Jane Appleby Marsden, (William’s wife) by James Mahon, Priest. This event took place in the River Irnvel Salford near Manchester, England. They were confirmed in the Church by Elders Brigham Young and Orson Pratt on the same day at Carpenters Hall, Manchester, England.

It took Abraham Marsden a little longer to be thoroughly convinced that he should become a member of the Church to which his loved ones belonged. However he saw the light, and was baptized May 1, 1842, by Elder William Hardman in Manchester, England. He was a devoted and faithful member of the Church from then until his death, seven years later.

William Marsden, their son, left for America and Nauvoo in September 1840 to prepare to have his wife and children join him, which they did in May 1840. Samuel had also emigrated previously because William says in his Journal that he and his brother Samuel were engaged in making a house in Nauvoo for his family, at which time they lived with Brother Brigham Young.

Abraham and Hannah Marsden were anxious to immigrate to Zion to be with the Saints and their sons. William states that his Father and Mother arrived in Nauvoo on the 11th day of November 1842. Referring to the Church shipping records we find that they probably were passengers on either the ship “Medford” with Orson Hyde Captain of the 214 Saints or the “Henry” with John Snider in charge of 157 Saints.

At this time William and Samuel, with their families were living in Oquawka, Illinois, on a farm. This place was 45 miles distance from Nauvoo.

It was a satisfying thing for Abraham and Hannah to be with the Saints in Zion. They felt it a great privilege to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith and the other Church leaders. They were happy to see Brigham Young and Orson Pratt again who had taken such a part in their baptism and confirmation. They grieved with the rest of the Saints at the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. William doesn’t state in his Journal how much persecution they had to endure, being a safe distance from Nauvoo.

No doubt they would all liked to have journeyed on Lo the valley of the Mountains during the first years of the great migration, but this was not Lo be the case.

Abraham Marsden was 68 years old when death took him on the 20th of September 1849 at the home of his son William in Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois. Not long after that on the 9th of October 1849, Hannah Thornton Marsden died at the home of her son William also, and was laid to rest beside her husband in the Cemetery in Oquawka. She was 63 years old. Descendants of this day while touring that area, have had the humbling experience of visiting the graves of their great grandparents in Illinois.