What's in a Name?

Our little Ms. Polly Rose is named after two remarkable grandmothers. The first being my great great grandmother Mary Ann Jones Ellsworth. She went by "Polly". She joined the church in 1854 at the age of 18. Two years later in 1856 she bravely left her family, country (England), and everything she knew to come by herself to America and join the pioneer Latter Day Saints and pull a handcart 1400 miles across the plains in the first handcart company. I can't imagine doing that alone at 20yrs old! I have always admired her courage and faith in doing so.

"We were met in Immigration Canyon by the First Presidency and a brass band and hundreds of people in carriages, on horseback, and on foot. It was a day never to be forgotten. We had reached the goal and on foot all the way. I never left my handcart for a day and only rode over two rivers. We waded streams, crossed high mountains, and pulled through heavy sands, leaving comfortable homes, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, and what for....? To be where we could hear a prophets voice and live with the Saints of God. I have never seen the day I regretted my trip - we arrived in Salt Lake the 26th day of September, 1856." - Mary Ann (Polly) Jones (Ellsworth)

Polly shares the same middle name as her paternal great grandmother, Rhoanna (Rena) Rose Elder Hamblin. Rose is also the name of Polly's great great grandmother. Justin enjoyed a very special relationship with his Grandma Rena and has mentioned on many occasions of how unconditionally loved he felt by her. I imagine all of her grandchildren felt the same way as she was just a beautiful woman inside and out who genuinely enjoyed her grandchildren. Even in her last few years of her life when her health was failing, she still asked us often if she could help us by watching our then baby Brighton so we could go to the temple. She was taken too soon and is dearly missed.

Rhoanna Rose Elder Hamblin


Mary Ann Jones Ellsworth

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