The Hutchinson Family
by Frank Edra Liddell Hill
1066 -- It is legend that the Hutchinson family in England began with one Uitonesis (Uitchenses, Uitonensis) a Norwegian and follower of the King of Norway, Harold III who invaded England, stayed and settled Bishop, Middleham, City of York.
1262 -- Bernard Hutchinson of Cowlan, Yorkshire, England where begins the main stock of the family. Bernard Hutchinson was called Esquire or Arminger and is believed to have been proprietor of a whole parish of 2.036 acres in East Riding Yorkshire, England. He married the daughter of John Boyville, Esquire. 3 children - John, Robert, and Mary.
As I considered this I was confused about this Knight of Norway being the follower of King Harold of Norway, when Harold was the name or the King of England. And it seemed that there was something wrong with the name of Uitonesis, so I consulted the Brother Knute Nohre, who was raised in Norway and knew the history of that country and he corrected the name Utinesis. The correct spelling should be Uitchenes and the king of Norway in 1066 was Hoardrada [Harold III].
In 1066 he joined Tostig, brother of King Harold I, surnamed Harefoot, in the invasion of England. Both Harold III and Tostig were slain at the battle of Stamford Bridge by the forces of King Harold of England. [Tostig figures in Tennyson's drama of "Harold". 1877] After the death of Edward the Confessor 5 January 1066, Harold was chosen King of England. This was challenged by William, Duke of Normandy, who became known as William the Conqueror, and he prepared to invade England. It was William who instigated Tostig [a relative] to invade from the North. Tostig's forces were defeated but while King Harold and England's army was still reeling from the battle they received word of the landing of William the Conqueror, at Pivensey in Sussex. Hastening southward the English forced meet in battle the Normans at Sinlac near Hastings and Harold, King of England, was slain. The English throne passed to William, the Conqueror. -- Another Hutchinson ancestor, William De Warren who married the 4th daughter of William the Conqueror came to England at this time. It is said that William De Warren was given 1200 Parishes by William the Conqueror. Terrible vengeance was rained on the poor unfortunate English. All the ancient peerage was wiped out and a new royalty was started. It is said that 100,000 men women and children died. [Information from Americana Encyclopedia.]
Richard Hutchinson of Arnold, England, who was born 1602, emigrated to America in 1634, with his wife Alice, daughter of Joseph Bosworth of Holgrave. He married second Susanna, widow of Samuel Archard and married third, Sarah, widow of James Standish. By Alice he had four children. He settled in Salem Village, now Danvers in the vicinity of Whipple and Hathornes Hill. Land for the first Church built in this new land was donated by Richard.
Jacob Flynn Hutchinson [8th generation from Richard] the son of Solomon Hutchinson and Catherine Pearson Flynn, born 14 August 1816 at East Wilton, New Hampshire, moved with his family to Nashua, New Hampshire in 1835 when Jacob was 10 years old. Solomon Hutchinson, Jacob's father, was listed as a musician. Jacob Hutchinson was also a musician.
By 1835 the descendants of Richard Hutchinson had become a multitude in the land. For two hundred years the Hutchinsons had lived and prospered in Salem. Now the descendants of Richard were on the move.
How and where Jacob met his wife Constantia Elizabeth Clementina Langdon is not known. She was born the daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Langdon and Penelope Sampson in Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc, [now Lincoln Co.] Maine, 11 June 1817. [Also given as October 1818. Constantia had two Patriarchal blessings and a different birth date is given on each.] Penelope, Constantia's mother, died in 1834 or 31; the cemetery head stone is worn. Did Nathaniel Langdon take his daughter and move back to the original family home? Did Nathaniel Langdon marry again? Was he lost at sea? [this is according to family legend.] A possibility since he was a ship Captain. He is listed in the town records as Captain. Ruth Liddell said her mother was raised in luxury and wealth, never having to do any hard labor. Trained to be skilled in all needlecraft. Later in her married life she used these skills as a dressmaker for the Brigham Young family and other families who could afford to have such services. Certainly the Sampson home of her Mother was a large beautiful home. Built on a hill overlooking the bay and still lived in it a this time. Perhaps someday someone will discover where Jacob Hutchinson and Constantia were married and where the first children were born. The first definite date we have is 1845. Jacob worked on the Nauvoo temple 8 months in 1845 and I month in 1846. By 1845 Constantia had given birth to 5 children, only 2 were living. Nathaniel MORONI was born 5 November 1841 which suggests that they had probably joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints before this date. Jacob and Constantia Hutchinson received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple 22 December 1845 and were sealed 26 June 1852 in Utah. Catherine was born 14 February 1843. She may have been born in Nauvoo. Jacob was a member of the Nauvoo band playing the clarinet. His name was not on the 1842 list of members but was added shortly after.
The Nauvoo band was active in all the community affairs of the city. The Nauvoo Band group were able to erect the Nauvoo concert hall in 1843 and many entertainments were held there, the band being assisted by William Clayton, violinist, and John Kay, French horn, who had a magnificent baritone voice and was an entertainer of unusual accomplishment. All the members agreed to wear white trousers. The band played at all the special doings in Nauvoo. When the corner stone of the temple was laid the band carried a beautiful new silk flag. We are indebted to William Clayton's journal for much information concerning the Nauvoo band.
On 27 June 1844 at the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the tidings came of the approach of the bodies, men, women and children moved out of the city to meet the wagon covered with green boughs under which the bodied rested in rude coffins. The Nauvoo Band proceeded the bodies and played at intervals, while the bodies lay in state the Brass Band stood outside the house and played appropriate airs.
The band members were united in offering aid in the manufacture of wagons. Some of the band members who were appointed to leave with the first company had no teams. These were supplied by other saints with the promise that it would be replaced by the trustee in trust of the church.
On 1846 a grand concert was held in the Nauvoo Concert Hall. 9 February 1846 by request of Brigham Young they met in the upper room of the Temple and played.
On 11 February 1846 the first company of Saints began crossing the frozen Mississippi River. The Nauvoo Brass band crossed the ice in Brigham Young company and went with him to Sugar Creek. 15 of the band were in this company. William Clayton in his Journal tells of the band going to various settlements to play and earn some much needed money. [Enduring Legacy, volume 4, page 85 ].
William Clayton mentions in several entries in his journal Jacob Hutchinson being with the band. The 10 and 17 of March they played at Keosaugua earning $25 and again 6 April, he records "The band meet opposite Hutchinson's wagon and played." So we know that Jacob Hutchinson family were there at this time.
It was during this time of hardship that Jacob disappeared and was assumed to have been killed by the Indians. Jacob's daughter, Ruth Liddell said that he was on a church mission when he disappeared.
Note: The Comprehensive History of the Church, Volume 3 by B. H. Roberts says: A treaty was signed with the Pottawattomie Indians for the Mormons to settle on their lands as long as necessary on their way west. - In order to preserve their stock through the winter--and it should be remembered they had some 30,000 head of cattle besides horses, mules, and sheep. The saints needed a wider range than the Pottawattomie lands afforded. So they formed encampments on the west side of the Missouri River as well as the east. These lands were occupied by the Omaha Indians who at that time were only a wretched remnant of a once powerful tribe. The ravages of small pox had reduced their number and the Sioux Indians had made war upon them until their spirit was broken. They welcomed the Saints among them. The saints agreed in return for use of Indian Lands to help the Indians to gather their crop of maize which they had been afraid to harvest because of the fear of being ambushed and murdered by the Sioux Indians. They agreed also to assist them in building houses, as well as defending them from the Sioux Indians. The Sioux were a war-like tribe whose headquarters was north in the Dakotas.
It is family understanding that Jacob was captured by the Indians and taken north where he was held captive. I have read that the Church assigned patrols to guard the Indians while the corn was harvested and it is recorded that in helping and defending the Omaha Indians a number of men were killed and I am assuming that it was on such an assignment that Jacob Hutchinson was taken captive and that the Sioux Indians who carried him away. It is said that his companion was killed so they assumed that Jacob must have been killed also. A daughter Ruth Liddell told her daughter that her Father was taken by the Indians into the north country where he was held captive. I have often wondered if it was his gift as an entertainer that moved the Indians to spare his life. He had a harsh and disagreeable time. Finally he was befriended by a young Indian boy who helped him escape and in time he finally found his way back to the Saints. It was a cruel hard time for him. Jacob was missing about 3 years.
Constantia was sure Jacob was dead, and as time passed putting her grief behind her, she married Phineas Howe Young. The marriage was performed by Brigham Young. A boy George Henry was born of this brief marriage. George Henry Young, born 15 June 1849, went by the name of Young and all his descendants carry the name of Young. He was always close to his half brothers and sisters by the name of Hutchinson, especially the youngest sister, Ruth. George Young and Peter Liddell were very close friends, often traveling together. It was George Young that persuaded Peter to pioneer Castle Valley.
We have no knowledge of just when Jacob managed to return. It may have been before George was born, surely shortly after since Sarah Ellen was born 5 August 1850.
Jacob and Constantia picked up their life where it had been so rudely interrupted by the wicked abduction of Jacob by the Indians and continued their trek to the Rock Mountains in the Edward Hunter Company arriving in Salt Lake Valley 13 October 1850. Sarah Ellen was born somewhere on the pioneer trail.
Fall of 1850 Jacob was assessor and tax collector from Salt Lake County at Fillmore, notary at Springville. During the early fifties he was appointed a member of the legislative assembly at Fillmore. Fillmore was the state capitol at this time.
An interesting notation by J. F. Hutchinson is recorded:
Wheat for taxes. Having made arrangements with the general thything office through the trustee in trust we are enabled to receive good merchantable wheat delivered at that office,in Salt Lake City at one dollar per bushel in payment of all delinquent territorial taxes for 1850, 1851, and 1852 if delivered prior to the 1 of June.
In 1850 the Deseret dramatic society Was planned. Jacob had been a member of the Nauvoo band. The band master Was William Pitt. Jacob F. Hutchinson played the violin and clarinet. It is said that Jacob could play almost every instrument.
Son David Langdon was born 30 April 1852 at Salt Lake City, but he was blessed in Springville Ward. Mary was the next child but she died in infancy. Ruth Voce was born 24 January 1858 in Salt Lake City. [It is interesting that a woman who helped many of the Saints was named Ruth Voce Seyer. If we but knew there might be a story here of great drama. There must have been some reason Constantia named her baby Ruth Voce.]
At an early period, Springville had a very special choir, brass band and dramatic association. William Messenger conducted a singing school in the "little school house", where all the tuneful people were trained in vocal music. There were 4 musical instruments. Listed Was Jacob Hutchinson - H.D. Lisonbe, violin, Henry Moss, violin.
In the memoirs of Joseph Hutchinson by Edward C. Gibbs he states, "Joe told me that his father, Jacob Flynn Hutchinson, was secretary to Brigham Young, First Bishop of Gunnison ward, Thything bookkeeper, Notary at Springville, and Assessor and collector from Salt Lake City at Fillmore in the early fifties. A talented musician. He was also a painter, barber, salesman and a very talented musician, playing the violin, harp, and other instruments. He was sent around to different parts of the state to start small colonies. While he and his wife Alice were in the vicinity of Gunnison, Utah, Joseph Hutchinson was born in a dugout in the side of a red hill. End of quote."
In 1860 Jacob was called by Brigham Young and set apart as the first Bishop of Gunnison ward. He was one of the first settlers of Gunnison. [Pictured at the left is the first school built in Gunnison. Photo courtesy of Chris Beck, Seattle, WA.] It was at Gunnison he married Alice Penniston Wasden 9 June 1861. A granddaughter Anne E. Carlsen says that he gave Alice the choice of living at Gunnison, Springville, or Salt Lake City and she chose Springville. Jacob and Alice had three children; Joseph, born 28 May 1862; Orson born 9 December 1863, and Alice Arilla born 17 Jan 1866.
Constantia had lived with no conveniences, in the rudest of circumstances, a covered wagon, a dugout, and at best a one room log house for over eighteen years. Catherine was a beautiful girl of 16 years. Constantia who had come from a home of culture and plenty was concerned about the primitive conditions in this new and raw country and she wanted better conditions and schools for her growing family. She was a skilled seamstress and capable of supporting herself so she decided to go back to Salt Lake City to live. She was seamstress for many of the affluent families including the family of Brigham Young. She died there 1 December 1865 of brain fever.
The younger children at least went to live with their Father Jacob Hutchinson in Springville until he died.
Jacob Hutchinson was a veteran of the Black Hawk Indian War.
He died from Blood Poisoning caused by a kick from a horse 7 May 1867 just two short years after Constantia. Alice tried to cope with all of the children but she was having a hard time supporting herself and the children. James Liddell told me that Jacob went to see about his young sister and found the conditions so desperatete that he took Ruth to live with him. So the children of Constantia went to live with older brothers and sisters. David went to live with his Uncle George.
George Hutchinson, the brother of Jacob Flynn Hutchinson lived in the Rocky Mountains for 5 years then went to Osaawkie, Kansas. He had one daughter. It was to this uncle that David went after his father's death returning to Utah when he was grown. David married 8 November 1885 Sarah Budge.
In 1862, Catherine married Newton Zyrick. It is believed they went to California to live. Nathaniel left Salt Lake and never again returned to the family. They lost track of him. George Henry Young married Edwina Walker and they made their home in Idaho. Jacob Flynn Hutchinson, Jr. married Rhoda Jane Smith and they made their home in Northern Utah and Idaho. Three years after her mother's death Sarah Ellen married Henry Ketcham in 1868 and she did not keep in touch with the family. 3 February 1875 Ruth married Peter Liddell. He was a friend of her brothers.
A headstone has been placed at Jacob Flynn Hutchinson grave in Springville by the Veterans organization because he belonged to the National Guard [then called home guard] during the Black Hawk War. His grave is decorated with a flag each Memorial Day.
Note. I have gathered this from many sources.
This is a very interesting book. I too, am grateful to Mr. Derby for this very complete and interesting history. Mr. Derby says he endeavored to make his record as accurate as possible. Certainly he was closer to the family roots than we are now. I am sure that if the Church and civil records were searched there would come to light many more interesting facts. Somewhere there is a record of Jacob and Constantia's marriage and where they lived.
Nathaniel Langdon lost his home in Bowdoinham in a law suit shortly before his wife Penelope Sampson died. The court records have more details about this court action than the brief account that I received.
After working with this history I have the assurance that Jacob Flynn Hutchinson was a gifted man with a strong faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints as restored by Joseph Smith and that his wife Constantia Langdon had the faith to endure much. Daughter Ruth said that her mother's family offered to restore her to her life of wealth and care for her if she would renounce the church and that she lost a large inheritance from an uncle because she refused to renounce her membership in the Church.
Last Updated 10 October 2006