For too many years the finishing of John Durrant's history has been talked about, begun, put down and not taken up again. In 1990, Richard J. Durrant - third great nephew of John Durrant, still residing in England (only 5 miles from Bovingdon), transcribed the history of John Durrant which he received from John's granddaughter, Donna Durrant Sorensen, before her death. Richard had located Donna through his own family research that he had been studying for over 10 years.

Originally John wrote his story in longhand while serving time for unlawful cohabitation in the Utah Penitentiary he dated it 1^st February 1887. This was first made available at a family reunion by Donna Durrant Sorenson in about 1949. Cousin Richard in England also added an explanation of many English traditions and terminology which would be unfamiliar to John's descendants in America and this compilation was pieced together and finally published. A copy of Richard's narrative - "The History of John Durrant," has been placed in the Library at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England - John Durrant's home before his emigration to America. Another copy can be found at The Family History Center in Salt Lake City, together with the very large family tree that Richard bought with him when he and his family came to Utah in 1993.

Additionally, George Shelley's Early History of American Fork (1993 edition) has supplied many details of John's life as an adult, his wives and the way and details of life in that pioneer Utah town. Other references consulted include American Fork Ward LDS ward records, U.S. Federal Censuses for 1870 and 1880, LDS Church Census 1920 to 1935, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, p. 852 and Our Pioneer Heritage, volume 9, George D. Durrant's Fun and Names and the sources he cites therein, and Pool's What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. (Catherine Durrant Tenney, 1999)

This website was first launched in 1999 by the John Henry Durrant Family and has not progressed due to other commitments by the previous webmaster. 
Well, things seemed to have turned full circle, and after 9 years away from John's History, I have taken up the challenge once again.  To help me enlarge and enrich this website, I need your contributions. Family History's, Photographs, Biography's, etc., etc. Please email the webmaster.
We all live busy lives, but remember, this is YOUR website, let us all make the effort to share the information we all have with others in the family!
(Richard J. Durrant, 2002)

Many people have asked me how I found my American Family, click here to find out