Records of John and Margaret Smith Thompson My Grandmother Irene Thompson Fletcher drove to Hooper with her daughter Beth and son-in-law Woody and visited Bishop John Hoopes in July of 1961 and recorded the following in her journal. Bishop Hoopes told me all about the old people who lived there and were my father’s associates before he was married. He had a remarkable memory and knew them all and who they married, etc. The Simpsons, the Muns, the Frews, the Hoopers, the Meserveys, the Cottles, Fowers, Biddulphs, Lowes, Smiths, Hulls, Coxes, Parkers, Fowles; all the old names I have heard my parents mention many times. I asked Bishop Hooper if he knew why my grand parents became disaffected with the church, and he said “Well you know those early days were hard and the religion new, and there were a whole group of these old families that sort of banded together and began to question and then to resent authority and some sympathized with others who had to be reprimanded and finally they found a preacher who formed a church of no particular denomination and they all went to his church. Some members of these families have drifted back into the LDS church, but the Thompsons never did�. He said, however, that my grandfather had one of the most brilliant minds of any in the community and could out argue anyone in favor of the Book of Mormon and could prove from the bible the truth of the gospel as the Mormons believe it, but just why he turned from it all, Bishop Hoopes could not say, although he knew the family well. In the family history center in Salt Lake City we can find the church records from the Bedlington Branch (film # 86980) and the Witton-le-Ware and Cooke Branches (film # 87038) where John Thompson and Margaret Smith joined the church, were married, and started their family. I will try to use some of the same spellings as those in the microfilm records as I write down the information. Margaret Jewitt Smith In the record from the Bedlington Branch is recorded that Margret Jewit was 16 year old and lived in Bedlington, Northumberland, England. She was born on the 15th of April of 1837 in Wallsend, Northumberland, England. She was baptized on the 19th of January of 1852 in Bedlington by James Jenkins and confirmed by Wm. Patterson. James Jenkins joined the church in 1849 in Scotland and was one of the first Elders in Bedlington. It is also recorded that Margret removed from the branch on the 6th of Mar of 1853. That would be when she moved with John to Witton-leWear. Right below her name on the list is that of her Brother Thomas Jewitt Smith
Thomas Jewit was 21 years old and also resided in Bedlington. He was born on the 2nd of January of 1832 in Earsdon, Northumberland, England. He was baptized on the 21st of January of 1852 in Bedlington by James Jenkins and also confirmed by James Jenkins. He emigrated to Utah on the 24th of Mar of 1855. John Thompson According to the record, John Thompson was 24 years old and lived in Bedlington. He was born on the 2nd of June of 1829 in Moresby, Cumberland, England. I have searched the Moresby parish records for a christening record, but did not find it. In our family records is a biography of John and Margaret Thompson that was written by their daughter Annie Thompson Smout. She records that John had a brother (George Thompson), who’s daughter (Mary Ann Thompson Gripp) lived in Pennsylvania. Mary Ann Gripp told her that John’s father’s name was originally Hutchinson, and that when John’s father was a boy that he was bound out to be a hatter. Since John’s father did not like this trade, he ran away and changed his name to Thompson. John’s father (John Thompson) may have changed his name some time before he was married, but it appears that he used the name Hutchinson in the marriage record in Moresby in 1829, when he married Mrs. Elizabeth Martin. According to the 1851 census in Bedlington, John’s mother was named Elizabeth and had at least one son from a previous marriage. That son is listed in the census record as Joseph Martin and he was 26 years old at that time. That is also confirmed in the 1841 census. John’s brother George Thompson and his wife Isabella Wake were also members of the church in Witton Le Wear, England. George was born in October of 1832 in Ryton, Durham, England. He and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 1881 or 1882 and several census records can be found for their family. If we can find a death certificate for George, it may give us more information about his parents. John Thompson was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the 28th of January of 1852 in Bedlington by Robert Tindspith? and confirmed by James Jewell. The branch record also records that John was received from Blyth on the 1st of May of 1953. Blyth was on the coast and he may have been working there in a sea port. It is recorded that John Thompson married Margret Smith on the 31st of January of 1853 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. They were married by Robert Latsby. I checked with the British Vital Records Index and found that there is a certificate for that marriage in Morpeth. I ordered the certificate in hopes that it contained more details, but it only
records the name of the fathers and their occupations. It is interesting to note that Isabella Wake is listed as one of the witnesses and that Margaret only wrote an X for her name. Isabella was apparently her best friend and later married John’s brother George. John resided in Netherton and Margaret in Bedlington at the time of their marriage. Recorded in the microfilm record for the Witton le Wear Branch is the following: John and Margret Thompson were received into the Witton le Wear branch on the 22nd of October of 1854 from the Bedlington Branch. They lived in Witton le Wear. There are several records of children that were born to John and Margret Thompson. The records do not mention Elizabeth. Do we have a family record of that somewhere? According to new.familysearch.org, Elizabeth was born in April of 1853 and died in September of 1853. The Witton le Wear branch records list that Jane Ann was born the 5th of January of 1855 in Witton Le Ware and blessed on the 4th of March of 1855 by William Jones. She died the 17th of March of 1855 and was buried in the church yard. The oldest son, John Thomas, was born on the 26th of March of 1856, but his name was not recorded in the branch records. He later traveled to Utah and married and raised his family in Idaho. To my Grandmother Irene Thompson he was known as Uncle Johnny. A photo of him is shown on the left. William Matthew was born the 31st of January of 1858 in Witton le Ware and blessed on the 28th of February of 1858 by David Richards. He died in November of 1860 in Witton le Wear. Joseph was born on the 3rd of February of 1860 in Witten le Wear. He also died in November of 1860. Mary was born on the 3rd of December of 1861 in Witton le Wear and traveled to Utah with her parents. She died in November of 1867 in Franklin Idaho at the age of 6. There is a record of John Thompson being ordained a Priest on the 31st of October of 1852 in Bedlington by Andrew Galloway. According to the registry of ordinations he was ordained an Elder on March 10th of 1858 by Richard Read Hodgson while in the Crook branch. There is a small remark at the end of that record that says that in Utah he apostatized. There is a history of the branch written by Elder David Richards from Wales, who was president of the Crook branch from the 25th of February of 1856 till March of 1860, when he immigrated to Utah. He records that John Thompson was appointed president of the Witton le Wear branch in 1855. In 1856 the branch was divided into the Crook and Evanwood branches. John Thompson was appointed president of the Evanwood branch. In January of 1857 John Thompson was called as a Traveling Elder. I’m not sure what the definition of Traveling Elder was in those days. There is a record called the reformation registry that records that John Thompson and Margrete Thompson were (re)baptized on December 6th of 1857 by M. L. Ensain and
confirmed by W. J. Smith. It also records that John Thompson baptized three other people and confirmed his brother George Thompson that year in connection with the “Reformation”. That would seem to indicate that he had been ordained an Elder before December of 1857. Perhaps the ordination in 1858 was in connection with his calling as a Traveling Elder and he had received the Melchizedek priesthood before that time in connection with his calling as a branch president. In the spring of 1858 the branch meetings were held in John Thompson’s home. The branch history records that on May 16th of 1858 the meeting was shifted to another home in “the case that Bro. Thompson was going to apostatize from the church.” David Richards also records that John Thompson did apostatize. In the registry of ordinations it records that John Thompson was cut off on June 12th of 1858 due to neglect of duty. At that time he had been appointed as “Traveling Elder” and perhaps he was not traveling and ministering according to the expectations of the time. In April of 1859 the Evanwood branch was disorganized. John and Margaret Thompson immigrated to Utah in 1862. They left Liverpool on the 14th of May and arrived in New York on the 25th of June of 1862. They next traveled by railroad from New York to Missouri, which was as far as the railroad went at that time. This was during the civil war, which resulted in several delays and inconveniences. They then traveled by wagon train to Utah. Go to this website to read several accounts of the voyage and trip to Utah. http://lib.byu.edu/mormonmigration/voyage.php?id=435#accounts Annie Smout wrote that while crossing the plains Margaret suffered sunstroke and that for three weeks after she would go blind toward sundown. She would tie herself by a scarf to the back of the wagon and trudge along carrying her baby. Two weeks after arriving in Salt Lake City they joined a group moving to Franklin Idaho, where they lived for six years before moving to Hooper, Utah in 1868. Church records show that John and Margaret Thompson were sealed in the endowment house in Salt Lake City in 1865. This was during the years that they were living in Franklin Idaho. They were apparently active members of the church at that time. There are several census records to be found for John and Margaret Thompson. These include the 1861 British census, the 1870 US census, the 1880 US census and the 1900 US census. These census records substantiate the birth dates and places for John and Margret that were recorded in the church records in Bedlington England. It is recorded in the 1861 census that John was a coal miner and that Margaret was a Dressmaker. For detailed maps of where they lived in England look at http://maps.familysearch.org/. You will see there that Howden is a town in the Parish of Wallsend, which is where Margaret was born. It is recorded in the 1900 census that John and Margaret filed out naturalization
records, but I have not been able to find those yet. They may be located in Utah or Idaho. A more complete list of their children who were born in Idaho and Utah (including our ancestor Lorenzo Thompson) can be found at www.new.familysearch.org and also on family trees at www.ancestry.com. One of the most interesting Census Records is the 1851 Census record of John Thompson and his brother George and their parents John Thompson and Elizabeth. On the record it also lists Joseph Martin, who was Elizabeth’s son from her first marriage. Here is a summary for John’s family. Name
Birth Date
Birth Place
Marriage Date
Marriage Place Death Date Moresby 29 Mar 1829 Cumberland Moresby 29 Mar 1829 Cumberland
John Thompson
1792
Elizabeth
1793
Joseph Martin
1825
John Thompson
2 Jun 1829
Ryton Durham Lowe Cumberland Parton Cumberland Moresby Cumberland
Morpeth 31 Jan 1853 Durham
Geroge Thompson
2 Oct 1832
Ryton Durham
Oct 1854
Durham
Death Place
13-Sep-1903 Hooper Utah Beaver 1911 Pennsylvania
Some of the same information can be found in the 1841 census record. One possibly significant difference is that John Thompson (the father) is listed as not being born in Ryton Durham. That leaves open the possibility that he was born in another Parish in Durham. The death certificate for Margret Smith Thompson can be found on the free website for Utah death certificates. http://www.archives.state.ut.us/research/indexes/20842.htm The information on the death certificate was written down by her daughter Annie Thompson Smout (photo to the left), who may not have known her grandmother Charlotte Brown. Unfortunately, Utah death certificates are not available for 1903, which is the year that John Thompson died. This death certificate confirms that Margaret was born on April 15th of 1837 and that her father was Mathew Smith. Margaret died on February 23rd of 1908 and was buried in the Hooper cemetery on February 25th. Another death certificate that may be of interest would be that of George Thompson, who died in 1911 in Pennsylvania. I’ve attached the death certificate and you can see it on the next page.
I found a piece of paper with the following poem tucked into my copy of Irene’s autobiography. I think the introduction was written down by Aunt Beth. This poem was written by my great great grandfather John Thompson after some of his children had died. They lost eleven children who never had a chance to grow up, and one other who died at the age of 26, leaving just four of their sixteen to mature and marry and have families. It was a great sorrow to them, but you can see by this poem, his love for them, his patience and kindness, and the sort of a man he must have been. We should be thankful we cam from pioneers who were willing to leave their homelands to brave this wilderness and withstand sorrows and suffering for the Gospel’s sake. We know that he was very poor, and had no education, yet he loved to read and write poems. It is well for us to learn all about our ancestors and learn to value their talents.
Though our dear ones from earth have departed To dwell in the bright worlds above, No longer we mourn broken-hearted O’er the fate of the children we love, Through the truths brought by Angels to cheer us From their beautiful mansions on high We feel that their presence is near us, Though their forms may be hid from our eye. How cheering to think that our fathers, Our mothers, our children and friends Around the old homestead still gather, And the steps of each loved one attends; That the ties of affection that bound them Instill them with impulse to bless, That their arms as of yore are around us Imparting each tender caress. The thought fills the being with rapture, And pleasures unceasingly roll, While a voice from the depth of our nature Is whispering its truth to the soul. Oh, gaze for awhile on the picture The sweetest emotions will bring, For the grave is no longer the victor, And death has been robbed of its sting. John Thompson to his wife Margaret LETTER TO MARGARET FROM COALVILLE, UTAH 18 JULY, 1875 By her husband, John Thompson (This letter was written when John Thompson left his family in Hooper, Utah and went to Coalville to hunt work to pay some debts. "Rennie" was Lorenzo Thompson, the first child born in Hooper, Utah.) 'Tis Sunday morning once again, With pleasure I assume my pen To briefly write a line or two And send them with my love to you. As far as I can know or tell In health of body I am well, And hope when you shall read the same
Similar blessings you can claim. Excuse the way I write this letter, Perhaps in prose you'd like it better, But my excuse in writing rhyme Is that it helps me pass the time And gives a pleasure to the mind In writing prose I seldom find. Bear with me then while I rehearse The news to you in simple verse. When last I left you to come here I deemed the way was bright and clear To pay off each outstanding debt. But Margaret lass we oft forget We're living in a world of change Whose blighting breath can disarrange Our deepest, fondest best laid schemes, As morning chases midnight dreams. 'Tis so with me since I came back. The trade again is dull and slack; So slack indeed the truth to speak We've only worked three days this week, Nor can I unto you explain How long 'twill be before again Six days a week there will be made; It all depends on future trade. But little use it is to mourn When fickle fortune takes a turn And gives to each a flowing measure Of grief, when she had promised pleasure. So say to each one that we owe Some patience on us pray bestow, And we will do the best we can To pay off every child and man To whom we owe one silver cent So, Margaret, keep your heart content, For though of luxury and wealth Our share is small, yet while we've health To aid us in our lowly lot We'll live as happy in our cot, While boys and girls our cares divide,
As those in mansions who reside. 'Tis true that life is full of cares But wheat is mingled with its tares, And though it's bitter cup we've drained, Yet still some sweetness still remained. Then my dear girl, be of good heart, We've joys from which we would not part For all the pleasures wealth can buy, We are together, you and I. What though we sometimes spit and spat At one another, what of that? I would not part with Maggie yet For what would pay Old England's debt. What she would take to part with me Is left, of course, to her decree; No doubt she'd say it would be small If she'd give any sum at all. From me to Johnnie say, "my man, Just do the best with things you can, To keep them right when I'm away, If you should never get your pay." Tell Rennie it is now the rule For little boys to go to school, And if he'll only learn to read, His father will be pleased, indeed. To little Annie say for me That father wishes her to be Kind to her sister and her brother And do what she is told by mother. And last for me kiss little May: And further more, will you please say When seeing him, "how do you do" With my respects to Mr. Frew. Then it would be an awful job Should I neglect the same to Rob: To each and all my wishes true And fifty kisses unto you John Thompson
Here is a photo of Margaret and her four children (Lorenzo, Annie, Flora and John Thomas). This was taken sometime between 1903 when John died and 1908 when Margaret died. The insert is a photo of May Thompson who died in 1901 at the age of 26.
I hope these details will be of interest to some family members who may read this. They have helped me to better understand the challenges our ancestors faced and the faith and courage that sustained them through the many trials they faced. Annie, the oldest surviving daughter, wrote this short biography of her parents. I’ve included it here as an appendix for those that have not seen it. THE STORY OF JOHN AND MARGARET THOMPSON By daughter Annie Smout in 1935 One hundred and six years ago on June 2nd, 1829, there was born a son to John and Elizabeth Martin Thompson, in the town of Parton, Cumberland, Whitehaven, England. This son was named John. At the age of 8 years he was sent to work in the coal mines, his task being to open and close a small door where a donkey hauling a cart of coal would pass through at regular intervals. This was a common custom among the mining families, and there would be times during the winter months when they would not see daylight, entering the mine before sunrise and leaving after dark. Note - (His brother's daughter, Mrs. Gripp of Pennsylvania says John's father's name was originally
Hutchinson, and that when he was a boy, he was bound out to be a hatter, as that was the way in those days that they learned their trade, and that not liking this trade, he ran away and change his name to Thompson. She said she often heard her father tell this story.) John attended school four years. The rest of his education he gained from reading books. His young manhood was spent in the coalmines. In 1852 he was married to Margaret Smith, the daughter of Matthew Jewett Smith and Charlotte, born April 15th, 1837 at Howdan, Northumberland, England. At the age of thirteen she was apprenticed to learn dressmaking. She married at the age of fifteen, a few months before her term expired. Sometime during the years 1856 to 1858 (baptized 1852) they became interested in the gospel, and hearing of the wonderful opportunities to be had in America, they decided to make the voyage and come to Utah. In the early spring of 1862 they boarded an immigrant ship, the mother very ill with a six weeks old baby girl and a little boy six years old, who had never recovered fully from a severe illness. His relatives begged him not to make the change, saying he would bury them in the sea. He told them he was going to save their lives, and it did prove to be the case, for they grew well soon after starting on the ship. They were on the ocean six weeks. On their arrival they joined one of the last immigrant trains, and commenced the long hard trek across the plains. The mother suffered sunstroke at a place called Florence and for three weeks after she would go blind toward sundown until she could barely see the campfire. She would tie herself by a scarf to the back of a wagon and trudge along, carrying her baby, at times being bunted along by the oxen, behind. The journey was very hard on her, but they finally landed in Salt Lake City. (Note-from the files of the Utah Daughters of Pioneers, I find that the name of the ship they sailed on was the "William Tapscott". They sailed from Liverpool, Lancashire, England on May 14 1862, arriving in New York the 25th of June 1862. The leader of the Company was William Gibson, and there were 808 people on the ship. Of 148 immigrant ships from Europe to America from 1840 to 1868, theirs was the 118th ship.) A small company of men and women were getting ready to move to Franklin, Idaho. They joined them and after a rest of two weeks, they again took up the march for new fields. Arriving at Franklin, they secured a plot of ground and dug a dugout, the common home of the new arrivals. They lived in Franklin six years helping to build the town. The father worked on a stone wall being built around the fort for protection from the Indians who gave the settlers a good deal of trouble, making the people pay tribute and support to them. They finally appealed to the government for keep and General Connor's army came from California, and as the army entered Franklin from one side, the Indians left the opposite, but the soldiers followed and overtook them at a place called Battle Creek where the creek comes out of the bench about a quarter of a mile from Bear River, north of Franklin. I believe all the Indians were killed. One little papoose girl was picked up after the battle and Mr. and Mrs. Hull took her into their home and raised her. She married a white man by the name of Heber Rialy of Ogden.
About the spring of 1868, they heard of a small farm in Hooper, a settlement southwest of Ogden, being opened to homesteaders. They left Franklin and again went south, settling on a twenty-acre farm and going through the task of clearing the land and helping to build the canals and ditches. He lived the rest of his life in Hooper, helping his boys to obtain homes. He died on Sept. 13, 1903, his wife following him in February 23, 1908, after she had lived with her son John at Weiser, Idaho. They are both buried at Hooper, Utah. To this couple were born sixteen children, twelve of them proceeding them in death, four, John, the boy who crossed the ocean with them, Lorenzo, Flora and Annie living to rear families in Utah and Idaho.