History of Esther Wilcock

Darrin & Andrea Lythgoe's Genealogy Pages

Esther Wilcock Lythgoe

By Esther Lythgoe Robinson, Granddaughter

My grandmother, Esther Wilcock Lythoge, was born March 6, 1805, at Hindley, Lancashire, England. Her parents were James Wilcock (born 1775 at Wigam, Lancashire, England; died 1851, Englandd) and Ann Ramsden Wilcock (Born 1772 at Wigam, Lancashire, England; died 1849, England.)

Grandmother was a small dainty woman. She was a loving wife and mother and was very devoted to her children. She was married to Thomas Lythgoe. He was born July 12, 1804 at Leigh, Lancashire, England and died Sept. 30, 1887 in England. His parents were Joseph and Betty Amsworth [Ainsworth?] Lythgoe, both born about 1753 at Leigh, Lancashire, England. He died about 1803 and she died in 1838.

My Grandparents Esther and Thomas Lythgoe were converts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pendlebury Branch in the year 1840 by the preaching of Apostle Parley P. Pratt. They also attended meetings in Carpenters Hall, Manchester, England, and kept open house for the Elders on missions. They were faithful and devout members of the Church and were acquainted with Apostles Brigham Young, John Taylor, Orson Hyde and others.

At the time Brother Pratt was on a mission in England, he stayed at the home of the Lythgoes. He was publishing the "Millenial Star" and was also writing a hymn book for the saints. He was using his money for the publications, so he was very thankful for the hospitality he received from the Lythgoes. On one occasion, Brother and Sister Pratt left their young son with Grandmother Lythgoe, and he wandered away causing much concern, so when they found him, Grandmother put him across her knee and spanked him soundly. When Brother Pratt returned and found what had happened, he thanked Grandmother for correcting his child.

Esther Wilcock (whom I was named after) and Thomas Lythgoe were parents of six daughters and three sons. They were: Lucy, Joseph, Betty, John, Ann, Ellen, James (my father), Elizabeth and Rachel. Betty died when only four years old, so then Elizabeth was called Betty. Grandfather never came to America as he was afraid to travel on the ocean. Their son James (my father) wrote in his diary: "My Father came to see me a few days before I set sail for America and I accompanied him to the Bolton Station and gave him half sovereign 10 shillings as I parted with him. My mother held means for his emigration until the last but he would not go."

Thomas and Esther’s son, John, left first for America, arriving in Utah in 1859. He commenced to earn money so that he could send for the rest of his family and his sweetheart, Catherine Harrop, and her family. He worked in gold mines in California and sent back money, but his father would not let his children leave, and instead spent the money. Finally John Lythgoe and John Booth (Ann’s husband) sent more money and the Lythgoes and the Harrop family prepared to sail.

Grandmother sailed for America on the sailing vessel, "Monarch of the Sea," on April 27, 1864. Her daughter Ann Lythgoe Booth and Ann’s two little girls, Lucy and Ellen, came with her. Aunt Ann’s husband John Booth was already in America awaiting the arrival of his wife and children. Grandmother probably felt she needed to help Ann with her little girls in crossing the ocean and the plains to Utah. When they arrived in the United States, it was necessary to travel 300 miles off course, because the Civil War was in progress. They traveled by rail and boat for about twelve days. After their sailing vessel landed they camped for three weeks near the Missouri River waiting for still more relatives to arrive on another ship so they could cross the plains together. Among them were her son James and his first wife Martha Heelis Lythgoe. They came on the sailing vessel "General McClellan." During the course of their journey to Utah they crossed the Black Hills of Dakota and came through what is now Evanston, Wyoming. When they arrived in Wyoming, they had to wait three weeks for the J.S. Rawlins ox and mule teams to bring them to Utah. Two weeks before arriving in the Salt Lake Valley Catherine Harrop’s mother died. A week later her step-father died. The company traveled down Chalk Creek into Coalville, Utah, where Ann’s husband John Booth and my Uncle John Lythgoe were waiting for them.

Esther’s husband never left England. She saved money for his transportation and she kept it for him until he died.

Five of Grandmother’s children emigrated to Utah. Joseph suffocated in a mine explosion at Lydsley Banks, England, December 8, 1858. He was buried in Street Gate churchyard. Uncle John worked in the coal mine in Coalville where he was killed Sept. 23, 1867. This left her son James as the only surviving son. He lived most of his life in Henefer, Utah, as died two sisters, Rachel L. Fowler and Elizabeth (Aunt Betty) L. Dearden. They all had large families. Grandmother lived most of the time with one or other of her children but also had a small home in Henefer. Aunt Ann and her husband settled in Coalville and they had several children.

Often Grandmother, who was very active, would walk the nine or ten miles to Coalville to visit with Aunt Ann. She would follow the path along the Weber River through the river bottoms, [and] as she was close to eighty years old it must have been quite a journey for her. In July of 1885 her daughters and son James became very anxious and worried about her. She was neither at Coalville nor had she returned to Henefer. They all began searching and praying that she would be found. In those days there were still many wild animals in that area and the river was also dangerous to an elderly person walking along. Finally she was found lying beneath some trees beside the river. She probably just laid down to rest, and then passed away. She was 79 years old at her death. She is buried in the Henefer cemetery overlooking the Weber River and the beautiful valley of Henefer. Her son James shaped a flat sand rock into a headstone and cared upon it: "Esther, Beloved Mother of James Lythgoe." The headstone is still there marking the grave of an early Pioneer. She died July 23, 1885, and left a large number of descendants.

Children of Thomas and Esther Wilcock Lythgoe

LUCY was born 1827 and died 1877 in England. She married John Collier, after seven years courtship.

BETTY was born 1829 and died 1833.

JOSEPH was born April 23, 1830. He was a good man and worked in the coal mines in Lydsley Banks. One morning an explosion occurred and Joseph with 26 others was suffocated. This happened December 8, 1858 and he was buried in Street Gate Churchyard.

JOHN was born July 21, 1834. He was the first of the family to leave England for America. He sent money from time to the family. He helped John Booth emigrate, and the two of them worked together to earn enough money for the whole family to emigrate. He sent money for his sweetheart, Catherine Harrop and her family to emigrate also. When she arrived in Utah they were married on October 22, 1864. John was killed when tons of coal crushed him when he was digging in a mine September 24, 1868. He left his widow and two children.

ANN was born November 13, 1836. She married John Booth May 31, 1856, and they had two children before John left for America. She crossed the plains with her two little girls, Lucy and Ellen. The Booth family lived in Coalville all their lives, and eventually had twelve children. Ann died September 5, 1906.

ELLEN was born March 15, 1839. She stayed in Preswich and died in 1871.

JAMES was born March 15, 1842. He was very active in the church and did a lot of missionary work while still in England. He was an apprentice to a shoemaker in Lancashire, England. He learned the trade and also made wooden shoes. He also leaned to play the violin in England, walking seven miles each week for his music lesson. He taught music and could play and teach almost any instrument. After arriving in Utah, he homesteaded a farm. He married Martha Heelis of 22 Darcy Lever, Bolton, on April 17, 1864. She emigrated with him to Utah on the "General McClellan" on May 22, 1864, from Liverpool. He played his violin for many entertainments and dances. He became chorister for the first choir organized in Henefer. He operated a confectionery store for many years in Henefer. He died March 17, 1929.

ELIZABETH was born March 19, 1844. She emigrated single. She lived at Richville until one evening Warner Porter, Bishop of Porterville, after the dance was about over, marrie dher to Thomas Deardon without bed or board. She was married March 12, 1866, since which time she has had 12 children and has been blessed with good bed and board ever since. She died May 17, 1908.

RACHEL was born May 29, 1847. She lived in Hoytsville until January 27, 1866, when she became the wife of James Fowler by whom she had 11 children. They located in Henefer, where she died March 9, 1887.