Great Grandfather David William Leaker's first wife, Ann North

         Ann was born 11 May 1834 in Bridgewater, Somerset, England. Her and David were married 17 Feb 1850 in St. Mary's Parish, Bridgewater, England. In David's History he relates the following: "I was walking up town with my brother. My wife Ann that is now, was on the street talking to a companion of her's. I asked my brother if he knew who that young lady was. I told him that she would be my wife if ever I had one.  He told me she was sister to the wife of a man by the name of James Jones.
       As I  was acquainted with him I soon had a chance to get acquainted  with her; six weeks after being acquainted we were married from the church of England."
       David relates their conversion to Mormonism: On a  "Sunday we went to a meeting in the evening.   Elder William Easton  preached on the first principles of the gospel. After the meeting closed the saints gathered around us to see what we thought of the principles that he spoke on. We told them it was bible doctrine. We were struck with the unity which prevailed with the saints.
        Me and my wife made some remarks on the good feeling that prevailed among the saints that Wednesday evening following. We went to meeting again and like-wise on Sunday.   Sunday night we gave in our names for baptism... We were baptized on March 30th 1853 by Elder William Easton into a branch called the Walworth."
       It has been said by her descendants that she never had given birth to her own children.

      Excerpt of Caravan Voyage Notes
       With her husband they immigrated to America USA the 18 Feb 1856 and departed on the ship Caravan from Liverpool, England. and arrived the 27 March 1856 at Castle Gardens in New York. On the ship manifest a child was included as traveling with them by the name of Mary Ann Leaker (age 7, born in 1849.  As descendants of David and Ann Leaker, thus far we have no knowledge of this child.
      There was no evidence of this child (Mary Ann) emigrating with them when they departed with the Edward Stevenson Pioneer Company (1859) crossing the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.
      David and Ann came with the Edward Stevenson Pioneer Company. The company states that there were: 285 individuals and 54 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha).  Trail excerpt my David W. Leaker
They departed with the Edward Stevenson Company on 26 Jun 1859 three years later than when

they had landed by ship at Castle Gardens in New York.
      They arrived with the Edward Stevenson Company in the Salt Lake Valley on 2 September 1859.
      A few years later David married a second wife Elizabeth Denney. With Elizabeth, they had 10 children. Elizabeth's first child died. It was agreed upon with his two wives that the first living child would be raised by Ann, the first wife.  This child was named: Mary Annette and was called Netti. Hense, Ann North Leaker was called Netti's Mom. All the other children were raised by Elizabeth.

      There was an article in then Deseret Evening news on May 30th 1904 that tells the death of Ann

Leaker which is noted as follows:  Died While Driving --  Mrs. Ann North Leaker Stricken With Apoplexy Last Night.
     While out driving shortly after six o'clock last evening.  Mrs. Ann North Leaker of 642 east First South street, was stricken with apoplexy and with a few minutes was dead.

     Mrs. Leaker was accompanied by her nephew, W. J. Leaker, city plumbing inspector.  They had been driving for about 30 minutes and were on Main street when Mrs. Leaker complained of a sudden dizziness and urged her nephew to turn towards home and drive fast.  He did so, but at State street and First South, enduring agony, Mrs. Leaker told him to stop at the drug store for assistance.  In a few moments Dr. Johnson and Dr. Benedict were at work on the patient, who was carried into the drug store, but she grew rapidly weaker and almost before anybody present realized it, she was dead on an improvised couch in the store.
     The remains were taken to the undertaking establishment of Joseph William Taylor.
     Mrs. Leaker was the widow of David W. Leaker.  She was 70 years of age and leaves a son, Patrolman C. J. Leaker and an adopted daughter, Mrs. M. S. Neslen.