She
was baptized 26 Sep 1847
He was baptized 19 Dec 1847
The following is from a document
obtained from NelLo H. Bassett.
Joseph Hepworth was born 11 Sep
1816, the third child (second son) of the nine known children born to Richard
Hepworth and Hannah Wilkinson. He was
born at Mug Mill, a village which is down off the hill from Thornhill Edge in a
beautiful valley area with a picturesque view.
It is just outside Thornhill township, in the northwestern part of
Shitlington township, which abounds in coal and consists of Middletown
(Middleton), Netherton (Netherton), Overtown (Overton), part of Horbury Bridge,
Midgley, Hollinghurst, Mug Mill, and Stocksmoor. Leading to Mug Mill is Mug Mill Lane which is
abounded on both sides by Pennine Walls which wee built out of stone from the
area in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.
No mortar was used and repairs have been made as needed down through
time. Running through Mug Mill is Smithy
Brook. Thornhill is set upon a hill with
a flat top. On this hill is the parish
church of Thornhill dedicated to St. Michael.
Thornhill is in Yorkshire,
England. Joseph spent a good share of
his young life moving from town to town in the Thornhill and Tong area of
Yorkshire. This is coal country, and at
the time of his birth, his father was listed as a coal miner, the profession
Joseph and most of this family later followed.
Richard and Hannah Hepworth had their son christened when he was about
one month old, 6 Oct 1816, in the Church of England parish of Thornhill.
Mary Hirst was born 8 Nov 1820 in
Drighlington, Yorkshire, England, the daughter of John Hirst and Jane
Dunwell.
Joseph and Mary were married 9 Apr
1837, when he was 20 and she was 16.
Joseph and Mary had thirteen
children, Richard (lived just over a month, dying in England), William (died at
age 12, in a mining accident? In England), Edmund (1841-1915, died age 74 in
Starr Valley, WY), the oldest child to emigrate, Squire (4 May 1843 – 26 Aug
1920, died age 77 in Elba, ID), Hannah (1845-1920, died age 75 in Salt Lake
City), Sarah (died at age 4 in England), James (1849-1937, died age 88 in
Bountiful, UT), Joseph (1850-1926, died in Bountiful, UT), Elizabeth (died at
age 4 in England), Ann (died at age 2 in England), Mary Jane (1855-1926, died
age 71 near Bear Lake, ID), Martha Annice (1858-1936, died age 78 in Butte,
MT), and Samuel (1860-1928, died age 68 in Salt Lake City). Of their seven sons, five lived to emigrate
to America. Of their six daughters,
three lived to emigrate to America.
Eight children, five sons and three daughters lived to old age in
America. Five children, two sons and
three daughters, died young in England.
Mary learned of the gospel from her
husband’s sister (to be confirmed). Mary
was baptized 26 Sep 1847 (or 11 Aug 1847).
Joseph was baptized about three months later on 19 Dec 1847. Joseph was 31 and Mary was 27 when they were
baptized.
In my Hepworth file, there is an
article written by Donald J. Hepworth titled, “Coal Mining in England” with
additional details. Our early Hepworth
ancestors were weavers, but the invention of automatic weaving machines put
them out of business. The first coal
mine in Yorkshire was opened in 1750 in Overton, just a few miles walk from
where our ancestors were living. We know
that Joseph Hepworth (1816) was a coal miner.
His father Richard was also a coal miner (NelLo H. Bassett, Feb. 1968,
in file). Often times a husband and a
wife worked as a team in the mines. The
man broke the coal loose and the his wife loaded it on to a wooden sled. A rope went around her neck, passed between
her legs to the sled which she pulled on hands and knees to the tunnel, where
she loaded the coal onto the car. Boys
as young as eight years of age were often miners; they could move about the low
ceilings more easily than men and could work in narrower coal seams, so they
were actually desired by the mine owners.
They often pulled the coal cars to the main tunnels on hands and knees,
with a chanin around their necks, passing between their legs to the cars, a
second boy pushing from behind. Miners
were paid by the ton, not by the hour, regardless of the coal seam. The work day was typically ten hours, six
days a week. During the winter season,
miners often entered the mines before sun up and left after sundown. Mine foremen would put their friends and
relatives in the thicker seams where they could produce more coal easier and
faster.
Explosions were common. In 1851, an explosion killed William Hepworth
who was only 12 years old. Edmund, who
was 10, had been working at his side, but had just stepped up the line. He returned to find his brother buried in
rock and coal. William lived four days,
but died with internal injuries. Coal
dust was the greatest hazard, killing more miners than explosions. Weakened lungs were more susceptible to lung
infections; miners rarely lived to a normal old age. The mine at Overton, where Joseph and his
sons worked, has been made a national museum open to the public.
The following is typed from a letter
handwritten by Joseph Hepworth from England to his family in America. It is typed as written, in the original
spelling. Squire and Emily had arrived
in Salt Lake City on 4 Oct 1864.
Nethertown Drighlington May 29th 1865
Dear Sons and Daughters,
I now take up my pen to write a few
lines to you in answer to your letter which came to hand on the 6th of
March. I hope you will excuse me for my
neglect as you wrote in your letter that you have wrote 4 letters but we have
only received one and we was very thankful for that. We was verry (sic) thankful to hear of the
safe arrival of Squire and his dear wife and child. We was glad to hear that you was living so
near each other. O how I long for the
time when we shall have the priviledge (sic) to behold each others face
again. I feel truly thankfull that I
have still a standing in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and I
say to Dear sons and Daughters be faithful and live your religion for it will
be through our faithfulness if ever we be permitted to meet together
again. I feel to say the Lord bless you
with every thing your hearts can desire in righteousness. We are here in Old Babylon sorounded (sic)
with wickedness on every hand and the word of the Lord is come out of her my
people lest you be partakers of her plagues.
I have had the Demick in my right hand.
I have had to play 7 weeks. I am
verry thankfull to my father in heaven that I have the priviledge to commence
work again but we have a verry poor place at the present and when we shall be
able to gather means to emigrate ourselves from these lands with I don’t know
but the Lord has said that he will gather his elect from the four corners of
the earth and if we be his elect we have the promise and it is the promises of
the Lord that stimulates us to go on.
Was it not for the hope that we had within us we should die in
despair. I am truly thankful for the
testimony that I have in the work in which we are engaged for truly it is the
work of the Lord. We have some rejoicing times here. There has been 6 added to the church by
baptism from Birkenshaw. The following
are the names thereof. George Schofield
and Henry Schofield, Joseph Haigh, Joseph Renton, John Freel, James
Gibson. Drighlington Branch is in a good
Condition. It consists of 2 officers at
the present, 3 Elders, 2 priests, 2 teachers, 1 Deacon besides the
president. We held about 26 meetings
outdoors last Summer. We have commenced
out door preaching this summer. We have
already held 15 meetings outdoors at Holm Lane end Birkenshaw and Drightlington
& Adwalton & Burley & Dewsbury & Bathe & Batley carr
heckmondwike. We held Counsel on Sunday
the 2nd of May at Westgate Hill at Sister Cowlings. President Hodge gave counsel that we should
hold 30 meetings next month. The wether
been favorable. I have to go to Holm
Lane end burley Cleckeaton Birkinshaw and Gomertal. Brother Thomas Turner has to go to Dewsbury
batter carr Bathey heckmondwicke & Birkinshaw bottoms. Brother Stockdale has to go to Drightlington
and Dwolton Gildersome Merstall and Tong.
You will see by this that we shall not get rusty. I ever pray that God will bless us with a
portion of his holy Spirrit that we might have strength given us to go forth
and perform the labour assigned us that we might accomplish some good. We are all well at the present. Mother Cowling is not so verry well. The Batley folks are all pretty well at the
present. Eurleys Uncle John Hobson is
dead and buried. I was going to tell you
the date but I have forgot and I can’t find the card. Sister Hobson has been confined of a daughter
and it is living. They are all well for
any thing that I now. She would like to
hear from her two sons in the valey as she as not heard any thing since after
they left this country. Your mother
dyson has also buried her child. The
rest of the folks are all well for any thing that I know. Your Uncle Coup.. desires to be remembered to
you along with your ant. Martha Rustrick
is working in the Brick yard and albert Withmina is working at the mill. They are all getting along first rate. Your ant Sarah Oxley wishes to be remmebered
and wishes you to tell your ant Mary Thornton.
She would very much like a letter from her as she as been silent ever
since he got to the valey. She thinks
that she is not sattisfied with her position.
There is so many false reports conserning the Latter day Saints as a
people. She would feel better satisfied
had sister Mary to write a letter to her. I was at bentons yesterday and he
desires to hear from his wife Polly.
They are all well. James as got
married. James Wells is dead and they
have taken Thomas Wells to the asylum.
Your ant Harriot wants to know if there is any room for her in the valey
and if there is any souring when she gets there. Please to remmber me to all inquiring
friends. I will write again soon and
give you all particulars that I can. I
remain your affectionate father in the Gospel.
Joseph Hepworth
Comments by Nel Lo H. Bassett:
- “mother dyson” is Amelia Dyson (formerly Lambert), the
mother of Emily Dyson (wife of Squire Hepworth), and is a sister to
“Sister Hobson,” Ann Hobson (formerly Lambert), widow of John Hobson. Joseph Hepworth, the writer of this
letter, later married her. They
lived in Oxford, ID and were buried there.
- In England it is the custom for all members of a family
to refer to a mother-in-law as mother.
The following is a letter written by
Joseph Hepworth, the son of Joseph Hepworth and Mary Hirst. Nel Lo H. Bassett commented that this letter
was copied from a copy of Mary S. Hepworth of Grover, WY, who said the spelling
was copied as it was on the original letter.
We do not know where the original letter is. The mother that Joseph referred to as seeing
in Batley was Ann Hobson formerly Lambert, who later married Joseph Hepworth,
Sr. Ann Hobson emigrated on the ship
Wisconsin on 2 Jul 1873. Joseph
Hepworth, Sr. had emigrated on the ship Idaho almost three years earlier on 7
Sep 1870. We do not know when Mary Hirst
Hepworth emigrated, but it was earlier than her husband Joseph. Amelia Lambert Dyson is a sister to Ann
Lambert Dobson, and is also the mother of Emily Dyson, who married Squire
Hepworth in England and emigrated with him to America.
Norwood Green
near Hipperholme
Nov. 15, 1871
To Mr. Joseph Hepworth Senior
My Dear Father,
We received your kind welcome letter
on the 16th of October and another one addressed to Brother Joshua
Wells on the 30th and we are all very much pleased to hear from you
and as I am the scirbe (sic) that is selected to return unto you our
compliments and gratitude I will begin with myself. The first you say in your letter that you
hope that I have not forgot that I have a father and brothers in the land of
the liveing (sic) and you all very anciously (sic) waiting to hear a something
from me, also that Brother James cannot tell you all that you want to
know. True it is a very difficult task
fro one to tell something theat (sic) he don’t know himself, neither do I think
that I shall be able to tell you all you want to know, nevertheless, I may
perhaps give you rather more satisfactorily information on some particular
points but not much, but if I can say anything in regards to anything else that
you want to know, that will afford any satisfaction, pleasure, comfort or
consolation I shall be very much pleased.
After I received your letter, I went to Batley at the end of the
week. Read the contents thereof to
Mother she had some visitors from Halifax, consequently this prevented us from
haveing (sic) much conversation, that is in regard to the welcome news that we
had from you and as to what I were to say to you when I wrote back to you. It being the council day the following Sunday
I thought it proper to defer writing to you an answer until that time. The time came and I had a short talk with
Mother, she wishes to be kindly remembered to you would like to be with you as
soon as possible. She has been rather
sick, once she told her sister, Amelia.
Amelia was going to write to her daughter Emily at the same time and I
guess you hear of it. I think that is
all that is or has been has rong (sic).
So far as I can assertain (sic), only the inconvenient circumstances
that we are placed in, which we ourselves cannot very well control. Mother and Jesse and Alma has been on the
strike for wages. Mother was on the
strike for a week, Jesse for a fortnight.
They gone in again. They did
advance the wages 2 schillings per week, previous to their striking, but a few
of the hands were not sattisfied (sic), hence they struck out and the others
were locked out. They have gone in again
but not with a second advance of wages.
Mother and the boys are doing pretty well just know. She says that she intends to come to America
the next season if possible. Wether
(sic) she can come right through or not she will not be able to come right
through except there is some assistance from some other source and even if she
could come right through she does not wish or desire to do so without calling
to see her children. She does not know,
however, she would accomplish the task.
Tis six months since we heard anything from Sarrah (sic). Mother begins to feel very uneasy about her
and the last time that Alice wrote she was liveing (sic) with William Woodhead. She told us not to write to her again till
she had wrote to us as she was thinking to remove everday (sic) but she did not
know where she would have to go therefore I guess you will have some idea how
these things will affect the heart of a well wishing, kind, loveing, (sic)
anxious Mother. I never heard anything
from my Mother that bore me except what you say in your letters that she is
going to send me some money to come out there with. I have not heard any signs of any money only
what you say, I think Mother cannot get a confidential scribe to write for her
else I think she would write to me or send me some information. Neither does sister Hannah write to me. I do believe that if they could write for
themselves that they would do so. There
is a portion of the truth in the saying of the poet:
All
those who would be happy men
Here
lies a presious (sic) portion in the pen
Therefore
take care and learn to use this tool
For
he who wants it looks much like a fool.
not that I wish to find fault with
anyone that cannot write, not so but merely to show that what a great advantage
it does aford (sic) to those that are fameliar (sic) with its use and how
awkward and inconvenient it is to them poor dependent creatures that can’t
write for themselves. I should be glad
to hear from my Mother and sister Hannah if they could get anyone to pen them a
few lines. I have not heard anything
from Richard Bee or Mary Jane since I got the draft. He said then that they were going to a new
settlement. I will write to them when I
know wether (sic) they have got nicely settled.
I am like you, I am always anxiously waiting to hear a something from
all of you or any of you that think proper or that can or have convenience to
write. I fully expected to hear or see a
budget from James but I understand pretty near, I guess he is too busy with the
girls. Well never, mind, but I’m not so
young as I used to be. How do ye think I
feel just now?
Now,
James, my lad, if you have any time, Just sit down and listen
TO
my merry rhyme.
You
may have all the girls that you like by your side,
And
they too may listen and I will not chide.
I
want thee to tell me what sights thou hast seen
Since
thee and me parted when at Norwood Green.
From
Pickle Bridge station to Liverpool thou went
And
how didst thou like the little time that thou spent?
You
know very well, James, that I’ve never been
Not
many miles further than here Norwood Green.
I’ve
ne’er seen any shipping, don’t know what tis like
Because
I’ve never been much further than Wike.
And
now, my dear lad, you’ve been over the sea
And
what thou saw there will thou tell to me?
What
circumstance occurred that was worthy of date?
What
sights met thy gaze that thou canst relate?
When
over the sea thou was quickly wafted o’er
Thou
wouldst see many sights that thou ne’er saw before.
From
New York to Odgen and then to Salt Lake
Thou
wouldst see many things that one might relate.
If
thou rode in the train and it went too fast,
Thou
would see haystack and tree and all things fly past.
If
thy mind were distracted while going all that way,
That
nothing attracted, just hear me I pray.
You
would get to your home which long you desired..
And
maybe I guess you would feel very tired.
But
when you had rested and come to yourself,
Say,
did you see nothing on the floor or the shelf?
I
mean in the house or about where you live
That
would please us or tease us or make us all grieve.
And
now, my dear lad, tell us if you can
What
sights you have seen, there come, thats a man (sic).
You
need not to bother to put it in rhyme
It
will do if blank verse, line after line,
But
rhyme if you like, it will just do as well.
Write
plain as you can so as we can tell
Don’t
say that you can’t or you would if you could.
Just
sit down and try, you will find it more good.
The
girls they will help you, I know, if they can
Because
we help Adam and he was a man.
They
were made for that prupose (sic) deny it who can
That
God created Eve, a helpmeat (sic) for man
I
am what I am whatever betide.
(Longfellow)
This is how the letter ends. It was written 15 Nov 1871 by Joseph Hepworth
in reply to his father Joseph, Senior, who had written 16 Oct 1871. The first Mother he refers to is his future
step mother. The second Mother (“that
bore me”) is his biological mother, Mary Hirst Hepworth. James, to whom he writes the poem, is his
brother, just nine months older than him.
All of his older living siblings had already emigrated to America. He was still waiting in England. At this time, he was 21. James was 22.
Their sister Hannah was 26 and married. They had a sister, Sarah, but
she died at the age of 4, as did a sister Ann, at age 2, and a sister
Elizabeth, at age 4. I’m not sure who
the Sarrah is whom he refers to. Mary
Jane was his younger sister, 15 at the time, almost 16 (on 23 Dec), who was
already married to Richard Bee, age 20.
Their married brothers, Squire and Edmund, were 28 and 30,
respectively. Their parents, Joseph and
Mary, were 55 and 51.
Mary Hirst Hepworth was endowed 6
Jun 1870, at the age of 49, in the Endowment House. Three years later, Joseph was endowed 27 Oct
1873, at the age of 57, in the Endowment House, two years after he emigrated on
the ship Idaho on 7 Sep 1870.
Joseph Hepworth died in Oxford,
Oneida County, ID, 18 Apr 1878, at the age of 62, and was buried in Salt Lake
City. Mary died 25 years later, in Salt
Lake City, 21 Sep 1903, at the age of 83, and was buried in the City Cemetery,
Salt Lake City.
They were sealed to each other 14
Apr 1897 in the Salt Lake Temple, 19 years after Joseph died, and when Mary was
76 years old, 7 years before she passed away.
Joseph and Mary were sealed to their parents by proxy 27 Nov 1945.
NelLo H. Bassett of Springville, UT
has done extensive research and has very organized files of vital documentation
on the Hepworth/Hirst ancestry. Her
daughter in Shingle Springs, CA, is the back up researcher.
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