Amanda Mary Heath, 1810-1902

• Born:  15 January 1810 in Windsor, Broome, New York
• Died:  22 January 1902 in Salem, Utah, Utah
• Parents:  Isaac Heath and Roxienne Heath
• Spouse:  Joseph White Pierce (md. 16 December 1828 in Broome County, New York)
• Children:  Elizabeth Pierce, Edwin Pierce, Mary Adeline Pierce, Catherine Amanda Pierce, Joseph Henry Pierce, Roxey or Roxie Abigail Pierce, George Pierce, Isaac Riley Pierce, Adelia Delilah Pierce, Lucy Jane Pierce, Julia Ann Menetta Pierce

History of Amanda Mary Heath Pierce

(Written by Madge Pierce as told to her by Martha Pierce Christensen.)

Amanda Mary Heath, was born in Broome County, New York, January 11, 18100.  She was the daughter of Isaac Heath and Roxienne Heath. Her mother died when she was very young. Very shortly after the death of her mother, her father passed away also, leaving her an orphan. She was reared by an uncle.

At an early age she married Joseph White Pierce of Middleton, Connecticut. She always said that he was of very fine people, above average in intelligence, gentlemanly and refined.

They joined the church [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] in New York, living only a short distance from the "Birthplace of Mormonism." In April 1830, Joseph Smith made his first visit to Colesville, Broome County, New York. Several public meetings were held. In attendance were many friends and strangers. Later other visits were made to this section. Undoubtedly this is where she and her husband heard the Gospel from the lips of the Prophet and accepted it. They followed the Church in all of its moves westward. She often told how they were driving from five different homes.

Her husband helped build the Kirtland Temple. In Kirtland food was very scarce, and Amanda Mary, along with other women were charged with the responsibility of providing food for the temple workers.
They followed the Church in its westward move to Missouri, then to Nauvoo, Illinois. In Nauvoo, she and her husband lived in the same house as did the Hyrum Smith family. They knew and associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith. She often told about hearing the Prophet's funeral sermon, and how deeply his death grieved her. Two weeks after the martyrdom of the Prophet and Hyrum Smith, her son, Isaac Riley Pierce was born at Nauvoo, Illinois.

At the time the Saints were driven from Nauvoo, they had many provisions with them. She, Amanda Mary Heath, very courageously stood up for her rights and did not allow the angry mob to rob them of their provisions. At the time the Saints left Nauvoo, she and her family crossed the Mississippi River on the ice. She carried with her a clock about two feel tall and approximately 20 inches wide. This clock, which still runs is now owned by her grand-daughter, Martha Pierce Christensen, and is at present in the Daughter's of the Pioneers Relic Hall in Salem, Utah.

Leaving Nauvoo, she and her family spent several years at Winter Quarters, Iowa. They arrived in Utah in 1853 via covered wagon. They settled in the tenth Ward in Salt Lake City. They owned about two and one half acres on land (NE Quarter) at 9th East and 5th South. They also homesteaded a farm in Emigration Canyon. In the summer they lived on the farm and moved to town in the winter. The old monument honoring the entrance of the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley was located on their farm.

Mary Amanda with her children who made it to the Salt Lake Valley.
Standing:  Julia Anne Manetta, Isaac Riley (Sr.), Adelia
Sitting:  Roxey, Amanda, Adline

Amanda Mary Heath Pierce, served in the Presidency of the 10th Ward Relief Society for many years. She was the mother of eleven children, 7 girls and 4 boys. Only five of her children lived to cross the plains, four girls and 1 boy, Isaac Riley Pierce.

She lived to be 92 years of age. She died January 23, 1902.

Deseret News 1902-01-25, p. 8

AGED WOMAN GONE.

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Mrs. Amanda Mary Pierce Passed the

Ninety-Second Milestone.

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   Mrs. Amanda Mary Pierce, an old resident of this state, passed away at the home of her son, Isaac R. Pierce of Salem, on the 23rd inst., at the venerable age of 92 years and 8 days.  She has been identified with the “Mormon” Church for more than half a century and has passed with her people through many trying ordeals.  She came to Utah with her husband, Joseph W. Pierce, in 1853, and settled in the Tenth ward where she lived until recently.  Mrs. Pierce was a good and benevolent woman and made many friends wherever she went.  Although she attained to a very advanced age she will be missed by her friends.

   The funeral will be held from the Tenth ward meeting house at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon.  The remains may be viewed at the residence of Mrs. B. E. Mills, 841 east Fifth South street, from 11:30 a. m. to 1 p. m.

Salt Lake Tribune 1902-01-26

DEATH OF MRS. PIERCE.

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Pioneer Woman Reached the Age of

Ninety-Two.

   The funeral of Mrs. Amanda M. Pierce, one of Utah’s pioneer women, who died Thursday morning at the venerable age of 92 years, will be held today at 2 o’clock from the Tenth ward meeting-house.  For nearly fifty years past Mrs. Pierce has made Utah her home, coming here the year after the settlement of Salt Lake valley with her husband, Joseph W. Pierce. Until several weeks ago she lived in the city, leaving here to visit relatives at Salem, Utah, where her death took place from general debility.  Death came unexpectedly, as she had appeared to be in good health and bade fair to live to reach the century mark.  Mrs. Pierce has a large number of friends throughout the State, who will hear of her death with the deepest sorrow.  The remains may be viewed from 11 to 1 o’clock today, at the home of Mrs. B. E. Mills, 841 East Fifth South street.

Gravestone in Salt Lake City Cemetery

* * *

Timeline:

1810 January 15

Born to Isaac Heath and Roxienne Heath in Windsor, Broome, New York [1]

1828 December 16

Age 18

Marries Joseph White Pierce in Broome County, New York

1829 January

Age 19

Birth of daughter Elizabeth in Janesseo, Broome, New York.  She dies later that same year.

1830 November 27

Age 20

Birth of son Edwin in Janesseo, Broome, New York.  He dies less than two years later on 28 August 1832.

1832 November 21

Age 22

Birth of daughter Mary Adeline in Kirtland, Lake, Ohio [2]

1836 February 18

Age 26

Birth of daughter Catherine Amanda in Kirtland, Lake, Ohio.  She dies just over a year later on 1 March 1837.

1838 January 17

Age 28

Birth of son Joseph Henry in Far West, Caldwell, Missouri  He only lives one month and one day, dying on 18 February 1838.

1840 May 24

Age 30

Birth of daughter Roxey or Roxie Abigail in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois [3]

1842 October 17

Age 32

Birth of son George in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois.  He doesn’t live a month, dying 11 November 1842.

1844 July 13

Age 35

Birth of son Isaac Riley in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois [4]

1847 January 13

Age 36

Birth of daughter Adelia Delilah in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa

1850 April 22

Age 40

Birth of daughter Lucy Jane in Silver Creek, Greene, Iowa.  She dies less than a year old on 18 February 1851.

1852 August 3

Age 42

Birth of daughter Julia Ann Menetta in Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa

1853 June 8 to September 9-17

Age 43

Crosses the plains to Utah in the Daniel A. Miller/John W. Cooley Company.  Traveling with husband Joseph White Pierce, daughter Roxey Abigail (age 13), son Isaac Riley (age 9), daughter Adelia Delilah (age 7), and daughter Julia Ann Menetta (age 2).  They settle in the Salt Lake City Tenth Ward. [5], [6]

1882 May 3

Age 72

Death of daughter Roxey or Roxie Abigail in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah [7]

1888 April 2

Age 78

Death of husband, Joseph White Pierce in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah [8]

1900 June 5-6

Age 90

Living in Salem, Utah, Utah, with son Isaac R. and his family. [9]

1902 January 22

Age 92

Dies in Salem, Utah, Utah [10]  Is buried at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. [11]

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[1] “United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMRT-FJS : accessed 28 Feb 2013), Amanda M. Pierce in entry for Isaac R Pierce, 1900.

[2] "BillionGraves Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/27MG-J3J : accessed 12 Feb 2014), Mary A. Ballard, 24 May 1913.

[3] "Utah, Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F85N-XX3 : accessed 12 Feb 2014), Roxie Abigail Mc Rae, May 1840.

[4] Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City] vol. 2, p. 358.

[5] "Daniel A. Miller/John W. Cooley Company." Pioneer Overland Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.  http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/companyDetail?lang=eng&companyId=205 (Viewed online 12 February 2014).

[6] Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City] vol. 2, p. 358.

[7] "Utah, Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F85N-XX3 : accessed 12 Feb 2014), Roxie Abigail Mc Rae, May 1840.

[8] "Utah, Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F85Q-HJ2 : accessed 12 Feb 2014), Joseph W. Pierce, 1805.

[9]  “United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMRT-FJS : accessed 28 Feb 2013), Amanda M. Pierce in entry for Isaac R Pierce, 1900.

[10] "Utah, Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F85X-WJ4 : accessed 12 Feb 2014), Amanda M. Pierce, 1810.

[11] Amanda Mary Heath Pierce at www.findagrave.com.  (Viewed online 12 Feb. 2014)