William and Sarah Speakman - Part One - England to American
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| William Speakman |
It's easy to see how confusion can arise. Consider these two birth records for towns that are 10 miles apart. SAL
The database "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" shows that William Speakman was born on October 30th, 1816 (Findagrave.com shows birthplace as Blackburn, England; a child gave his birth date as October 4, 1815 in Preston) and was christened on the 22nd of December 1816 at Saint John in Preston, Lancashire, England. His parents are listed as Jonathan Speakman and Mary. Other records shows her name was Mary Wright.
William & Sarah's sealing record, thankfully, gives their birth information:
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| Endowment House Sealing Record |
According to the 1841 Census, Jonathan was a weaver who married Mary Wright. Jonathan's parents were of England but Mary's father was from Ireland, a land owner who left substantial inheritances to his children.
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| 1841 England Census |
Unsubstantiated family tradition says that William was a Protestant minister when he encountered the Mormon missionaries, but this may be conjecture. According to church records William was baptized and confirmed on June 7, 1840 in the River Ribble by T. Walmsley.
William attended a General Conference in England 6 Oct 1840 with Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, & George A. Smith attending as officers of the Traveling High Council. William was a ordained a Priest and soon received a Patriarchal Blessing.
Patriarchal Blessing of William Speakman
born 22 October 1816
Preston, England
A Patriarchal Blessing from
the hands of Peter Melling, the Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England Conference upon the head of William Speakman born in Preston on the 22nd day of October 1816 recieved (sic) his blessing at a meeting held in Preston for that purpose on the 23rd day of October 1840.
William I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Authority of the holy Priesthood. I pronounce upon thee the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and inasmuch as thou has sought the Lord in thy youth and come down to the waters of Baptism and recieved (sic) a remission of thy sins I say unto thee thou art blest even with a remission of the same and also thy heart shall become large and thy knowledge increase and reach to Heaven for inasmuch as thou will be humble and faithful thou shall know the mysteries of Heaven and thy strength shall be according to thy day and in the perseverance of thy calling and in thy Labors thou will meet with obstacles and difficulties and thou shall also have great rejoicings and thy heart shall be made glad for the eyes of thy understanding shall be fully enlightened. Thou shall know the hope of thy calling and be blest in thy Labors and the Angel of the Lord shall go before thee and open thy way and inasmuch as thou will be faithful thou will be led by the Spirit of the Lord and be blest with Decernment (sic) yea and thou shall also in due time inasmuch as thou desires shall have a companion and also a posterity yea and thou shall have dreams and visions of God and also revelations and prophecies and inasmuch as thou will endure to the end in faithfulness to the Lord and to thy calling thou shall obtain a goodly inheritance even in the Land of Zion and be lifted upon high and be brought into his Kingdom. These blessings I seal upon thy head with every other needful for thee in the name of Jesus Christ, amen & amen.
Patriarchal Blessings, volume 8, p.145 GS 392,687 index card.
Mary died 16 December 1848 and no record of children can be found.
After the death of his wife, William kept busy traveling about to oversee the various branches assigned to his leadership. It was while William was acting as a missionary in New Castle that he met Sarah Scarth (or Scorth) Young. He did a good job of teaching Sarah the
Gospel, for when she encountered opposition at home and was told she
must choose between her family and her religion, she chose the latter
and was baptized in February, 1849. Her parents at the time
requested that she leave their home, which she did, and she never saw
them again, although in later years she corresponded with them
William did much good missionary work, being one of the first English missionaries called to preach the gospel. A letter he wrote from Greenock, Scotland, in February of 1841 was published in the Millennial Star.
William Speakman of Albert Street, a carder, married his first wife, Mary Newsham of Greenbank Terrace, a winder, on 18 August 1844. Each were 27 years old, both unmarried to that date. They were married by certificate in the parish church and by the rites of the established church.
There is an interesting record from the journal of Oliver Boardman Huntington, William's missionary companion, concerting Williams personal affairs.
Monday Jan. 4 (1847) Bro. Jacobs went to Accrington, and I stoped to meett Bro. Speakman to go to Bradford to a tea party to which we had been invited. ... In the evening, Elder Speakman came according to agreement, but his countinance was sack, and for why I could not tell at first. Elder Cottam and I went to lay hands on Sister Whitaker, who was ill of a fever, and she got better immediately and the next day she was about the house. In the evening, after I had returned, Bro. S_ began to open his mind a little and I found he was in trouble concerning his condition in relation to his family and ministry But soon the room was full of Saints, as the working hours were over and we had a very good season of conversation upon principle and things in general in the Church. After going to bed Bro. Speakman and I had a long talk upon his affairs. He had been in the Ministry for near 7 years in succession, and the two, last, he had been a husband and supported his wife and self, by the gospel, but now she was Pregnant and supporting herself ever since the Conference at Manchester, which took from him his means of support, the Presidency, and his wif was likely to kill her offspring if not herself by sadness, weeping and grief; and such sobs and cries, he said he never heard as when he left home or his wife. He had got so substanciated and engaged in the ministry that he did not know how to give it up; besideds that Bro. Hyde had, from hearing him talk, advised him to continue to Preach, but said he ""I do not know what to do. If Bro Jacobs had advised me, as I saw him comeing here, to go back, I should have done it."" Well, I said, ""I will council you and take all responsibility to myself; and now do you go back and sooth your wifes mind and lessen her cares and go to work, and let her be at peace in body and mind, you have been out a long time and the Lord does not require of you to go and leave your family in distress. I say in the name of the Lord return to your wife"". He said, ""I will,"" tomorow morning. After that we lay and talked upon the affairs pertaing to the work of the Gospel in that land, until near one Oclock.
The missionaries from America made good use of William, calling him to act as presiding Elder over several branches in the Carlisle Conference.
There is an interesting record from the journal of Oliver Boardman Huntington, William's missionary companion, concerting Williams personal affairs.
Monday Jan. 4 (1847) Bro. Jacobs went to Accrington, and I stoped to meett Bro. Speakman to go to Bradford to a tea party to which we had been invited. ... In the evening, Elder Speakman came according to agreement, but his countinance was sack, and for why I could not tell at first. Elder Cottam and I went to lay hands on Sister Whitaker, who was ill of a fever, and she got better immediately and the next day she was about the house. In the evening, after I had returned, Bro. S_ began to open his mind a little and I found he was in trouble concerning his condition in relation to his family and ministry But soon the room was full of Saints, as the working hours were over and we had a very good season of conversation upon principle and things in general in the Church. After going to bed Bro. Speakman and I had a long talk upon his affairs. He had been in the Ministry for near 7 years in succession, and the two, last, he had been a husband and supported his wife and self, by the gospel, but now she was Pregnant and supporting herself ever since the Conference at Manchester, which took from him his means of support, the Presidency, and his wif was likely to kill her offspring if not herself by sadness, weeping and grief; and such sobs and cries, he said he never heard as when he left home or his wife. He had got so substanciated and engaged in the ministry that he did not know how to give it up; besideds that Bro. Hyde had, from hearing him talk, advised him to continue to Preach, but said he ""I do not know what to do. If Bro Jacobs had advised me, as I saw him comeing here, to go back, I should have done it."" Well, I said, ""I will council you and take all responsibility to myself; and now do you go back and sooth your wifes mind and lessen her cares and go to work, and let her be at peace in body and mind, you have been out a long time and the Lord does not require of you to go and leave your family in distress. I say in the name of the Lord return to your wife"". He said, ""I will,"" tomorow morning. After that we lay and talked upon the affairs pertaing to the work of the Gospel in that land, until near one Oclock.
The missionaries from America made good use of William, calling him to act as presiding Elder over several branches in the Carlisle Conference.
British LDS History ~ A history of the Latter-day Saints in the United Kingdom
(webpage no longer available)
The Birth of the North Shields Branch
Posted by James Perry
On December 12th, 1847, the Carlisle Conference was held at the Saints Meeting Room, 20 Nelson Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Within this conference, President William Speakman, who was serving as District President at that time. After the opening exercises and a beautiful oratory exhortation to care for the members of the branches, a representation of the branches was called for.
“Carlisle branch, represented by letter, 80 members, including 3 elders, 8 priests, 4 teachers, 1 deacon. Standing good.
Dalston branch, by letter, 16 members, including 1 elder, 1 priest, 2 baptized
since last conference. Standing good.
Brampton branch, by letter, 26 members, including 1 elder, 2 priests. Standing good.
Alston branch, by letter, 25 members, including 3 elders, 2 priests, 1 teacher, 1 deacon. President Speakman observed that this was a branch he never had any difficulty with when he visited them they were always at peace - in short he said they were a God blessed people.
Newcastle branch, represented by Elder William Wanlass, 47 members including, 3 elders, 5 priests, 1 deacon, baptized 12 since last conference. Standing good.
Sunderland branch represented by Elder William Knox, 38 members including, 2 elders, 1 priest, 1 teacher, 1 deacon; baptized 13 since last conference. Elder Knox here observed that he never knew the Sunderland branch in bad standing, but always good - they were a loving united people.
Scattered members, 8. Total, 248 members, including officers.
It was then moved by President Speakman and seconded by Elder Wanlass that the seven members lately baptized at North Shields be organized into a branch and added to the Carlisle Conference, and be called the North Shields branch. It was also agreed to Brother Robert Gillies belonging to the Newcastle branch, take the presidency of the North Shields Branch.
Elder Wanlass rose and said he had represented the Saints at Throphill with the Newcastle branch as they had always been numbered with them, but he moved that they be organized into a separate branch called the Throphill branch, and added to the Carlisle Conference. Seconded by Elder Bainbridge and carried. Moved and seconded that George Robinson of Throphill be ordained Elder to preside over said branch and that John Robinson be ordained to the office of a priest for the same branch. Carried.
The following motions were then unanimously agreed to, viz. that Father W Manghan be ordained to the office of an Elder for Alston branch; Cuthbert Charlton and Foster Hawkey be ordained priests and Robert Hawkey, teacher, for Sunderland branch, and that Thomas Greener be ordained teacher for Newcastle branch.”
Millenial Star, Volume 10; no. 4, February 15th 1848, pages 55-56
Posted by James Perry
On December 12th, 1847, the Carlisle Conference was held at the Saints Meeting Room, 20 Nelson Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Within this conference, President William Speakman, who was serving as District President at that time. After the opening exercises and a beautiful oratory exhortation to care for the members of the branches, a representation of the branches was called for.
“Carlisle branch, represented by letter, 80 members, including 3 elders, 8 priests, 4 teachers, 1 deacon. Standing good.
Dalston branch, by letter, 16 members, including 1 elder, 1 priest, 2 baptized
since last conference. Standing good.
Brampton branch, by letter, 26 members, including 1 elder, 2 priests. Standing good.
Alston branch, by letter, 25 members, including 3 elders, 2 priests, 1 teacher, 1 deacon. President Speakman observed that this was a branch he never had any difficulty with when he visited them they were always at peace - in short he said they were a God blessed people.
Newcastle branch, represented by Elder William Wanlass, 47 members including, 3 elders, 5 priests, 1 deacon, baptized 12 since last conference. Standing good.
Sunderland branch represented by Elder William Knox, 38 members including, 2 elders, 1 priest, 1 teacher, 1 deacon; baptized 13 since last conference. Elder Knox here observed that he never knew the Sunderland branch in bad standing, but always good - they were a loving united people.
Scattered members, 8. Total, 248 members, including officers.
It was then moved by President Speakman and seconded by Elder Wanlass that the seven members lately baptized at North Shields be organized into a branch and added to the Carlisle Conference, and be called the North Shields branch. It was also agreed to Brother Robert Gillies belonging to the Newcastle branch, take the presidency of the North Shields Branch.
Elder Wanlass rose and said he had represented the Saints at Throphill with the Newcastle branch as they had always been numbered with them, but he moved that they be organized into a separate branch called the Throphill branch, and added to the Carlisle Conference. Seconded by Elder Bainbridge and carried. Moved and seconded that George Robinson of Throphill be ordained Elder to preside over said branch and that John Robinson be ordained to the office of a priest for the same branch. Carried.
The following motions were then unanimously agreed to, viz. that Father W Manghan be ordained to the office of an Elder for Alston branch; Cuthbert Charlton and Foster Hawkey be ordained priests and Robert Hawkey, teacher, for Sunderland branch, and that Thomas Greener be ordained teacher for Newcastle branch.”
Millenial Star, Volume 10; no. 4, February 15th 1848, pages 55-56
Mary died 16 December 1848 and no record of children can be found.
On the 25th of July 1850,
Sarah and William cast their lots and lives together and were
married. They faced the shadowy future with no resources but their
testimonies of the truth and their resolution to meet whatever was
required to bolster it up.
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| Sarah Scarth Young Speakman |
On the 23rd of January,
1853, Sarah and William sailed from Liverpool, England, on the ship
“Golcondo” for America. There were 321 saints on board under the
presidency of Elder Jacob Gates. Among other prominent Elders on
board besides William, there were Claudius Spencer, A.M. Harmon, R.
Rostron, and John Carmichael. These men also had been preachers and
presidents of the conference for years, Elder Spencer and Elder
Harmon being closely associated with William and his work.
They sailed out of the harbor on one
of the most favorable days which had appeared for several months.
At this time William was 36 years of age and Sarah 21.
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| Golconda |
At this time William was 36 years of age and Sarah 21.
They were forty-four days on the water
during which time a raging storm came up and tore off their 3 top
masts. The gallant vessel was tossed about and it was feared they
would all be lost. The ship's captain, Captain Kerr had much faith
in the Mormons and said, “With the Mormons aboard we will not
sink,” and they didn't. They were becalmed and drifted without
sails for two weeks, but finally arrived at Balize, at the mouth of
the Mississippi River. The health of the Saints during the voyage
was generally good. There were four births, two marriages,, and two
deaths on board, and on the March 20 Elder Spencer
baptized a Swedish sailor Erik M. Casto, who accompanied the Saints
to the Valley. The conduct of Captain Kerr, and his
friendliness to the saints, was a great satisfaction to all and,
before departing the ship at Balize, a vote of thanks with three
rousing cheers was tendered him.
At Balize they waited twelve days for
a steam tug to take them up the river to New Orleans. They arrived
in New Orleans the 26th of March where they boarded the
steam packet “Illinois,” on which they continued their journey to
St. Louis, and thence soon afterward to Keokuk, Iowa.
Next: Part Two - Journey to Zion
Next: Part Two - Journey to Zion
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