Fanny Sophia Hocquard was born in St Brelade, Jersey on 20 October 1829. She was the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Jeune Hocquard. Francis Hocquard was born on 28 October 1790, and Elizabeth Jeune was born on 30 November 1793, both in St Brelade.
Uncle and aunt
At the age of four Fanny went to live with her uncle and aunt, Phillip Jeune and his wife, Fanny LeFeuvre (who were born, respectively, 7 November 1795 at St Brelade and 5 November 1804 at St Helier. Phillip and Fanny had been married for ten years without children, so little Fanny was permitted to go to their home at St Helier to live with them.
They gave her the best that money could buy, as well as an excellent education. Three days a week the students studied the English language and two days a week the French language. the following week the order was reversed and three days were devoted to French and two to English.
At that time the French and English were at war with each other over the possession of the Isle of Jersey. Fanny recalled seeing the soldiers fighting in the streets of the little city.
[Note: The original article concerning Fanny is faithfully reproduced, but in the 1830s the war between France and England was long over and the only fighting in the streets of St Helier had been in 1781.]
In addition to her academic schooling Fanny studied dressmaking, at which she became most adept. Also she learned the milliners's art and wove beautiful hats from straw.
Kennebec
On 20 March 1837 the Jeunes were overjoyed with the birth of their own little son Philip. Later they were the proud parents of two daughters, Fanny Esther and Julia May.
The Jeunes joined the Mormon Church in 1851 and left for American soil on 10 January 1852 taking Fanny Sophia with them. She was 22 years of age and had not yet been converted to the gospel. They sailed on the ship Kennebec, the voyage taking eight weeks.
- "In the morning the Kennebec a new and commodious ship of 1,070 tons, went out of the Bramley-Moore dock at Liverpool, England with 333 souls on board under the direction of John S Higbee.
"Provisions and water were good and wholesome and included oatmeal and pork. But as the English did not like oatmeal and the Scotch could not relish the pork they exchanged these articles of food with each other to the great satisfaction of both parties.
"The voyage throughout was safe and pleasant with the exception of one terrific hurricane which swept the deck clean of cook houses, water barrels, and everything else that could be washed overboard. The company arrived in New Orleans on 14 March 1852.
"They continued their journey on a small boat, The Pride of The West, and arrived in St Louis, Missouri about the end of March."
About 90 of the saints from the Kennebec sailed on the Saluda, a dilapidated steamboat. The Saluda had not travelled far when she exploded with 175 on board. Of this number about 100 were badly wounded or killed. Many accounts are recorded of this horrible accident. As a result of the accident the missionaries in charge were more careful in chartering the subsequent boats to take the emigrating saints up the Mississippi River. It was the only accident of any consequence which befell the saints in emigrating from Europe to the place of preparation for the journey a across the plains.
Philip de la Mare
After reaching winter quarters they travelled with an independent company under the leadership of John Taylor and Capt Philip de la Mare, the latter having been a blacksmith who had worked in the shop with Phillip Jeune while in Jersey. The company brought with them the first sugar machinery that was brought to America.
They were forced to wait a considerable time at Fort Leavenworth for the arrival of the machinery.
During the waiting period Fanny was invited to spend the day with a family across the river. On reaching the house she experienced a peculiar feeling, as though she were being carefully scrutinised. Her young cousin accompanied her. Everyone was treated with wine. Being possessed with such a peculiar feeling, Fanny sought a means of getting rid of the proffered drink. Since her little cousin had not been offered a drink, Fanny gave her the wine. After drinking it, the child fell into a deep sleep which lasted several hours. After the girls left the house and journeyed toward the river, the man who accompanied them told Fanny that a certain man by the name of Charlie Arkinson had doped the wine that she was to drink. He had intended to make her his wife while under the influence of the drug. The minister who was to marry them was hidden in one of the other rooms.
The company started from the Missouri River on 4 July 1852, and arrived in Salt Lake City in November after an extremely difficult journey. During the journey they met many Indians, but since the members of the company treated them with kindness the Indians were friendly. Fanny often loitered at the end of the wagons to talk with the Indians.
Most of the families who travelled with the sugar company remained in Salt Lake City. However, the Jeunes continued on with the company intending to settle in Provo. A severe snowstorm forced the Jeunes to stop in Pleasant Grove where they made their home for some time. The sugar company went on as far as Provo.
Thomas Carlisle
Also traveling with the sugar company was a young Englishman named Thomas Fields Carlisle. Thomas and Fanny became well acquainted during the long journey westward. After reaching the valley their friendship continued and grew and they were married in Pleasant Grove on 22 January 1854, by Bishop Henson Walker.
The following year they moved to Alpine, Utah where they spent the rest of their lives. How thrilled Fanny was when her own parents emigrated to Utah in the fall of 1854 and settled in Mill Creek. Later they moved to Alpine in February of 1855 where they lived until their deaths.
Emigration files do not specifically record the data of crossing the plains for either Fanny Hocquard or Thomas Fields Carlisle. However, because of the association of Capt Philip de La Mare with Phillip Jeune it is entirely reasonable to believe that he arranged for the Jeunes to travel with the sugar company which he directed. Being an independent company, the list of other in the company was not preserved in the Emigration Files.
However, the account of the journey of the sugar company did list a few men and Thomas Carlisle's name was included.
Fanny's only sister Elizabeth also came to America in 1855. The Hocquard family consisted of two girls and four boys: Francis Phillip born 18 September 1821, John born in September 1823, Phillip born June 1825, Elizabeth born 8 June 1827, Fanny Sophia born 20 October 1829 and Charles born in 1831.
Fanny's first two children were girls: Fanny Elizabeth born 12 April 1855 and Jane Blanche born 22 September 1856. Four other children followed: Eliza Alice born 4 December 1857, Thomas Fields, born 8 October 1859, Francis Lincoln born16 February 1861, and Richard Phillip born 7 March 1863.
Beautifully dressed
Fanny was always beautifully dressed, usually in a dark dress with a lace collar. A sparkling white apron always protected her lovely clothes at home. She was dressed up even as she oversaw the strawberry picking (which was her responsibility). She watched the pickers carefully, to see that everyone filled their cases right to the top. She was a tall, heavy-set woman in stature, always immaculate and so queenly. She reigned over everyone around her, not because of imposition but because her natural dignity commanded respect. She was a born leader and everyone seemed to bow their will to hers.
She had such beautiful flowers - their home was the showplace of Alpine. They must have brought shrubs and flowers from Salt Lake. Always in their yard were unusual plants and shrubs not grown elsewhere in the locality. She could be seen in the garden telling her husband just where to put the flowers but she never bent to touch the dirt.
Fanny was a most congenial neighbor and never let harsh words intended for the hurt of others pass her lips. She befriended even the Indians as did her husband. Many of them camped on the Carlisle property. After a storm it was not unusual to see many of the Indians knocking at the Carlisle door so that they could dry their blankets and also warm themselves.
A light was kept burning in the window at night. One night during a heavy snowstorm a man became hopelessly lost as he floundered off the beaten path. He finally saw the light in the window and after great effort reached the Carlisle home where he was taken in, warmed and fed. The poor man was almost frozen to death, and the light had saved his life.
Although she was the mother of three sons and three daughters, Fanny's mother love was not confined to her own children. Two other children claimed her as their second mother. When but a few hours old, Esther Mallett, being left motherless, found in Fanny Carlisle a mother who loved her as her own. Esther was the daughter of Fanny's cousin, Julia May Jeune Mallett. Esther lived with the Carlisles almost her entire life.
Dressmaking
Many hours of Fanny's life were spent that others might benefit from the talents of her dextrous fingers. She sometimes took in dressmaking at which she was most skilled. But she never told anyone for whom the work was being done. She, Esther, and Fanny spent many hours sewing together. In addition to her dressmaking skill, she did a great deal of beautiful handwork, petit point, and hairpin lace.
Florence Clare, her brother's grandchild, was brought to her from England then but a girl of 11 years. She also stayed with Fanny and Thomas for many years.
Thomas died on 6 July 1904 and was buried in the Alpine Cemetery. Fanny outlived her husband almost 18 years. Even after his death the property was kept in her name while her three sons ran the farm and sheep. When she was advanced in years she finally divided it among her children.
More than the last ten years of her life were spent in darkness. However, she never complained because of the loss of her sight, and always felt that she was blessed with good health to make up for her loss. All through the sightless days of her last illness she had the best of care at the hands of the adopted daughter Esther.
All her children were devoted to her until her death. Even though she could not see her visitors, she always recognized the visitor by the voice and was never deceived.
She used a chair on which she bent one knee, then pushed it around the house in front of her to keep from running into things and falling.
Fanny suffered a stroke in December of 1921 and passed away 12 February 1922 at the age of 92 years. She was the oldest citizen of Alpine and her passing was mourned by hosts of friends and relatives.
