The "Clifford" or the "Wriston" Family?

The "Clifford" or the "Wriston" Family?

• http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/8248/library/johnclifford.html

The CLIFFORD or WRISTON/RISTON FAMILY

(sent by John W. Clifford)

My early information of my father's family came through him. He told us that two Clifford brothers came to Maryland with Lord Baltimore. My son, Ed H. Parkison married and lives near Baltimore. In 1957, he drove me to the library of the Maryland Historical Society. I was permitted to look into the original records of the early emigrants. In the year of 1664 I found the names of three male Clifford, one named John, which has been a family name, and a female named Mary, also was listed. In our family records and family stories, the next member of the family mentioned was Elisha Riston. His grandson, John Price Clifford (Riston) was in the Mormon Battalion in 1846. When he was married at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young advised him to never use the name Riston again, as his real name was Clifford. It seems Elisha's father was killed mending a roof and fell. His wife married a man named Riston and her children took that name, which they used through three generations. J. P. Clifford Senior used that name in the Battalion and his monument lists him that way.

So our family has had a hard time tracing Elisha's father, not being sure of his first name. Family records listed Elisha who married to Sarah Ann Mayo. It listed their first child John, as being born in November 1790. I was permitted to see the original records in a small book in the same library. They were married in St. Johns Episcopal Church in Prince George County on February 6, 1790. The original ink was faded and spidery, but legible. This church is still standing and Ed Parkison located it near Fort Washington and just across the Potomac from Mt. Vernon. Sarah Ann Mayo was believed to be a niece of George Washington. I have tried to find this in research. In a diary of George Washington, it mentioned, "....Mayo and daughter Miss Ann had spent the night." None of the family searches have found the records of Elisha's or Sarah Ann's parents. However, Ed Parkison did find her death certificate in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which listed her father as Joseph Mayo. In the summer of 1981, I and my daughters visited Baltimore and Ed took us to see the little red faded brick church. It was open, and thought it had fresh flowers and an alter cloth on the alter, it looked very ancient and smelled musty. It was a wonderful experience to realize they were actually standing or kneeling there almost 200 years before.

In 1975 my son Ed Parkison, his son Mark and I spent several hours in the records in Annapolis, Maryland. The only male Clifford listed was a John Clifford, age 43 in the census of 1776. In his family was wife Monica, and three male children age 22, 15, and 12. We also found record that he had died about 1778 as his wife Monica was trying to collect his debts for his estate in that year and also in 1779. We surmised the 15 or 12 year old was young enough to have taken the name of his stepfather and also have been old enough to have married Sarah Ann Mayo in 1790. We also found three female children 8, 12, and 14 and two slaves under 16. This John Clifford took an oath of fidelity in 1778, along with an Elish Riston. (Was this a friend or relative he named his son for?)

A cousin Maurine Clifford, also has searched and this is her quote. "Elisha's son, John was born in Prince George county, Maryland the 25th of November 1790. We do not know when the family began the trek, which many of the Easterners did, to the west for new land. We find that Henrietta was born in 1793 in the District of Columbia; Rachel in 1796; Thomas 1800 in Virginia; Elizabeth about 1802 Kentucky; Nancy, 1804 Kentucky; Elijah in Virginia; Reuben about 1810; Mary or Polly about 1813 Kentucky; and Naomi in 1816. We find these stated in the family census records. In copying many of the deeds, Elisha and later Sarah Ann and son John held, we think Elisha died in about 1816, possibly on the Pond River in Christian County, Kentucky where the family lived and owned property."

In 1817 John Riston, as he was known, purchased 200 acres of third-rate land on the Pond River and two years later another 250 acres on the west fork of the river. The Christian county deeds indicate that John Riston owned numerous parcels of land including two tracts on what was known as the town, Fork of Little River (now known as the North Fork). This is a small stream which runs through the city of Hopkinsville. However, these tracts were not purchased until 1835 which means the family may have lived in the town while the children were growing up.

The Clifford (Riston) farm was in the wooded, rolling hill region of western Kentucky. The land was probably used for cattle, hogs and a few patches of tobacco or corn. Families were somewhat dependant on game for part of their food supply. Early memories of the two children were of hunting possum and quail.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/8248/library/johnclifford.html

The CLIFFORD or WRISTON/RISTON FAMILY

(sent by John W. Clifford)

After 1839 the John Clifford land ceased to be listed on the tax records. Early in the 1830's extensive tracts of rich land were opened up in Illinois. John Clifford's brother, Thomas (who never used the name of Clifford) moved to Hancock county, Illinois about 1835 and on February 16, 1840, John moved his family to Madison county, Illinois near his friends and relatives who were already there. The boys worked the farm with their father. It was in Illinois that the Clifford left for Nauvoo. Later they left Nauvoo and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they arrived July 10, 1846. Several days later, two of the brothers, John Price and Isaac Newton, were mustered into the Battalion. Their names can be found on the Battalion monument on the State Capitol ground in Salt Lake City under the names of Wriston. A monument also marks the grave of John in Gentile Valley (Mound Fort) in Idaho. A biography by John Price Clifford's daughter, Rose Clifford Sant is included in this history.

The family lived for a time in North Ogden and then moved to Brigham City, Utah. Isaac Newton was killed here; it tells of this in the History of Box Elder County of which I have a copy. It quotes, "The first death, the result of a harmless dog fight occurred near the old fort. Nute Clifford and another boy were displaying the prowess of their dogs and all went well until a bystander became enraged and took a stick from a fence and struck Nute Clifford causing his death, almost instantly. The stranger left at once. No legal action was taken as there were no civil officers nearer than Ogden. Mr. Clifford is buried a short distance from the fort." (Note by Hila Parkison: In later years when our family lived in Brigham City, we tried to have the grave moved from the residential district, but never accomplished it. In 1916, the old home was still standing but soon disappeared).

The history of the family and their trek closely parallels the history of the Mormon Church. They must have been in Nauvoo at the building of the temple and the destruction of it. The fact that Joseph Smith was killed Jun 27, 1844 and in spite of many leaving the church after that time, Elizabeth Price Clifford, the mother of the family, was baptized in September of that year. Her husband John Clifford, her only daughter Martha, and the six youngest children were baptized in February of the next year, 1845. The story of their conversion was told to me by my father, John Price Clifford, Jr. He said his grandfather, John Clifford, dreamed one night of two men carrying "grips" or "satchels" and were on a street corner speaking to a crowd of people. He listened to them in his dream and realized what they were telling was a wonderful truth. He determined that it was a message to him and told his family of the dream the next morning. They laughed at his vision and to prove he was not making it up, told them he would drive from the farm to the village and would find the men. He knew from his dream how they would look and would recognize them, his dream being so vivid. The sons decided to go with him, some sitting on the seat of the spring wagon, the others standing behind the seat. When he arrived at the corner where he had known they would be, sure enough and he could say to his boys, there they are!

We know very little of John's wife, Elizabeth Price. Her father was Archibald Price; 1810 census Lister his as over 45, he died about 1823 in Christian county, Kentucky. Elizabeth's mother was Matilda Berry; the 1850 census Lister her as age 73. The children of these ancestors were: Archibald M., born about 1782; Isaac 1794; Elizabeth born 9 June 1796 in New Hope, Chatham, NC; Mary or Polly 1801; William 1806; John 1804; and Wilson. Elizabeth and John Clifford were endowed 29 October 1855.

Necessary information: (This lengthy explanation is important and should be read by any researching this family because of the two names and discrepancies in records)

WRISTON or RISTON name. All Maryland records are in the Riston name. From 1812-1819 tax records of Christian County, KY, they spell the name Riston, but beginning in 1820 recorders began to spell the name Wriston. It was spelled that way thereafter.

Tillman or Tilman B. (As it is variously spelled in records) Clifford was sealed to Hulda and Deborah Campbell November 29, 1851 in the Endowment House by Brigham Young under the Wriston name. Tradition is that some time afterwards he told President Young that his real name was Clifford not Wriston, and Brigham Young advised him to start using the Clifford name. However, it was not until 1855 that any of the family used the Clifford name. In February 1855 John Price and Tilman B. had their wives sealed to them using the Clifford name. On 29 October 1855, John Price, Franklin G., and Leander H. And their parents had wives sealed to them under the Clifford name. All the family members were baptized under the Wriston name, but on June 5, 1885 Tilman B. Was baptized in the Logan temple under the Clifford name. All early priesthood ordinations, Pat. Blessings for this family were in the Wriston name. The 1850 census was in the Wriston name. However, the 1860 census taken 24 July shows the families as Clifford.

The birth place and birth date for Elizabeth Price were taken from End. H. Bk. B, p. 35 and from her Pat. Blessing. Death dates for John and Elizabeth could not be found, but at the time of the sealing of children to parents in 1895 their death dated is listed as 1860. However, the 1860 census taken 24 July 1860 shows them still alive. The family believes they died in Providence, Utah but no graves have been found there.

The correct birth dates of some of the children was difficult to determine as two of them personally gave various dates. Benjamin Rush in 1868 when he was sealed to H. Lemon gave his birth date as 10 Jan 1833; at the time of his Pat. Bl. In 1855 Brigham City he gave 11 Jun 1832; Millville Ward records about 1876 list his birth date as 9 Jun 1830; Logan temple records gave his birth date as 9 Jun 1829. He is listed as age 18 at time of 1850 census of Davis county, Utah and as 23 at time of 1860 census. The date used was the one he gave at the earliest time.

Leander Holeman - at the time of his sealing in End. H. In 1855 Leander H. Gave his birth as September 4, 1837, but at the time of his Pat. Bl in 1855 he gave 4 Sept 1835. September 4 1834 was given when he was ord. To 58th Quorum of Seventies in 1859 and 1833 was given by his brothers at the time of sealing of children to parents in Logan temple in 1895. He was listed age 11 in 1850 census. The date he gave in the End. H. has been used because it was his earliest recollection.

~Sharen Anita Land http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/8248/

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• Birth: 25 JUL 1790 in Upper MarlBorough Twp, Prince George, Maryland

• Death: AFT 29 JUL 1860 in Providence, Cache, Utah

• Note: and before 25 Dec 1860.

• LDS Baptism: 16 FEB 1844

• Endowment: 29 OCT 1855

• Ancestral File #: 1ZJX-N0

Ancestry Hints for John CLIFFORD

1 possible matches found on Ancestry.com

Marriage 1 Elizabeth PRICE b: 9 JUN 1796 in New Hope, Chatham, North Carolina

• Married: 10 NOV 1813 in , Christian, Kentucky

• Sealing Spouse: 29 OCT 1855 in EHOUS

Children

1. Martha WRISTON CLIFFORD b: 30 NOV 1814 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

2. Elihu CLIFFORD b: 10 DEC 1815 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

3. Elisha Wriston CLIFFORD b: 20 OCT 1816 in Hapkinville, Christion, Kentucky

4. Tillman Berry CLIFFORD b: 20 FEB 1820 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

5. John Price CLIFFORD b: 13 APR 1823 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

6. Issac Newton CLIFFORD b: 4 JAN 1825 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

7. Franklin Green CLIFFORD b: 3 NOV 1827 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

8. Benjaman Rush CLIFFORD b: 11 JUN 1829 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

9. William Henry CLIFFORD b: 11 AUG 1834 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

10. Leander Holeman CLIFFORD b: 4 SEP 1837 in Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky

Sources:

1. Abbrev: Ancestral File (TM)

Title: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM). June 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998une 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998.

Repository:

Name: Family History Library

Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA

Repository:

Name: Family History Library

Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA

2. Abbrev: LDS Historical database by Vern Taylor

Title: LDS Historical database compiled by Vern Taylor Dec 2003