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James Carrigan, son of Henry and Elizabeth Williams Carrigan, was born in Carberry, Kildare County, Ireland, on July 12, 1812. Much of his time he lived with his Grandmother in England. He studied for the ministry and was graduated from the School of Ministry at Dublin. He was ordained a minister in the Church of England and traveled from Ireland to England in behalf of the church. He became known as a very fine preacher. The church had three large celebrations a year, Easter, A Royal Family Celebration, and Christmas. On these days he was frequently the minister in charge.
He was very fond of the children of his parish and they, in turn, were always glad to see him. As he walked down the aisle of the church, he would often remark about their eyes and hair, and would make other personal remarks that endeared him to them.
Through his father he inherited a large tract of land which was a gift from the king. It is located about eighty miles from the Lakes of Killarney. This land is handed from father to son, "as long as grass grows and water flows for one barley corn an acre".
In England he met the L.D.S. missionaries and was converted to the Mormon Church. He was one of the earliest converts, being baptized on September 26, 1840, at Manchester. He was very ardent in this new religion and served as one of their missionaries.
His relatives and congregation rejected him, so he left everything and came to America, landing in New York City. He later went to St Louis where he worked as a carpenter until the opportunity came to go farther west.
He joined a company of Saints and came on to Salt Lake City. Here he obtained a piece of land on what is now Main Street, near Temple Square, and built a home. He married Ann Scotham. Several children were born to them.
At General Conference held April 8, 1853, Brother Carrigan's name was presented with a number of others to go on a mission to England. He left Salt Lake City without a dollar, had nothing but what he stood up in. He went as far as Omaha with one of the companies sent out by Brigham Young to bring the Saints to Salt Lake City. He managed somehow to get to New York. Here people asked him how he expected to cross the ocean and he replied, "The Lord will soften the heart of the captain." This was literally fulfilled, for the captain allowed him to work his way over. When he arrived in England his shoes were worn out and his suit was shabby. He met a friend who gave him a new suit of clothes.
He was on this mission for four years, traveling without purse or script. He was released and sailed for America on March 28, 1857 on the boat "George Washington", with Brother James Park as president of the company. A Miss Lois Bent, one of his converts, sailed on the same boat. On December 28, 1857, he married Miss Bent. On his return to Salt Lake City he was employed on the Public Works as a carpenter.
In 1861 Brother Carrigan was one of six men who came up to Weber Valley and took "squatters" rights. The next spring (1862) they came and brought their families.
The years following were hard ones, a struggle to get the necessities. There was no money. They raised what they could, and then they would take loads of wood to Salt Lake in exchange for groceries and things that couldn't be raised in the valley. The trip through Weber Canyon was very hazardous. Several men with their loads would go together so as to assist each other over the bad places. The trail around Devil's Gate was especially dangerous. Brother Carrigan's early training had been of an intellectual and religious character, so that this new life of pioneering was doubly hard for him.
He was the second Bishop of Weber City (now Peterson) Ward, which position he held for seventeen years. He was a good preacher and had a good voice for both singing and speaking. He had a keen sense of humor, and always had a funny story to tell. He knew the Bible as few people knew it. Very generous, he would share his last penny with anyone he thought needed it more than himself. He was a great walker; he would often walk from his home in Peterson to Salt Lake City for conference.
He fell from a high stairway and fractured his hip and after eight months of suffering, he passed away on September 17, 1897. He died as he lived, a faithful Latter day Saint.
They were the parents of eight children, Mary Carrigan Rackham, Elizabeth Carrigan who died at an early age, James William Carrigan, Agnes Ann Carrigan, Eunice Carrigan Foster, Albert Bent Carrigan, Irvin Carrigan, and George Edward Carrigan.
The following are letters and excerpts that appeared in the Millennial Star written of and by James Carrigan during his mission.
Millennial Star, July 23, 1853
At general conference in Salt Lake City, April 8, 1853, a number of elders were chosen to go on missions to England. Among them were James Carrigan.
England--James Carrigan is appointed to succeed Elder Robert Campbell in the pastoral charge of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kilmarnoch and Dundee Conferences.
Remarks of Elder James Carrigan, Pastor of Scotch Conferences--Beloved Brethren, I esteem it a high honor conferred upon me to have the privilege of representing the saints in Scotland. When I entered upon my labors there the idea had gone abroad that Scotland was sealed up, I have called upon the brethren to turn their attention to preaching to the world. The presidents in Scotland are universally united. The Saints generally are a willing people, ready to do all they can. The saints feel well towards brothers Franklin and Samuel Richards, who for their good works, will be remembered by them through all eternity.
A letter published in The Millennial Star and written by brother James Carrigan, reporting labors in Nottingham, Leichester, and Derby Conferences.
Nottingham, July 27, 1855
President F.D. Richards
Dear Brother,
Knowing you feel interested in the welfare and prosperity of all the churches over whom the Lord and His servants have directed your fatherly care and attention, I write a few lines to let you know something of our present prospects and condition.
I could not do justice to my brethren and sisters, nor to my Father in Heaven, were I to remain silent and not acknowledge the blessings received. As regards this Pastorate, I can say that the prospects are truly cheering. The best and most important feature is, the three presidents of these conferences are what I call good boys. We are united in every act, and all are determined to obey the counsel which they receive from the servants of the Lord who are placed over them to instruct them. I feel it an honor conferred upon me, to be associated with such men of God, and the spirit which burns in their breasts is defused among all the saints under their care. Universal peace prevails in all the camp. The priesthood are united in every department of the districts, in preaching and in supporting the funds of the church. We have camp meetings in all parts of the various districts where an opportunity can be had. We have had much opposition, chiefly from ministers of the English church established by law, but in all cases when opposing, they act very lawless, with little regard paid to decency or good order. While they denounce the conduct of the mother church of Rome, for her persecution of Protestantism,, they step forward and fully prove that they allow of the deeds of their fathers, by persecuting the servants of the Lord who are sent unto them. When they find that scripture, reason revelation, or any other principal of truth in existence cannot be brought in contact with the bulwarks of the gospel, they resort to other arguments, such as hiring, or using influence to get a band of ruffians with a bell man in front, ringing his bell close to the Elders, to prevent them from speaking, with cries of "Beware of false prophets", others beating tea trays until their knuckles bleed with the effects of hard knocks, while the good pious parson is in the mist of the rabble, exalting, with fiendish joy at the glorious scene. What a striking picture of modern divinity!
But it is all in vain. Such arguments wake up the honest, and all the efforts made by the enemies of truth only tend to strengthen its forces upon the minds of the people. We are daily gaining greater influence with the honest. I feel glad to see the prospects that lie before us. The people cry from different parts "Come and preach to us." Many places where the Elders could not formerly obtain a hearing, they now get good congregations, some for the truth and some against it.
The saints in these conferences have been very much blessed and benefitted by the fatherly care of pastor Smith, and the many good counsels imparted by him, and their universal desire and prayers are that he may be blessed on his journey, and arrive safe in the valleys of the mountains, to the bosom of the church and his family.
I would remark in the visits paid by brothers Wheelock and Little, whom you sent to us, construct and cheer the Nottingham Saints, their teachings and counsel have entered our hearts, and refreshed our spirits. May the Lord bless them wherever they go.
You will see by the half yearly report that we have baptized 94 in Nottingham conference, in the last six months. We are still baptizing some every week.
May my Father in Heaven bless you in your labors, and all brethren in the office and out, is the prayer of your brother and servant in the covenant.James Carrigan
A letter published in the Millennial Star February 16, 1856 and written by James Carrigan reporting labors in the Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire conferences.
Thornywood Place, Snenton, Nottingham,
January 17, 1856
President F.D. Richards.
Dear Brother--Thinking you might wish to know how we have finished the old year, and commenced the new one, I drop you a few lines to give you an idea of our present condition and prospects.
Our last Conference for 1855 in Leicester was held on December 16. We had a better attendance of officers than of former occasions, and a much better spirit amongst the Saints who were present. We did not come up with the funds of the Church to what we had anticipated, yet made some improvement over the previous half year. Our Temple offering is not all realized, even at the end of the year, but we hope to improve the present year. I calculate to double team with brother James Bond. The Lord assisting us, we will labor diligently for the benefit of this people. There are many good Saints in the Leicestershire Conference, who are willing to do as they are told. There are some others who appear quite dead. We hope to resuscitate some of them soon, or preach their funeral sermon.
The Saints are thankful to you for sending our much beloved Brother D. Spencer to be at the Conference. His presence was truly a blessing, he imparted many useful instructions an good counsels to the Saints, which will be an everlasting blessing to them, who look upon him as a father. May they evidence their attachment to him by their works, and help him home to the peaceful valley of the mountains.
Nottinghamshire Conference assembled, December 23, 1855. According to your counsel I handed to the brethren the propriety of all, who had been fresh appointed to preside over Conferences, going forth and renewing their covenants by baptism, which was responded to with joy by all. I went forth myself and set the pattern, and then baptized my brethren. We then attended to the conference business, which went off very spiritedly. Elder Wheelock being present, added much to the interest of the occasion. He laid hands on and blessed those freely who had been baptized. The Spirit of the Lord rested down upon the whole congregation. We truly enjoyed the good Spirit of our God. The brethren bore testimony that it was the best Conference they ever had since they first obeyed the Gospel. The Conference expressed their feelings by giving a vote of thanks to President Richards for sending brother Wheelock, as he could not come himself, for we were all cheered and comforted by the instructions imparted.
I found, on my arrival in Nottingham, more names on the books than we could count Saints at meeting, which led us to search out some dead branches and cut them off. Since they were lopped off, the trunk is more healthy, growing taller, bark smoother and leaves greener, attracting more than ordinary attention and some healthy buds are making their appearance. We hope to see the good old tree blossom well this year and bear much fruit.
We have a good attendance of strangers at our meetings. One hundred and forty five were baptized during the year. We are still baptizing a few, and many are inquiring after the principles of truth. Since we began to re-baptize, it seems to run like fire. On the 6th I re-baptized 15 of the Presidents of Branches and confirmed them at the afternoon meeting. All the Branch Presidents have been baptized since, and on last Sunday, the 13th, we had 15 confirmations in the Nottingham Branch and 30 re-baptized in the Radford Branch. Although we do not preach re-baptism to the Saints, yet there seems to be great desire in their hearts to renew their covenants.
Last Sunday we had a collection taken up throughout the Nottinghamshire Conference, to aid the Foreign Missions.
As depression of trade and other circumstances tended to retard our progress, the first part of the year, we were seven months in paying off debts contracted for emigration and other liabilities, which left the work of a year to be done in about five months. Yet we have done the best we could under existing circumstances, and we will be able to do better this year. We paid L73 10s. of Temple Offering nearly in one quarter, and have since then raised a considerable amount for old debts and clothing, traveling and visiting Elders expenses and several other internal expenses of the Conference. I can truly say the Nottinghamshire Conference has done well. May the Lord pour of His Spirit upon the saints yet more abundantly. Amen
Derbyshire Conference was held on the 30th of December. We had a good time; the spirit of the Conference was much improved, reports encouraging, prospects good, Temple Offering of L31 realized. Some debt for Elder Savages emigration still remains. There was considerable raised to cloth Elders Evans and Savage. Six fresh members were baptized, and many have since followed the example. There is a greater determination in the Saints generally to build up the kingdom of the Lord.
Your Servant in the covenant,
James Carrigan
Bishop Carrigan passes Away
James Carrigan, Sr., after eight months of untold suffering, passed peaceably away on Sept. 17th, 1897, being surrounded by his wife and children. He was one of the early settlers: worked on the public works as a carpenter: was on a mission in Scotland and England with Bishop Atwood. When he returned he worked on the Bountiful meeting house and later moved to Peterson where he presided over the ward until his health failed him. He died as he had lived a faithful Latter-day Saint. Funeral services were held in the Peterson schoolhouse, Bishop Waite presiding. Consoling remarks were made by Bros. Frye, Francis, Haven, Haag and Whitear. The Anderson family sang a quartette, Miss Fowler presiding at the organ. Many followed the remains to the grave. No one knows how much we miss him.
None but aching hearts can tell; Gone from home, not from our hearts, Lost to sight, to memory ever dwell.
Bishop Eli Whitear. Peterson, Morgan Co., Sept 26th, 1897.
