How we are related:
Mary Ann Lewis Cooper (1833-1890)
Isabel Cooper Speakman (1867-1934)
William Daniel Speakman (1896-1928)
Daniel Vaughn Speakman (1919-1999)
(There seem to be many erroneous and undocumented family connections
for Mary Ann's family of origin in posted genealogy trees.
I have tried to sort though and give only what I feel I can document.
Most of the original sources about her life are posted on FamilySearch Family Tree)
Mary
Ann Lewis was born in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England on
November 11, 1833. She was the only daughter of William and Ann Ward
Lewis. Her brother Tom, 15 years older, was born October 12, 1819 in
Loughborough, Leicestershire, England.
According to a letter from John Cooper to his daughter Mary Ann Cooper Davies,
written 10 September 1918:
written 10 September 1918:
"Your mother's mother was born in Leicestershire (England). Her maiden name was Ann Ward.
Your mother's father was born in Wales, therefore you are Welch."
(Church records show William Lewis was born in Sheepshead, Leicestershire, England).
Below are two different indexed document records:
(Church records show William Lewis was born in Sheepshead, Leicestershire, England).
Below are two different indexed document records:
Name William Lewis
Birth Date 6 Apr 1793
Birth Place Sheepshead, Leicestershire, England
Gender Male
Event Type Birth
Father John Lewis
Mother Jane
Denomination Baptist
"Piece Title Piece 1456: Sheepshead (Baptist), 1754-1837"
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name William. Lewis
Gender Male
Birth Date 06 Apr 1793
Birth Place Baptist, Shepshed,Leicester,England
FHL Film Number 0597076 (RG4 1456)
Household Members
Name Age
Child: William Lewis
Mother: Jane
Father: John Lewis
"Your mother had one brother who was in the English Army, was in the battle of Balaclava in the Crimean (War) and was severely wounded, but got well and came home. The cause of his being in the army was a disagreement with his wife. Unequally yoked together. He had one son. ... Your grandfather was a good honest man but liked his drink too well. Your grandmother Lewis was one of God's noble women. She had no superior ... ."
The 1851 England Census shows William and Ann Lewis with their children - Mary Ann (age 17) and Thomas (age 33).
 |
1851 England Census for Mary Ann LewisLeicestershire Loughborough 3b |
It also lists an 11 year old boy named William as a son, but I believe he is the son of Thomas for two reasons:
1. The order in which Ann and Thomas are listed - the oldest child should be first unless he is an adult with his own family.
2. A listing from the 1841 England Census - which is most likely Thomas, his wife, and son
1841 England Census
Name William Lewis
Age 1
Estimated Birth Year abt 1840
Gender Male
Where born Leicestershire, England
Civil parish Loughborough
Hundred West Goscote
County/Island Leicestershire
Country England
Registration district Loughborough
Sub-registration district Loughborough
Piece 595
Book 6
Folio 43
Page number 15
Household Members
Name Age
Thomas Lewis 20
Ann Lewis 20
William Lewis 1
1851 England Census
Name Mary Ann Lewis
Age 17
Estimated Birth Year abt 1834
Relation Daughter
Father's Name William Lewis
Mother's Name Ann Lewis
Gender Female
Where born Loughbrough, Leicestershire, England
Civil parish Loughborough
Ecclesiastical parish Emmanuel
Town Loughborough
County/Island Leicestershire
Country England
Registration district Loughborough
Sub-registration district Loughborough
ED, institution, or vessel 3b
Household schedule number 115
Piece 2085
Folio 44
Page number 28
Household Members
Name Age
William Lewis 60 Sheepshed, Leicestershire, England
Ann Lewis 55 Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England
Mary Ann Lewis 17 Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
Thomas Lewis 33 Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
William Lewis 11 Leicester, Leicestershire, England
And, indeed, the 1861 England Census lists William as Grandson.
England and Wales Census, 1861Loughborough, Leicestershire, England
William Lewis Head M 70 Shepshed, Leicestershire
Ann Lewis Wife F 69 Castle Donington, Leicestershire
William Lewis Grandson M 21 Leicester, Leicestershire
It
was though the efforts of John Cooper (who later became her husband)
that Mary Ann, a friend of John's sister Ann, was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints when she was 18 years old. Mary Ann Lewis was
baptized on December 18, 1851. Her parents belonged to the Church of
England, and they were not happy that she joined another church. In
fact, they never really forgave her for taking up “with those
terrible Mormons.” Mary Ann didn’t have to work for a living,
but she wanted to be independent, so she got employment at an
underwear factory and made fairly good wages.
When
she was 23 she was able to pay for her own passage to America on the
“Enoch Train,” captained by William P. Rich, and also pay part of
John Cooper’s passage so they could come on the same boat. When
Mary Ann and John left for America, her brother Tom told Mary Ann's mother
not to fret, for Mary Ann would be back in a fortnight. It was the
first time she had been away from home except for two weeks when she
worked as a nursery maid. At that job she couldn’t stand the dirty
diapers and crying children, so she gave it up after two weeks. It is reported that Mary Ann's family gave her money to return home, hoping she would change her mind, but she spent the money on John Cooper's ticket.
The ship Enoch Train sailed from England on March 22, 1856 and was on the ocean for 6 weeks. Mary Ann was sick most of the time and sometimes John would carry her up on the deck so she could see the sunshine and breathe the fresh air.
The ship Enoch Train sailed from England on March 22, 1856 and was on the ocean for 6 weeks. Mary Ann was sick most of the time and sometimes John would carry her up on the deck so she could see the sunshine and breathe the fresh air.
 |
| The Enoch Train - Liverpool to Boston, 23 March 1856 to 1 May 1856 |
You
can read about the crossing here:
THE
LDS MILLENIAL STAR
No.
23, Vol. XVIII
HISTORY
OF ELLEN RUSSELL
The
First Handcart Company - Report from the SS Enoch Train
Mary
Ann and John landed in Boston, Massachusetts. May 1, 1856, and they
took a train to Iowa City, Iowa, where the rails ended and they joined
the ox train lead by Captain William Hodgett. They crossed the Great
Plains to Utah with the Edward & Martin handcart companies, the
ox team companies following behind the handcarts. They suffered all
the privations of the pioneer and the exigencies of the distressed
companies who encountered early winter storms. When they arrived at
Devil's Gate and met the rescuers from Salt Lake, John and 19 other
young men volunteered to stay behind and guard the goods of the
pioneers until they could be retrieved in the spring. Mary Ann came
on to Salt Lake with the wagon train.
Mary Ann waited for John to arrive in the spring, and two days after he came they were married - June 8, 1857. They were later sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake city on October 9, 1861.
They were called to go to Fillmore, Millard, Utah, where their first house was a dugout in the old fort. In 1860 they are shown as the parents of 2 children. John's occupation is listed as farmer.
1860 United States Federal Census
Fillmore City, Millard, Utah Territory, United States, Page 13
John Cooper M 26 England Farmer
Mary A Cooper F 26 England
John Cooper M 2 Utah
Mary A Cooper F - Utah
By 1870 they had three more children in the household.
A son, James Henry, died as a child in 1869:
1870 United States Federal Census
Fillmore, Millard, Utah Territory
Household Members
Name Age
John Cooper 36
Mary A Cooper 37
John Cooper 11
Mary A Cooper 10
William Cooper 7
Isabella Cooper 4
Franklin Cooper 1
In 1880 the family is listed thus:
1880 United States Federal Census
Fillmore, Millard, Utah
Household Members
Name Age
John Cooper 46
Mary Ann Cooper 46
William Cooper 17
Isabel Cooper 13
Franklin Cooper 11
Arthur Cooper 9
Florence M. Cooper 7
Mary Ann and John’s two oldest children were grown up and married when John fulfilled a second mission to England in 1880-1882, during which time he was President of the Leed Nottingham and London conference. Mary Ann still had 5 children at home ages about 7 to 17. It was while on this mission that John met Sarah Ann Newbold and preached the gospel to her, along with others. John wrote home to Mary Ann asking her if he could marry this lady. Mary Ann was not happy about the idea and told him that if he married another wife, she would not welcome him when he returned. He did marry, and he lived in Wyoming and Idaho for a number of years, traveling between there and Utah.
 |
| Mary Ann Lewis Cooper |
Mary Ann died at age 57 on October 30, 1891. She was buried in Fillmore Cemetery.
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