Harriet Hollis, daughter of William Hollis and Maria Wooldridge, was born in Bishopstoke, Hampshire, England on Dec 11, 1820. When her schooling was completed she obtained an apprenticeship in dressmaking. Harriet's parents were concerned about their daughter's health and feared that she was not strong enough to be married. Thus it was with some difficulty that Benjamin gained their permission to marry his sweetheart.
When Blake was twenty-five, they were married in England in 1841. Harriet's health improved and they were blessed with seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Their marriage must hae been a very happy one, for if there was any disagreement between, them, no one knew it except themselves. They prospered during the first twelve years of their marriage while they in in England. They owned a large furniture store which boasted of mirrors, a rare commodity for those days.
In 1846, they moved to Salisbury, Wilshire, England. They is where they first heard the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In May of 1851, they and their oldest son Frederick,who was eleven, joined the church. In 1853, they and their five children, having buried two of their seven children in England, emigrated to America and onto Salt Lake City, Utah, with the Ten Pound Company. They had given up their home, business, loved ones and all that was dear to them to come to America.
In company with over 300 other converts to the church, they left England aboard the sailing ship Falcon. Many of the events of the journey were recorded by Mr. James Jack, secretary to the company. We learn from his journal that meetings had been held prior to their departure in which plans were made for daily activities during the voyage. The members were given encouragement for the trials before them, so that they would not murmur but would be able to bear them like saints of the most High God.
They set sail on the morning of Mar 28, 1853 and were singing hymns as the ship left the dock. Mr. Jack records that the first few days on the ship were trying ones. The winds had been against them; there was general dissatisfaction because they did not receive all of the food which had be allotted to them. Food was not served on schedule and improperly cooked. Their spirits were not high.
The leaders counselled together for the edification of the saints. As a result, wards were organized, each ward to share alike in the privileges given, that there might be a general satisfaction in all the ship. A school was organized for the children and men were given different tasks to perform for the comfort of the various group. Better feelings resulted and by April 6th the sea was more calm and the winds favorable. As the journey progressed the people as a whole were in good health, however three babies were stricken and died. Three marriages were performed on the boat during the voyage. By the middle of April the saints had started making wagon covers and tents. After about seven weeks the ship reached New Orleans. Another twelve days was spent going up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, Iowa where the group was divided into smaller companies, before they started to cross the plains early in June. it was the last of September when they reached Utah.
The Blake family lived in Salt Lake the following seven years, with the exception of one year when they were in American Fork, when Johnson's army came to Utah. During these early days In Utah, the crops were often poor and food scarce. Harriet often thought of the days when she was attending dressmaking school and was compelled to eat an apple dumpling before each dinner. The teacher thought it helped to digest the food. How she hated apple dumpling then, but how she wished that she might have one now. Three babies were born to this family while they lived in Salt Lake City, before they were called to help colonize a new settlement.
In 1860 Brigham Young stated at a meeting that he wished a city to be built at the unction of the Rio Virgin and Santa Clara rivers, to be named St. George. He called three hundred missionaries to settle the country. May of these were tradesman and artisans filled to aid in the building up of this area. The Blakes were among those chosen to settle St. George. They moved there in 1861.
Again Benjamin built a furniture shop and worked to make it equal to the one he had left in England. The shop was divided and the work rooms had only three walls so he could have plenty of fresh air. He did not like to be confined indoors for any length of time. He was a master in his trade and had charge of the upholstering work in the St. George Temple. He eventually had a row of shops 6 rooms long on his lot, where he made and sold furniture. After his death on Mar 9, 1884 in St. George, his shops burned completely down in 1911. The city had no fire department and the bucket brigade was no match for it.
They went back to Salt Lake in 1864 and took out their Endowments at the April Conference in the Endowment House.
The home of Benjamin Frederick Blake was the center of amusement. The five Blake girls Caroline, Elizabeth, Emma, Jane and Harriet were pleasant hostesses for numerous parties which brought in the young people of various ages. Brother Blake played his violin for dancing and his English wife Harriet was a clever story teller. They even staged dramatics and spelling matches. Of particular interest was the furniture made--good easy chairs and comfortable sofas and lounges.
Frederick Blake was a kind, loving father and husband. Harriet was a sweet, gentile and courageous mother. They were both people of great faith and humility. Even though sorrow and tragedy came, their attitude was that the will of their Creator be done. It was their desire to rise above difficulty.
Benjamin Frederick Blake was High Priest in the Mormon Church and a noted furniture and cabinet maker. He was also known as "Chair Maker Blake" in the Dixie Mission. He is mentioned among the "Pioneer's and Prominent Men of Utah". Harriet was named in the book "English Gentle Women" which is about women rmembered for their exquisite manners and the refining effect that they had upon the Pioneer Women.
Most all of the early day homes in St. George and surrounding towns had furniture made by Benjamin Frederick Blake. One rocking chair in the possession of his great granddaughter Roberta Blake Barnum was restored by her husband and brother Trueman and wife DeLoris Cox Blake. There is the signature of Ben Blake written in deep pencil on the bottom of the seat. This chair is estimated to be, well over 100 years old (in the 60's). After Frederick's death on Mar 9, 1884 in St. George, his shops burned completely down in 1911. The city had no fire department and the bucket brigade was no match for it. Harriet died Oct 31, 1908 at the age of 88. She is buried along side her husband in the St. George cemetery.