James Holiday Durney Born: July 7, 1831; Montrose, Scotland Married: Jane Grant Gordon Died: December 29, 1873; Richmond, Cache, Utah Immigration: On "Elvira Owen"

James Holiday Durney

Journal Excerpt

"Grantsville, Tooele County, Utah Territory, Feb. 21, 186. 1 was born the 7th day of July in the town of Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland, Europe. My father's name was James Durney and my mother's maiden name was Margaret Duncan. My father was a Cooper by trade, and as near I could learn accumulated a large sum of money, he having been trusted with the money to pay the men employed at the work where he was foreman, and started for America without giving notice to my mother or any of the family. My mother had just given birth to Johanna, my youngest sister, she being now left alone with her four children: Isabella, Margaret, James and Johanna. She had no money on hand, and we had been in the habit of good circumstances, or having plenty of money. My father was foreman in Wm. Naiper's Cooperyard, and got good wages.

"We were now reduced to poverty at once, which caused my mother to feel very bad. She had taken very sick and lingered but a short time, and as I have been informed, died broken hearted, leaving us four children to feel and lament the loss of both father and mother. We did not know of any relations and there was not any that made themselves known to us, so we were left to the charity of the town.

"At this time there was a large and beautiful building being built by a rich old gentleman, whose name was John Dorward. He built this house especially for the maintenance of orphans and old people who could not maintain themselves. This house was called Dorward's House of Refuge. It was not quite finished at the time my mother died, but we were kept at a neighborhood house by the charity of the town till this house was finished, which was but a short time. When it was opened I and my sisters were the first orphans that went into it. There was a large stone wall built around it with a beautiful garden inside of it. The garden inside of the wall was well arranged and laid off, with walks all through it, and beautiful shade trees all along the walks. On the wall front of the house there was a nice iron picket fence with a large iron double gate in the middle, having a small gate on each side of it. There was a large green in front of the house for the children to play upon. It was divided into two by a road leading from the gates to the front door in the center of the house. One of the greens was for the boys and the other for the girls. There was good order kept in the house. One half of it was for the old women and girls. The men had rooms to sit in and others to sleep in apart from the boys. The women's half was divided in like manner.

"The boys and girls all ate in a large hall in the middle of the house. In this hall there were tables set on each side of it, one side for the boys and the other for the girls. We sat at the tables in order, the largest at the head and so on down to the smallest at the bottom.

"Before sitting down to eat we would say, "Lord let thy presence fill this house, bless all that dwell therein. Give us each day our daily bread, and wash our souls from sin."

"After eating we would say: "To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, Be glory as it was and is and shall be evermore."

"After breakfast we had to sit down at one of the large tables and read in turn a portion of the New Testament. We did the same after supper just before going to bed. We, on all occasions when in the hall, were in the charge of either Master or the Mistress of the house. We were sent to a school about half a mile from the house every day in the week, to church twice on Sunday, and to a Sunday Evening School in the evening. We had a good chance of a common education, but as is common with boys where they are a lot together, there was always one who assumed authority over the rest, and he very often to please his fancy or gratify his notion, would make me and others go and play with him, or go and gather rags or bones and sell them and give him the money instead of going to school. In consequence of this, and my own negligence, it was but very little learning that I got.

"The master of the house, Mr. William John Moodie, always showed a great love for me. He was very kind to me in many instances. When I was about home I always tried to behave myself. He did not have to correct me very often for anything, except my not going to school. He got me to stay at home to wait and help an old man to attend to the garden, for there was a large garden to attend to. We raised nearly all the vegetables that we required. There were a great many gooseberry bushes, currants, and raspberries to attend to, and a choice selection of nearly all kinds of flowers and shrubs. I had to take a large and beautiful bouquet of sweet smelling flowers to Wm. John Dorward once a week. He always gave me a penny to two pence when I came, and very often some apples. This old gentleman was very kind to me. At one time when we had all gotten a suit of new clothes, Wm. Moodie, our Master, took me up to his house to show him the new clothes, or a sample of them which I had on, and while I stood before him showing him my new clothes, he blessed me and said that I should yet become a minister--meaning a preacher of the Gospel.

"I worked in the garden about two years. All the people in the House of Refuge, both old and young, had the privilege every Saturday afternoon of going and visiting their connections and acquaintances. I used to visit Wm. Jas Valentine, Coal Merchant, and Wm. Joseph Johnston, Fish Currer. They were both very rich and respectable families, and were very kind to me and my sisters, which kindness I hope I shall not forget. They were old acquaintances of my father and mother. They never turned us away, although we were poor and they were rich.

"I enjoyed good health all the time that I was in the House of Refuge. I do not remember of my being sick in bed one day, and I was there about seven years. As soon as the boys got old enough to learn a trade they had situations found for them, and they received their food and clothes from the House of Refuge until they got wages enough to get them themselves. About the end of the seventh year from the time that I and my sisters went into the House of Refuge, my two oldest sisters were sent to places of service in respectable families. My oldest sister, Isabella, went to Wm. Johnston's the Fish Curer. My second sister, Margaret, went to Win. Hillock's, a clothier. I was sent by the mail and by railroad about 50 miles north to a place called Dundee [note 1] to a doctor by the name of Jas Arrott [note 2]. This was about the year 1844. I lived with Dr. Arrott about 2 1/2 years. He was a bachelor, very rich, and had plenty of service among the rich people. He was reckoned a good doctor. He had a large, well finished, and famished house. It had about 15 rooms in it. He only kept me and a servant girl. He was too much of a miser to keep a wife, and too miserly to let us live as we had ought to. For this reason he could not get a girl to stay with him more than six months at a time. He was well employed both in the town and country, and I had a great deal of running with medicines to do, both late and early. He did his own traveling on foot so as to save the expense of keeping a horse, so I had to go on foot so as to save also.

"When at home I had to answer to all calls at the door, which were many, and set and wait on the table, and assist the girl, or servant woman, to do the house work. Sometimes he would have company and on such occasions we would have to cook something good to eat. He would sometimes take me with him to help wait on the table when he went to a large party. I was always glad of such chances for I not only got plenty that was good, to eat and drink, but I very often got some money from the master or mistress, or servants of the house. He would very often make it a point to be at some of his rich patient's about dinner time, and I and the servant girl would have to wait many times till supper time before we would dare to eat. I and the servant had but a scanty allowance. This was one reason why the servants would not stop more than a few months at a time with him. I like the society in which I had to move, as it was of the higher class, and while with this doctor I learned many good principles and habits, which were of much benefit to me afterwards.

"I also got a little money now and again from the patients, but from the doctor I only got my food and clothing, and hardly enough of either, and I always like to be well dressed. I began to think that I would like to go to Montrose and live near my sisters. I thought that I would rather try to keep myself, even if I had to live poorly, if I could only have the liberty and be my own master. I had several reasons for being tired of living with Dr. Arrott, and I did not have any inclination to stop with him to learn to be a doctor, and I did not know how long I might have to stay before he would teach me. So one day when the Doctor had gone off some three or four miles, I packed up the few clothes I had, being determined to leave without telling anybody. Just as I had finished packing up my things the servant girl came and told me that she was going off to buy some things. So after she had been gone a little while I followed after her, leaving the back door open for the servant to come in. I hurried to the railway station as soon as I could, but I had to wait about half and hour for the time of the train starting.

"During this time the Doctor arrived, and finding that I had left he started for the railway station. On his way he found the Captain of the Police, whom he brought with him. They arrived at the station just as I was about to pay for my ticket. The Doctor walked right up to me and told me he had brought the Captain of the Police with him and I had better return home. I thought it was no use for me to refuse under such circumstances, so I picked up my things and started for home.

"The Doctor and the Police Captain followed close after me. When we got home he promised to give me a good whipping that night. And in this instance I found him as good as his word, for when night came he took a rope and took me into the surgery where I slept and gave me a flogging, the Re I had not had before or since.

"The surgery where I slept was an underground room. The stench of the human bones and whole skeletons, and the different kinds of medicines and drugs, was very disagreeable. He would not allow me nor the servant to clean the surgery. A great many human bones of different kinds, such as legs, arms, and skulls, with many other bones belonging to the human system were scattered around. Spilled medicines and drugs of various kinds, and lots of paper and rubbish lay scattered over the floor. The old bedstead on which I slept stood in one comer of the room. At the head of the bed stood a case in which was the skeleton of a very tall man standing upright. Every bone was in its place and attached by a small wire through the bones. Very often at night I would lay my head down on my pillow and I would chance touch this case, which would make it shake and rattle. At the foot of my bed stood the skeleton of a boy supposed to be about ten or twelve years old. With all this, it was not very desirable to stay there.

"My oldest sister got married about this time to one Charles Beaton, a sailor. It was now about six months since I tried to leave the doctor, making from the time that I came to him about two years and six months. I now resolved to make another attempt at leaving. So I commenced carrying off my clothes (a little at a time) to the house of a woman whose name was Ann Valentine. She had always been a friend to me and my sisters. In the meantime I sent for my brother-in-law, Charles Beaton, who was living in Montrose, and asked him to come and help me to get away from the doctor, and to get to Montrose. He soon arrived at the place and we thought it best to travel 4 miles before taking the railway, so as to avoid being caught as I was before by the doctor. We soon arrived at the Broughty Ferry Station where we took tickets for Arbroath, at which place we took seats in the mail coach for Montrose, where we arrived in safety. The doctor later found me and held out good inducements to me to stay with him, but I felt glad that I was at liberty. I did not have any claim on the House of Refuge now, as I had left the place that they gave me without giving notice to them or the doctor.

"I went to work at a Tow Spinning Mill, for now I had to feed and clothe myself from this time forward. The manager of the mill took particular notice of me, as I was dressed and had a more mannerly turn than the rest of the boys at the mill. They are generally of the poorer class of people who work at those spinning mills. As the manager could only allow me the same as the rest of the boys, 2-6 per week, he inquired about me and my circumstances. I told him that I was without father or mother, no relations that we knew of, and that my three sisters and myself had to maintain ourselves by our labor. He, knowing that the wages which he allowed me, and was as much as he had authority to allow me, was not enough to feed, clothe, and board me. He, being highly respected by the Town Council, used his influence in my behalf, and got a ticket from the Council for me to receive one shilling per week from the poor rates of the town. I received this while I worked at his mill, which was about six months. I had one shilling and sixpence per week for my washing and lodging, leaving two shillings to feed and clothe me, which was not enough. But by being sparing and saving I made it do. Mr. Duff, the mill manager, was very kind to me and gave me some of his old clothes, which I was very thankful for. My food, while working at this mill, was chiefly made of oatmeal and milk three times per day.

"One of the foremen of this mill also proved himself a friend to me by getting me a situation in a Last Makers Shop. I felt very thankful to him for this kindness to me. The foreman under which I worked, was also very kind to me. I made friends wherever I went. I did not like to work at the mill. It was so dusty and confining all the time. The last maker's name was John Mollison. I went with the foreman to Mr. Mollison and agreed to serve an apprenticeship of five years, which was the regular time for the apprentices to serve. Mr. Mollison only allowed me one shilling and sixpence per week for the first year. My friend, Mr. Duff, the mill manager, again used his influence with the Town Council in my behalf, and they let me have one shilling and sixpence per week during the first year of my apprenticeship, but I had to live very sparingly.

"The second year my wage was two shillings and sixpence per week. When I left the mill Mr. Duff requested me not to forget to come and see him and let him know how I was getting along. He generally had some present to give me when I went to see him. During this time Mr. Mollison took a notion to go to a town called Dundee about 30 miles from Montrose. He promised to raise my wages one shilling, and raise them again at the end of the year. He was very anxious to have me to go with him as I was well acquainted with the streets and lanes in Dundee. I had a good chance to become acquainted with them while living with Dr. Jas Arrott, as he had patients all over the town and in the country around it for five or six miles.

"I was anxious to learn the trade because it was a good one, and we could always keep ourselves clean. We always wore a white apron while at work. I consented to go, but before leaving Montrose for Dundee I called Mr. Duff and told him that I was going. He again went to the Town Council and got an order for me to receive one shilling per week to be drawn monthly in Dundee.

"When I arrived in Dundee I went and lodged with Ann Valentine. I got along a good deal better in Dundee than I did in Montrose. I could live much cheaper so that I was able to save some of my wages to buy some clothes for Sunday. I used to go to some of the churches, but I did not feel religious enough to join any of them, for I did not understand the doctrines which they taught. I must confess that I did not try very hard to understand them. I had a form of religion and tried to keep from doing that which I knew to be wrong. The foreman of the Last Makers, Robert Peters, was a Mormon. He was a well educated man and understood a good deal about the principles of the Gospel. He used to go and preach on Sundays in the streets of Dundee and he let me go with him. I used to think it quite a privilege and honor to stand by the side of a preacher while he was preaching the Gospel. I felt quite bold while standing by his side, although the people generally were very abusive to him because of the doctrines which he taught. I went several times to the Mormon's meeting house and heard them preach, but I did not then realize the truth of the doctrines, which they taught, enough to obey them. I went with my master, John Mollison, (who was very bitter against the Mormons) to the Free Church for a long time till I got quite tired to their preaching. I did not understand their doctrines.

"I loved to go to the Mormon meetings for there was more life and freedom there. They were a lively, accommodating, happy set of people, and they were beautiful singers. I had commenced saving money as much as I could by working extra hours in the work shop and doing jobs for the men. By this means I was able to save considerable money and wear better clothes, both during the week and on Sundays. I had a great desire to go abroad and see the world, or some parts of it which I had not seen, and I made up my mind to go to America as soon as my apprenticeship was out. One reason why I wanted to go to America first, was because I understood that my father had gone there and I was in hopes of finding him, although I had not heard from him nor of him.

"I felt the want of a common education very much. I could read, write, and spell tolerably well, but I did not understand much about arithmetic, or any other branch of education. I had a little money laid away and I thought that I could not put it to a much better purpose than to pay for some schooling, so I went to an evening school and tried to learn all that I could. It was while at this evening school that I got the most of the learning which I now have. I now began more earnestly to seek after knowledge, and I commenced reading all kinds of books. I felt very much inclined to read the lives of highway robbers, sea pirates, adventurers, history, and novels.

"There was not anything of much importance that happened to me while I lived in Dundee. Suffice it to say that I was industrious, working hard, and saving as much of my earnings as I could. I enjoyed very good health and strength. I don't recollect of being confined to bed one day, or kept from my work through sickness. I got a small old chest from Mr. Mollison, which I soon filled with good clothes. For all that I seemed to care for was to have good clothes, and books to read. I kept America in view all the time, for I felt determined to go there as soon as I was able. My master got married about this time, being in the year 1849. He prospered very well in business, and sometimes kept four men working for him in connection with the last making business. He kept a cut leather shop and sold all kinds of leather and shoemakers tools.

"In trying to increase his position, he made rose wood lasts for Queen Victoria and a rosewood boot-jack for Prince Albert. Then he sent a note to Queen Victoria asking her to grant him the privilege and honor to publish and sign his name as Last Maker to her Majesty Queen Victoria. He did not get his wishes gratified, and it caused him to feel rather bad. Hereupon, he resolved to try his fortune in Australia.

"All the men and myself agreed to go and work for a Mr. Brown and Sons in Arbroath. We soon found lodgings and got our benches fixed up and got to working again. As I was not much acquainted with this town I spent several Sundays by walking out in the country viewing it and getting acquainted with the crooks and turns of the place. Mr. Brown carried on an extensive business in manufacturing of all kinds of leather, and he had a very large tanning yard, in which he had about five hundred pits in use, tanning leather. He had a large operation and employed the following tradesmen: tanners, curers, shoemakers, last makers, saddle and harness makers, mechanics, candle makers, blacksmiths, joiners, leather and skin dryers. He kept a sawmill, flash mill, and a bark mill. He had a large engine to keep his- mills and machinery in operation.

"I read several of the tracks and publications of the Saints and I commenced to understand a little of the doctrines which they taught, or enough to make me feel the necessity of being baptized for a remission of sins. I soon offered myself for baptism, which was attended to by Joseph Booth, the President of the Branch, on the 20th Day of Nov. 1850, 1 was confirmed by Joseph Booth and Jas Mathers. If ever I felt happy in my lifetime, it was at this time. I felt a joy, a peace and happiness which I never felt before. The society of the Saints was a pleasure to me.

"After this I did not have much time to work extra hours at night, for now my time was spent with the Saints. As soon as the hour came to leave work in the evening, I went home and put on a better suit of clothes (but not my Sunday ones) and went off to some to the Saint's houses where many like myself would meet and sing and talk over the principles of the Gospel, and of going to Zion. Sometimes there would be meeting nearly every night in the week, which I delighted to attend. Part of the evening spare time was taken up by delivering tracts in certain parts of town. Before joining the Saints I had no father or mother, but now I had fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, in whose society I rejoiced.

"On Sunday mornings my companion and I were in the habit of traveling along the sea shore, where there were many dens and caves, where we used to attend to our secret prayers, making our wants known to our Heavenly Father. This certainly was a time of rejoicing to me. I tried to serve the Lord and do all the good that I could, in the work in which I was engaged. The doctrine of the gathering was preached to me which I rejoiced in, for I had been anticipating going to America for a long time. I was now more earnest about getting means to gather with them. I commenced living more sparingly, and I got up early in the morning and went to work. Sometimes I would work till midnight, when I had a chance to do so, in order to get money to help to pay the expenses of the Branch and to pay for the tracts, and etc. I was able to save a little money for our trip to America.

"I was ordained to the office of a Priest and appointed to travel on Sundays with John Gordon to a place called Letham to preach, and distribute tracts amongst the people. We used to travel about 12 or 14 miles every Sabbath, which I took pleasure in doing. Mr. Brown, my master, was very good to me and knowing my circumstances, gave me some of his clothes which were not worn very much.

"I traveled to Montrose to visit my sisters and friends, and bid them farewell. Many tears were shed at our parting, but I was glad that the time of my deliverance was come. I traveled back to Arbroath and spent a few days in visiting the Saints before leaving. On the week following I started on my journey to the Valley. I went by railway to Dundee, where I stayed at the home of Pres. Jas McNaughton. That evening while sitting at the fire with Jas Jerguson, who was appointed to fill the place of Jas McNaughton, he looked at me steadily for a minute or two, and then asked me if I was going to the Valley. I answered "yes". "Well, said he, "You will get there safely and you will see the Prophet Brigham, and the Patriarch will tell you that you are of the blood of Ephraim. This will come true, and you can write it down if you choose." I can testify that all that he said has come true, for I have seen and shaken hands with the Prophet Brigham, and I have had my patriarchal blessing from Father John Smith, brother to Joseph Smith, and from Father Isaac Morley, Patriarch of this Church. They both told me that I was of the blood of Ephraim.

"I started by the railway next morning for Glasgow, passed through the town of Perth and Fifeshire. I stopped a day or two in Glasgow waiting for the steamboat to start for Liverpool.

"The ship was named the "Elvira Owen". She was a fine three masted ship. Before I left Liverpool I had agreed to go with Brother John R. Winder to help him, till we got to the States and then to drive a team for him to the Valley. I acted as a servant to them, and did all the good for them that I could.

"After we started a great many of the Saints were almost helpless with seasickness. The motion of the ship did not have much effect on me, as I had been on the water a good deal before leaving. This enabled me to attend to those who were sea sick, which I did, especially to Brother Winder and his family. Nothing particular happened on ship board except sea sickness until Thursday 17th, when one of the sailors fell from the vow of the ship and was drowned. The sea was rolling mountains high. At times for two or three minutes the boat and men would be out of sight and the passengers would begin to think that the men would all be lost. But after a long search they returned with the life buoy only, having searched for their companion in vain. Two babies were born that day, but one was stillborn.

"Sat. 19th Calm but dull day. Nearly all the Saints who were seasick have gotten better and walking about on deck today, singing and amusing themselves in various ways, all seeming to enjoy the spirit of God.

"Sun. 20th Strong fair wind and very rough sea.

"Mon. 21st Fair wind, and the sea is rolling very high and rough. We got a little provisions but not full rations.

"Tues. 22nd Fair wind and rough sea making many of the Saints seasick. The ship and nearly all that is in her is rolling very much. There is quite a noise between decks. Children are squalling, the old ones are vomiting, pots and kettles, boxes, pails, barrels, dishes, and everything else that is not made fast by being nailed or tied, (passengers not excepted) are rolling, tumbling, and jamming about, making a great noise and confusion. While several of the sailors were on the fore-quarter deck hoisting up one of the fore yard sails, the wind was blowing very hard and a rope got loose, by some means or other, and swinging two and fro with great velocity, it struck one of the sailors and broke his arm. The poor fellow rolled down near my feet. He was carried to the cabin and they attended to him.

"Wed. 25th This is the finest day that we have had yet. We are now about 1800 miles from Liverpool and running at the rate of ten miles an hour. We are a royal, happy family and enjoy much of the spirit of God. We are to have a lecture on the principles of the Gospel this evening. A prayer meeting it to be held each Tuesday evening."

This journal is condensed, and the last part of it has been lost. James Holiday Durney landed in America and came across the plains and settled in Grantsville, Utah. He married Sarah Ellison Sutton on 23 Apr. 1955 in Salt Lake City. They had five children: Alice Ann Durney, James Holiday Durney, John Sutton Durney, Mary Durney, and Joanna Durney.

On 18 Oct. 1861, he took as his second wife, Jane Grant Gordon. To this union there were born five children: Martha Gordon Durney, Peter Sutton Durney, Joseph Gordon Durney, Hyrum Gordon Durney, and Isabel Gordon Durney.

They moved to Richmond, Cache, Utah, about 1866, and to High Creek, about 5 miles farther north. One wife and children lived at the farm, and the other family lived at the home in Richmond. Every few months they exchanged places, one going to the farm and the other to Richmond.

James died 29 Dec. 1873, at Richmond. Sarah died 20 Nov. 1901 at Richmond. Jane Grant Gordon Durney, after the death of her first husband, married Edmund Buckley and raised another family. She died 22 Feb. 1908, at Richmond.

Copied from The Trunk of the Tree: It's Roots and Branches, compiled by Verlean Davis Brewster.

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