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Note: Barbara and Earl, I have been looking on Ancestry.comjust wasting time and found the following.
It is taken from A Century and ½ of Pittsburg and her people page 253
Robert Barton married, in England, in 1816, Mary Percival, a native of that country having been born in 1787 in Cumberland. Her father accompanied her to the US, but soon returned to his native land. Her brother ROBERT, who was a millwright, remained in this country 2 years, and then went to MO, where he built by contract a large number of mills. In 1849 he raised a company and crossed the Rocky mountain to CA, but after remaining a few years returned to MO, where he raised another company and prepared for a second passage of the Rockies, in the course of which he died on the mountains at Fort Laramie at the advanced age of 78. Their children were: James, William, John, Joseph, and Peter.
I realize the dates are not what we have, but the story sure peeked my interest. Do you think there could be a connection? I found a tree for Robert Barton, married to Mary Percival, but there was no father listed for her.
Lynda
beckerw@ix.netcom.com
Earl, know its been a long time since weve made contact, but I was going over some old records I have on the Percivals and found part of a journal written by Boon Fly on his migration to CA. I have no idea how to reach this person and really think I found this on the internet. Am now in the process of trying to find it again. Anyways, if you go down till you come to 17 Jun, it states that Robert Percival was ill. On 18 June he died and was buried on the Sider/Cedar Creek. My question for you is, who is this Robert Percival? Hes not the son of John Boon and Mary Ann, and I have found him on census records as late as 1870. Im wondering if he could be our Robert Peter married to Jane???? I know he was alive in 1840 and that Jane was living with Sydney in Howard County in 1850. Any thoughts you have on this would be greatly appreciated. I only hope the address I have for you is still correct. Thanks a million Lynda beckerw@ix.netcom.com
(1997 Copy received from James Whitney Fly) This story was typed from the original handwritten diary of Boon Fly, who left Missouri on May 24, 1849 and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 12, 1849. Wording and spelling have not been changed, only some punctuation (commas, periods) have been added for clarity.
1849
May 24This day at 1 o'clock we started for California and traveled 11 miles and camped for the night.
25Last night it rained or rather poured. This day we lay by till evening when we again resumed our journey and went 6 or 7 miles and camped.
26This mourning we started in good season and after passing some dry ground and lots of mud holes we reached the Nodaway river and camped for the knight - - - -
27This was a fine day, but we lost the use of it in consequence of 1 pair of our cows running back - - - -
28Today we crossed the Nodaway and traveled some 10 miles, got a wagon mired in a mud hole and stoped for the day.
29This has been a very fine day of weather and we have just crossed the little Tackeyo (Tarkio) and camped of the knight.
30Today had been quite pleasant, some thunder and threatening for rain. We crossed the Big (Tarckeyo (Tarkio) at noon and have camped tonight at the English Grove.
31Today we lay by, cloudy with a little rain and one of our company G. Snyder sick with the cramp collick.
June 1This day we moved on slowly, threatened rain and if fact, did rain some little.
2Today we traveled without anything of interest happening and camped in sight of the Nishnebotany (Nishnabotna).
3This was Sunday. We crossed the Nishnebotany, rolled on to camp creek some 12 or 14 miles and stoped for the night.
4This morning about 9 o'clock we struck out and rolled off some 14 or 15 miles and camped on a branch in the Prairie which for the present I shall call Elem branch tho weather is and has been very fine for the last few days.
5Nothing worth recording - - - -
6Passed the Mormon villages called Centerville and _______ville. Had a tremendous storm of wind, thunder and rain in the evening.
7Traveled some 5 miles and stoped.
8Lay by today waiting for company to get up sufficient to venture across the river.
9Crossed Missouri River and camped.
10Moved from camp to the Elkhorn 27 miles and camped. Found one dead man of a company that was just before us.
11Crossed the horn (Elkhorn) on a raft and moved on a short distance beyond the Mormon camp (which numbered 140 wagons) and camped for the night where we partially organized with another company for the purpose of mutually assisting each other on the trip.
12Nothing of importance, only saw lots of Indians.
13About the same as yesterday.
14About the same as the last 2 days. All low flat bottom, roads very tough and hard pulling on the teams.
15Today our partially organized company separated by a portion that we had come up and joined with, driving off, breaking orders and left us, so we hauled in and traveled by ourselves, only 6 wagons and 9 men strong.
16Today we traveled moderately, came to Sedar creek and camped at noon. Today we came to a partly built fort consisting of one block house, one double house appearantly intended for a dwelling, one small cabin, with some picket fence which if finished would be Rifle Ball proof. Also passed some old Indian villages that have been owned by the Pawnee Indians and burned by the Sioux. Saw a small tract of beautiful country lying on the Pawnie fork of Big Platt.
17This morning we crossed cedar creek before breakfast and lay by till noon. At noon, we started on but only went a short distance owing to one of our company being sick, I mean Robert Percival.
18This morning about 9 o'clock, Robert Percival died. Some will say Cholera, but I say of Billious _______. We buryed him about 1 bast 11 o'clock and moved on to the Bank of the Pawnee fork of Platt and camped for the night. Today we traveled over some beautiful prairie as man could wish to see.
19This day we lay by in consequence of the wind being too high to cross the river.
20Today we crossed the river and camped for the night. This evening we had a most tremendous rain.
21This day we traveled some 15 or 18 miles through mud, sand and open prairie, camped without wood or water.
22Started without breakfast, traveled 2 miles, crossed a prairie branch, got breakfast and traveled on. Saw some antelopes. Tried to kill one, but could not, cause it out run a horse all hollow. Quintus fell off the wagon tongue. Wheel ran over him. Thought he was killed, but hope now that he is not seriously injured.
23Today we had tolerable good road. Traveled some 15 miles and camped where the road first touches Grand Island.
24Today we had some of the worst road to be level that I ever say, flat prairie bottom and muddy all the time. Traveled some 10 miles and stoped. Been hot enough to kill forty Negroes and all the oxen on the plains.
25Nothing of note.
26 " " "
27Lay by. Rested our teams and washed up.
28This day we traveled 15 or 18 miles. Saw some buffalo.
29Today we made a pretty fair day's drive - - no particulars worth noting.
30Started this morning tolerably early. Had some sand hills that was most infernal tuff pulling.
Sunday
July 1This morning before Sunrise, a Buffalo came in sight of our camp. No sooner was his arrival announced than some half dozen guns was on the march for the sean (scene) of action and in 25 minutes the poor fellow lay at our feet with some 5 or 6 Balls in his chest, shoulders and hips. We then got our breakfast, hitched up some steers and drawed him in to camp and butchered him. Took about a third of the meat and left the balance togeather with the hide for the wolves and resumed our journey. In the course of this day we passed 2 of the most splendid spring that ever boiled out of the Earth which was a great treat for us, for we had not had one drink of good water for 2 or 3 weeks and this was good for certain.
2Today we started and went some 3 or 4 miles when we had to stop at a small creek that was swimming in consequence of a rain that fell last night which was the most tremendous rain that I ever saw or heard fall, about 2 o"clock. This evening we had another fall of rain that was never equaled only by last night. It is now clearing off for how long I cannot say.
3It is clear this morning but the creek and the whole low bottoms are one sea of water. When we will get across this branch I cannot tell. We are drying our things today for nearly everything got wet during of yesterday and night before last.
4This morning we rolled out traking up the creek to the Sand hills where we crossed the creek quite easy. Just as we came to the Bluffs we came in sight of a large herd of Buffalo. I gave them a chaise, slightly wounded one, severly wounded 3, and killed one dead. Lots of fun if I had of had any company, but all alone it was hard work and little fun, hard for certain on my horse.
5Traveled moderately on. Nothing worth noticing happened.
6Nothing of any note. Only plenty of Sand hills and Buffalo.
7 Do Do
8 Do Do
9Today we passed a number of Dead Indians. I cannot say buryed for they were only wrapped in robes or skins and placed on top of the ground, the atomsphere about them was very offencive. Some of them were torn out and partly devoured by the wolves.
10Today we came in sight of the Castle Bluffs.
11Today we had a fair chance at the Castle Bluffs for we traveled all day along side and in sight of them.
12This day brought us in sight of the court house or Church rock. Late this evening we saw the chimney Rock.
13Today we have made a long drive of 20 miles but could not reach the chimney rock.
14Lay by today to recruit one of my cows that was lame. Saw 10 waggons pass on the opposite side of the river in the evening.
15This morning we renewed our journey. My cow traveled some 4 or 5 miles and gave out. I lefte (her) a short distance above chimney rock.
16This morning we saw one waggon pass on the opposite side of the river. We nooned opposite Scott's Bluff. Traveled on till 4 o'clock and stoped in consequence of a storm and remained overnight.
17Nothing of importance.
18This evening after we stoped, a _____ company overtook us, reported themselves nearly starved having had nothing but bread without salt or shortening for 5 days.
19The company that came to us last night had one severe case of Cholera, but the patient is convalescent. At noon they passed us again and _____ on for fort Laramie.
20Today we moved on some 4 or 5 miles and stoped on the bank of the river at the fort.
21Today we lay by.
22Lay by. Martin Nagles crossed the river in contradiction of the balance of the company.
23Crossed the river and traveled some 7 or 8 miles and camped. Nagles left our company and struck off by himself.
24Nothing worth naming.
25Passed the government train, camped on platt.
26Had a tremendous rain last night. Had to move our waggons at daylight this morning to get out of the rise of the creek. Broke a waggon tongue, put in a new one. Put in a box on one wheel. Government train passed. Camped in sight of it at night.
27Traveled near 30 miles and stoped without grass for our teams or supper for ourselves.
28Started this morning at daybreak and came 1 mile and stoped. Sent our cattle over the hill for grass and got breakfast. At 11 o'clock we started again. Stoped at sunset and sent our cattle 2 miles for grass with a gard for the night.
29Traveled all day without any grass for our cattle to refresh on. Stoped at sunset on Platt river, tolerable grass, only enough for one knight.
30This morning we found a ford on the river and crossed over all safe and sound. Found the ruins of some waggon that had passed before us, a great waste of property.
31Lay by this day and let our cattle rest.
Aug. 1 " " " " " " " " "
2Today we started again, made some 12 miles and camped. Heavy road, sandy.
3Reached upper Platt ferry. Camped a little short of the ferry and camped to recruit our cattle. The last 1/4 of this day was over one of the most infernal hills that I ever saw. Sand and hill both put togeather.
4Lay by today to recruit our teams.
5Moved 1-1/2 miles to grass and stoped.
6Nothing of importance.
7 " " "
8Met the mail from Salt Lake at noon. Camped at Sweetwater.
9Lay by. Took a look at Independence rock.
10Moved at daylight to Independence Rock and stoped for breakfast then traveled on some 3 or 4 miles beyond Devil's gate and stoped for the night.
11This morning we held off starting till some 4 or 5 waggons of intruders into our train left. We then started on and about 11 o'clock Scott broke one of his wheels and we had to stop and set the tire. We also set 4 other tires and remained all night on the ground.
12This morning we started on after early breakfast. Had heavy sand. Stoped early in the evening because there was no more grass in reach.
13Nothing of importance this day.
14Drove some 8 or 9 miles and stoped because we could go no farther without having to camp without grass.
15This day we made 24 or 25 miles but had to travel till dark for it.
16Traveled some 7 or 8 miles and drove our cattle 1-1/2 miles off the road to grass.
17Reached the upper crossing of Sweetwater. Camped 3 miles below the ford. Had a very cold rain just at camping.
18Lay by. Had another cold rain before breakfast. Blustry all day.
19This day we drove through the South pass and camped at the Pacifick Springs.
20This morning our cattle left us before day and caused us an eight mile trip back for them before we could start.
21Last night we traveled some 10 miles after dark and stoped fearing that one of our company, G. Babcock, who had gone ahead to find grass for us, was lost, he having not returned. But this morning we found his mule track on the road. So we followed on. About 7 o'clock he returned having stayed over knight with a company just ahead of us.
22Drove some 8 miles to big sandy and stoped for the balance of this day.
23Nothing of interest.
24Arrived at green river and crossed.
25Lay by to recruit our teams.
26Reached Hanes (?) Fork and stoped at 9 o'clock P.M.
27Reached Black's Fork and went several miles up it and camped.
28Moved on some 10 miles and stoped.
29Today we Reached Fort Bridger and camped for the night.
30Traveled some 12 miles and stoped on a small _____ at the foot of one of the Darndest hills that old Master ever made.
31Drove up our cattle to start but one ox was too lame to travel so we lay by for the day.
Sept. 1Our steer was still too lame to travel and we again lay by all except Dolyphus Babcock. He hitched up and left us.
2Moved on some 12 miles and stoped for the night.
3Nothing of interest.
4 " " "
5 " " "
6Reached Weaver River and stoped.
7Lay by, our cattle left us during the night previous and it took till 2 o'clock to get them back.
8Crossed the Weaver and went some 10 miles.
9Nothing of importance.
10Crossed the 10 mile Mountain in safety.
11Crossed the 3-1/2 miles Mountain an went a fue miles down the Kanyon and camped for the night with John H. Hale who was sick.
12This morning we rolled out for the Mormon City, which we reached about Noon. Stoped an hour or two in the street and drove out some 3 miles, crossed over Joudan and camped.
Lynda
beckerw@ix.netcom.comAdvice from a retired husband
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