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Pioneer Database

1847–1868

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Birth Date
1 January 1820
Death Date
15 November 1907
Gender
Male
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Ransford Abner Colby

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  • Records indicate that Ransford was married on 20 April 1849 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.  The first documentation to place him in Utah is the 1850 census which was enumerated in early 1851. He likely crossed the plains in 1850, but further research is needed to confirm this.

    At the time Ransford received a Patriarchal Blessing from Hyrum Smith at Nauvoo, Illinois in 1841 he gave his birth date as 1 January 1820; this date is repeated in the record of an ordinance performed at Salt Lake City.  Other records give his birth date as 1 January 1821.

    Ransford was living in the Salt Lake City 3rd ward at the time of the 1852 Bishop's Report but his name also appears on the records of the Utah Territorial Militia at Provo in Utah County in September 1852 (in the latter record his surname is spelled "Coalby.")  He was re-baptized 12 May 1855 in Utah County and paid tithing at Provo this same year.  This is where he was living with his family at the time of the 1856 Utah Territorial Census.  In 1858 he contributed money to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fillmore, Millard County.  By the time of the 1860 federal census he and his family were living at Spring City, Sanpete County.

     Ransford was a Seventy.

Unknown Companies (1847-1868)

  • Age at Departure: 28
  • Head of Household

Traveled with

  • Margaret Colby (Age: 15)

Sources

  • 1850 Utah Census, Davis County.
  • Find a Grave (Website)
  • Provo Utah Central Stake general minutes, 1849-1977, Volume 9, 1849-1858, 1866-1872 (Utah Stake City Branch record of members).