WILLIAM GREENWOOD RUSSELL was born June 20, 1812 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He was christened 1 Aug 1813. He was born William Greenwood, the "Russell" will be explained herein. His parents were William Greenwood 1786-1839 and Ann James 1782-1854. His father was a Liverpool Harbor Pilot. He was the sixth of ten children living near the port of Liverpool where his father was a harbor pilot.
It is said that at nine years of age William stowed away on one of the ships bound for America that was anchored in the Liverpool harbor. Evidently, William's journey lasted more than a year. Upon his return to Liverpool, he could not find his parents, or so it is said, even though records indicate that his family had indeed moved but were still living in Liverpool not far from the harbor. We do not know if William ever saw his family thereafter.
Anyway, William returned and or stayed with the ship in which he had stowed away, the ship of Captain Russell. The story continues that Captain Russell took William in and that upon his death William inherited the ship and assumed the surname of RUSSELL. We cannot find any documentation to substantiate the story.
The next record is that of his naturalization which is recorded: Vol P., page 56 Common Pleas Court, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio - 19 Mar 1845.
William married Louisa Jones during March of 1839 probably in New York City, New York, because it is not recorded in the 1818-1900 Cleveland marriage records. However, there is a record of a Louisa Jones coming to New York City in 1836 from London. The children born to he and Louisa were all born in Cleveland, Ohio. There he was registered as a seaman/Master and freighter. Therefore, he sailed the Great Lakes from the port of Cleveland.
On one of his voyages it is said he met Elizabeth Vickery who so happened needed employment, so he brought her to his home to assist his wife with the family. However, upon arriving home he found that Louisa had died in childbirth along with the child. She died February 20th, 1847. She is buried in the Erie Street Cemetery Section 10, Lot 21, Grave 2 in Cleveland, Ohio which was two blocks from their home on Columbus Street which can be seen on the 1839 Cleveland City Map. The street no longer exists.
This left William with two young children to raise by himself. Elizabeth agreed to work for William as a housekeeper and nanny for the children. He and Elizabeth were married 7 July 1847 in her parents home in Buffalo, Erie, New York (documented). In 1851William moved the family to Buffalo, New York to a residence on the same street as Elizabeth's family. His occupation is listed as carpenter in the 1851-52 Buffalo City Directory and residing at 99 Ellicott Street.
Mormon missionaries contacted the family early in 1851 and on April 3rd, 1851, Elizabeth was baptized. William was baptized April 10th. Elizabeth had been unable to concieve; however, in less than one year after joining the Church she gave birth to their first child William, July 4th, 1852.
William and Elizabeth made the decision to join the Mormons in Utah. He sold his interest in the freighting business and headed west. They joined the Isaac Bullock Company in 1852, departing 34 July 1852 and made the journey from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City arriving 21 September - 1 3 October 1852. One hundred and seventy five persons were in this company.
They first settled in West Jordon where Brigham Young Russell was born March 29th 1854. They then moved to Taylorsville and then to Shambip, Utah (Clover/St. John).
William then moved to Kamas where he was the 1st Presiding Elder. Here the family resided for five years. The family now numbered 12 and it was time for another move back to Shambip. Here they settled near the Warm Springs and established The Russell Ranch. The last of the children were born here and the family numbered 14, which included the two children from William's first marriage.
William died October 23rd, 1872. Elizabeth died March 4th 1912 and both are buried in the St. John Cemetery located in St. John, Tooele, Utah.
Unknown to anyone in this family is that William's brother George Francis's sons, Clarendon and Harry Greenwood, immigrated to America with their families in 1890 settling in Williamsport and Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. These two are the only other Greenwoods from his family known to have left England. I have visited Williamsport, met two of Clarendon's descendants and one of Harry's and visited the graves of this family. That in itself is another story.
