Ann Green Dutson Carling

The mother of John William Dutson

(This history is taken from "The Dutson Family History" compiled by Louise Lyman Nielson and Dora Dutson Flack, pages 1-9)

In the town of Lugwardine, Herefordshire, England lived a shoemaker by the name of William Green and his wife, Jane Prosser Green. They had a large family of eleven children: nine girls and two boys. (Refer to Green Family history.)

Ann (the fifth daughter) was born October 3, 1799. 1

The Greens owned their own home but were in rather humble circumstances. The children were taught to be industrious. When the sons become old enough, they helped their father in his shoe shop. The daughters helped their mother spin, weave, and make clothing. Socks, stockings, gloves, etc. were all knitted by hand. Everything the family wore or needed had to be made in the home. In addition to all these duties, the mother and daughters supplemented the family income by running a laundry.

When Ann was a young woman she went to the city of Hereford to work as a maid in the home of a somewhat wealthy English couple, Joseph and Elizabeth Haffield Dutson. Their son John fell in love with Ann. His parents fully realized that she was honest and industrious, a woman of good character, possessing some exceptional qualities. However, because she was a servant in their home, they felt that it was beneath John's station to marry her.2 Notwithstanding their protests John Dutson and Ann Green were married in March of 1826, after posting banns February 7, 1826. They loved each other dearly and were very happy.

A little daughter, whom they christened Jane Ann, came to bless their home March 10, 1827 and her sweet presence filled their hearts with joy. John was a good husband and provided well for his family. In the summer of 1828 he went away on a business trip. While away he sent home a bolt of cloth so that his wife and small daughter and the baby, whom they were expecting in a few weeks, could be well clothed. He didn't return and was never heard from again. Only those who have had loved ones missing can fully realize Ann's suffering as each day she watched, hoped, and prayed for his safe return. Ann and John's parents finally mourned him as dead. Her family was very good to her and did everything possible so lighten her burdens and ease her suffering.

Even while Ann still watched and waited for the return of her husband, she gave birth to a son September 28, 1828. He was christened John William, John for his father and William for his grandfather William Green, who for many years was not only a fond grandfather, but did all he could to take the place of a father in providing for the needs of both of Ann's children.

Ann and her children first heard the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ preached by Wilford Woodruff, who was an apostle at the time. Jane Ann was 13 and John William was 11 years of age. They believed what they heard and were baptized September 24 1840. Wilford Woodruff baptized Ann. All her family joined the church and each of them had a strong testimony of the gospel.

Ann, her children, and her family, with the exception of two sisters and their husbands set sail from Liverpool, England for America September 24, 1842 on the ship "Medford" with one thousand saints aboard. This large company of saints was under the leadership of Apostle Orson Hyde. They landed in New Orleans November 13, 1842 with everyone on board safe and in good spirits. Then followed the journey up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where they remained during the winter. While at St. Louis Ann's father, William Green became ill and died there at the age of 88 years. In the spring of 1843 they continued their journey to Nauvoo. At this time John William was between 14 and 15 years old, and was large for his age. He obtained work in a brickyard where he earned bricks and helped to build a home.

At Nauvoo they endured many hardships and much persecution (described in biography of John William Dutson).

While living in Nauvoo Ann met John Carling, a widower with three children two others having died in infancy: Isaac Van Wagoner, Sarah Wildey Frances (died in infancy) Catherine Keaton, Abraham Freer, and John Warner (died in infancy). They were married June 10,1844. Ann Green Dutson and John Carling were the parents of two sons:

Francis Caleb (Frank) Carling born August 9, 1845 at Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois.

Joseph Mathew Carling born June 25, 1847 in Pottowattamie County, Iowa.

Ann and her husband together with his three children by the former marriage and their own two small sons, crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley in 1852. Of course, they endured all the hardships incident to crossing the plains, and very likely Ann walked most if not all the way .

They settled first in Provo where her sister, Elizabeth Richmond lived, then moved to Fillmore and built a home. Ann made her home in Fillmore the remainder of her life. Her eldest child and only daughter Jane Ann married Alexander Melville May 29. 1848. They also made their home in Fillmore.

Ann's husband John Carling was always a good husband and father. He served one term in the Territory Legislature. Shortly after the expiration of his term he died April 2,1855. During the following years Ann was called upon several times to endure the sorrow of parting with loved ones.

There was a very happy reunion when her son John William Dutson, his wife Elizabeth Jane and their two small daughters arrived in Fillmore in the fall of 1857.

Ann's youngest son, Joseph Mathew Carling, died at the age of nineteen.

His untimely death was caused indirectly by his big heart and sympathy for those in distress. He had gone to Clear Lake grounds for hay a short time before Christmas. In the same group was a man and boy scantily clothed and with little bedding. Joseph insisted on sharing his own bedding with these unfortunate companions with the result that his own legs were frozen. After severe suffering he died January 25, 1866.

The elder son Francis Caleb Carling, as a young man married Fannie Emiline Nixon. They had two children, Joseph Mathew (named for Frank's brother) and Charlotte Emma. Frank died at the early age of 26 of heart trouble. Before he died, he asked his half-brother, John William Dutson, to take his wife Fannie as a polygamous wife and care for his children. His son Joseph Mathew died when only about 10 years of age.

Ann's sister Elizabeth Richmond moved to Fillmore after the death of her husband. Two humble one room homes were built side by side, for the two sisters. Aunt Richmond as she was lovingly called by her sister's grandchildren had her niece Florence Virginia Dutson live with her and Ann had her grandchild Mary Jane Melville live with her. Mary Jane had been a tiny, sickly baby so was taken by her grandmother to raise. She was three years older than "Florrie" but they were always very close friends.

Sometimes when Ann had to go out with the sick at night her sister would go with. Then the two little girls were left at one of the homes to sleep together. One night when this happened the girls went out in the orchard and got some early harvest apples. They had been told never to eat in bed. But bed time came, and they still hadn't had enough apples. They went to bed and took one last apple to eat. Their apples were almost finished when the "old ladies" returned. Both girls grasped their apple cores in their hands and shut their eyes. The Ladies stepped over to the bed. Aunt Richmond said "Florrie's asleep". Ann said, "Mary Jane is asleep". The girls had quite a time not to give away their secret as they nudged one another and waited for the house to get settled for the night. Then one of the girls slipped outside with the apple cores. They were careful not to disobey in this way again.

Both women were immaculate housekeepers. Everything had a place and everything was to be kept where it should be. The little girls were taught to put things away and to iron pillow cases in the true English manner. Every Saturday morning the native lumber floors had to be scrubbed with white sand which was obtained west of Fillmore.

All of Ann's grandchildren lived close to her. They loved to get together in her big front yard and play games. In the winter when snow was on the ground, "Fox and Geese" was a great favorite. Shoes were hard to get and often the winter snows came and caught the children without shoes; but this didn't stop their fun. They played in the snow barefoot. Sometimes they would make a big circle and see how many times they could run around this circle without going in the house to warm their feet.

Ann's early home training prepared her well for the hardships of pioneer life. She was a leader in the community in many ways. The women came to her to be taught things that would make them efficient in caring for their families.

While living in Nauvoo the Prophet Joseph Smith laid his hands on Ann's head and set her apart as a midwife and told her that she would be successful in caring for the sick if she would use herbs exclusively in her work. Some years later in Utah she became known as the "herb doctor". She had her own herb garden and prepared her own tea and medicine .

An account of her use of herbs was predated by her great-granddaughter Waiora Bishop Wallace, as told to her by her mother, Annie Melville Bishop.

"A partial list of the herbs and some of their uses are as follows: Saffron - was steeped and the tea was given to the newborn babies to clear their skin. Yarrow - was steeped and the tea was used in tonics. Sometimes the leaves were bruised and used for ointment for wounds. Tansy - This herb was steeped alone or with yarrow and the tea was used by girls and women with female troubles. Tame Sage - The tea from this herb was given to people with colds and fever. Wild Cherry Bark - steeped as tea. Inner Bark of Quaking Aspen - The tea made from these was used as a spring tonic. Very often it was given to a young mother who may have developed a fever. Wild Sage - This was steeped and the tea given to individuals with mountain fever or neuritis. Rhubarb Roots - They were dried, ground very fine, mixed with soda and magnesia, and were given as a laxative or for a fever. Senna Leaves - This herb and raisins were steeped together and the tea given to children who had the worms. Desert Root - The tea made from this root was used for people who had kidney or bladder trouble. Elderberry - The bark, root and berries were all used in different medicines. Dandelion Roots - The tea made from this was given for liver trouble. Wild Grape Root - This root was steeped with tame sage and mixed with honey and given for canker. Plantain Root - The leaves were bruised and were given for a poultice to draw out infection. Most of the herbs grown in her garden had beautiful flowers. Her garden therefore was valuable not only as a producer of herbs for medicinal purposes, but was valuable as a garden of beauty. "3

For years she was the only midwife to serve the needs of the people of Fillmore and neighboring towns. In those early days no other doctor was available in that part of Utah. Therefore, Ann took the place of one, setting broken bones and sewing up wounds in addition to being a midwife and herb doctor. She brought hundreds of babies into the world and was not only godmother to these babies but doctor for all the ills of both young and old. Her fee as midwife was $3.00 - if the people had the means with which to pay. She accepted her fee in either cash or produce. Even though sanitary precautions were not stressed in her time. She instinctively practiced extreme cleanliness without realizing the scientific need. Naturally many of the cases on which Ann was called were sad and destined for tragedy. Eliza Marie Partridge Lyman kept a journal in which she related an incident of her daughter Carlie when they called Ann for assistance:

"Carlie very sick indeed. Sent for Platte in the night. Delia came in the morning. Sent to Fillmore for Sister Ann Carling, as the woman we had said she had done that evening all she could do. Sister Carling did not get here till 7 in the evening. About half-past 8 Carlie was delivered of a fine son weighing 8 pounds. Carlie's sufferings during this day are past description. No mortal, but a woman, can suffer so and live. May I never witness such suffering again. Platte stood by her like a brother and his wife, Adelia, did all she could as also Sister Caroline and others; but no one could do much good till Sister Carling came. She soon brought relief and the best sound I ever heard was when I heard the baby cry. She rested very well that night but was very lame next day and could not move without being lifted on a sheet but seemed as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances ....4

Two weeks later unfortunately Carlie died after much suffering and left her baby in her mother's care. Carlie was a polygamous wife of Thomas Callister. Even the Indians came to Ann for medical assistance. This she discouraged because oil their superstitions and customs. The Indians trusted the white "herb doctor'" in every way. Ann was kind to them. She gave them fruit from her own trees and showed them how to take care of it for drying. They were allowed to dry the fruit on Ann's sheds. After the fruit was dried the Indians sacked It and stored it in Ann's cellar. As it was needed they came and got a small portion at a time, leaving the rest with Ann so implicit was their faith in her.

It was her custom to perch on the running gears of a wagon and tell the driver to drive as fast as the horses would go. From this precarious perch she fell one day en route to Meadow and broke her hip. This brought a halt to her practice as a midwife at the age of 90.

Ann's granddaughter Florence Virginia Dutson Nielson followed as a successful nurse. She used many of her grandmother's remedies and medicines and was in great demand to treat the diseases of babies and children. An enlarged picture of her grandmother always occupied a prominent place in her home.

Ann was a strong, brave faithful, kind, and sympathetic person. Her grandchildren who, in later years lived in Oak City, tell of how she cried when they come to Fillmore to see her. She wept because she was so happy to see them; and when they left she cried because she hated to see them leave. She was loved and respected by all and was "Grandma Carling" to almost everyone.

Although Ann had only four children and just three of them married, she has a numerous posterity. From these three children she had 35 grandchildren, three of whom are still living [as of 1957], Mathias Caleb Dutson, Samuel Cleamont Dutson, and Sarah Ann Geneva Wiley.

When the Prophet set her apart as a midwife he promised her she would not suffer death. On July 3, 1893 she suffered a paralytic stroke and on the 16th of July she passed peacefully away. She was 94 years of age.5

Her reward must surely be one of great glory, since she spent all her life serving her fellowmen.

Her picture hangs in the State House Museum at Fillmore. Tourists have often remarked that she surely must hove been a wonderful woman as "it shows in her face" - the result of a full life nobly lived.

FOOTNOTES

1. There is considerable controversy concerning Ann's birth date. Her Endowment card shows the date given. However, christening records searched in England in Lugwardine gives the date as November 18, 1802. At the time of her death she was reportedly "94 years of age". The discrepancy in birth dates leaves a questions naturally concerning her age at death.

2. This story has been handed down to us. However, Waiora Wallace who has done considerable research on the Dutson line feels that there is a possibility that this situation referred to Elizabeth Haffield (who married Joseph Dutson) rather than Ann Green.

3. Kate B. Carter, "Heart Throbs of The West, " Vol . 3, p. 137.

4. Kate B. Carter, "Treasures of Pioneer History, " Vol. 2, p. 266

5. Same as note #1, above.