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| Edward Atkins and Mary Ann Neal Family |
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| Mary Ann Neal Atkins |
A brief history of the life of Mary Ann Neal Atkins.
Written by her daughter, Martha A.
Tuddenham. May 25, 1931
My mother Mary Ann Neal Atkins, was born in Burmingham,
Warwickshire, England, July 5, 1812. The
daughter of Harriet Smith and Job Neal, she was the seventh child of a family
of thirteen. She was the last one of her
Mother’s children to be christened in the Church of England. Her parents having joined The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints, had the rest of their children blessed in the Latter
Day Saint Church. My Mother’s Mother
became a devout church worker and a staunch defender of the truth. She would often accompany the Elders to their
meetings and assist them with the singing and preaching.
The feeling toward the Latter Day Saints was very bitter in
England at that time. The mobs would
gather, break up their meetings, destroy their books, insult and sometimes
injure the Saints. At one time my Mother attempted to pick up some of the books
and was immediately attacked by the mob.
She was glad to leave the books and get out of the way.
