Notes
Note N143
Index
1841 CENSUS: (ancestry.Com)
Dwelling: Burton Overy, LEI (Billesdon)
Source: HO107/589/12
Ann HILL, 35, Shoe Maker, No
John HILL, 15, No
James HILL, 14, No
Sarah HILL, 12, No
Esther HILL, 10, No
Notes
Note N144
Index
United States Census, 1900 for Sarah Measom
name: Sarah Measom
titles:
residence: Benjamin, Lakeshore Precincts, Utah, Utah
birth date: Aug 1829
birthplace: England
relationship to head-of-household: Mother
spouse name:
spouse titles:
spouse birth place:
father name:
father titles:
father birthplace: England
mother name:
mother titles:
mother birthplace: England
race or color (expanded): White
head-of-household name: Thomas Measom
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
years married:
estimated marriage year:
mother how many children: 11
number living children: 8
immigration year: 1870
enumeration district: 0155
sheet number and letter: 9B
household id: 145
reference number: 74
gsu film number: 1241687
image number: 00094
Household Gender Age
child Thomas Measom M
Sarah J. Measom F
Phebe Measom F
Roy Measom M
Annie Measom F
James Measom M
Sarah Measom F
Notes
Note N145
Index
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/tilley/histories/Sarah%20Hill%20Measom.pdf
Sarah Hill Measom
This biography of Sarah Hill Measom who came to Utah September 1870, was written by her daughter Phillis Ann Measom Beckstrom for Camp Lake Shore Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of Utah County, Lake Shore, Utah, 19 August 1939.
My mother, Sarah Hill Measom, was born August 19, 1829 in Poona, India. Poona is about one hundred miles from Bombay.
Mother was the daughter of James and Ann Jarvis Hill. Grandfather Hill was called into military service when a young man in England. He was born at England, Leicestershire, Burton Overy, March 1, 1801. In the spring of 1822, he married Ann Jarvis and they lived in Ireland, County Dublin, Dublin until August 1822. On August 11, 1822 he wrote a letter to his parents in Burton Overy, England. This one hundred seventeen year old letter is still a treasured keep-sake in the Measom family and after all these years is easily read, the ink has not faded at all. In this letter my grandfather tells his parents that he is to go with the British Army to India. So, with his young bride he sailed for India in August 1822, where they resided for the next twelve years. Here their four children, James, John, Sarah and Esther were born.
In 1834 Grandfather was called into active service; therefore he sent Grandmother and the children back to England to her own people.
During the war, Grandfather Hill suffered many hardships and privations in the army and finally died of starvation.
Grandmother Hill was a mid-wife; she practiced in England for many years and reared her family never remarrying. In her later life she became blind. I remember when I was a small child of carrying her dinner to her each Sunday; my mother always prepared the Sunday dinner. Grandmother's home was only a short distance from ours, and as long as our family lived in England, we helped Grandmother in her home and in taking food to her.
My father Thomas Measom, was born in Burton Overy, England, January 1, 1827, the son of James and Pheobe Atkinson Measom. He married my mother in Burton Overy in 1847. Eleven children were born to them: Ellen, Emily, Job, Charles, Pheobe, Agnes, Rosetta, Phillis Ann, Henrietta, Thomas J., and James A. Measom. Of this large family, I am the only one remaining; all my brothers and sisters have preceded me in death.
My parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England; they had perfect faith in God and in the work which he had established; when they bought their home in England, my father made the statement, "This will take us to America" which it did. At that time it was a rare thing for a person to own his home, so in this my parents were fortunate indeed.
Father owned a pony and cart, he used this much as delivery wagons are used here. They had a few rods of land on which they raised a fine garden each year. They also kept bees. Mother did much sewing and knitting, when my brother Charles was only three days old, an order was received for hoods and scarves for the soldiers. Mother was propped up in bed and knitted each day until the order was filled.
Mother reserved the best room in our home for the Elders. She did this for more than fifteen years. Thus, she lived in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths. Then the time arrived that our family were prepared to leave England and gather with the Saints in Utah. In bidding farewell to her friends, one special friend and distant relative, Mary Measom said, "Good-bye Sarah Measom. I shall never see you again." Mother answered, "No Mary, but you will see two of my sons, who shall come back here on missions." These prophetic words uttered by Mother were literally fulfilled more than twenty years later when my brother, Charles called at her home to make a visit; he being there a missionary for our church. As he was taking his leave Mary said, "Well Charles, I am happy to have lived to see this day." Then she repeated the words of farewell by Mother and said, "It is now literally fulfilled, for your brother Job came to see me when he was a missionary here and today you have come. So of a truth, I have in reality lived to see two of Sarah's sons and to hear messages of truth delivered by them."
Our family came to America in September 1870. My sister Ellen and my brother Job had been in America then for nearly two years. They came in 1868. We located in Spanish Fork, Utah. The migration of our people required the greatest of sacrifice, the greatest of faith, the greatest of courage, yet they did not hesitate. Mother left my grandmother in England, aged and blind; and why? Because she had perfect faith in God, in her religion and in the leaders of this church, she said, "There is only one real failure in life and that is to not be true to the best one knows."
They sailed in the ship Mayflower. This was its last trip. It sank on its return voyage. After arriving in Utah, they still had to work very hard. My father, never a real healthy man was now in very poor health; thus leaving Mother with added responsibility in order that the family be properly maintained. Here again she displayed her great faith and industry, but along with their industry, one might almost say--an intense love of industry with ruggedness of strength, a forthrightness and a deep sense of being square with other people. Toil, the mountains, the great out-of-doors, and their religion tended to make them so. They were independent; they stood on their own feet. To be sure they had their weaknesses, but these weaknesses were not so manifest in the field of substantial virtues; honesty, truthworthiness, independence as in the lesser things.
They had come to Mormonism from another creed. That had meant a decision on their part, an effort to make up their minds very definitely. They had remained true to their newfound faith under the most trying conditions. All of this required enormous courage and faith; always they walked by the light of faith.
While residing in Spanish Fork, Mother continued her work of knitting. She was a professional dressmaker and milliner, doing all her sewing by hand. She also made fine quilted petticoats which were much in demand and brought a very good price. Besides this and her housework, she went our nursing for many years. As a side issue, she dried fruit of many kinds.
So hers was a busy life, requiring much patience and industry. She died at Lake Shore, Utah, December 4, 1909 at the age of eighty years. She was buried at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
Dear Mother, your much loved face is no longer seen, but your children will still keep your memory green. And each natal day as the years hurry past, we will honor you more than we did on the last, for you left us a heritage that will endure. You left us a faith that is strong and secure. You left us a home in the heart of the hills, with wide-spreading fields and pure crystal rills.
==========
8.% Sarah HILL, b.%Abt.1850, Burton Overy, LEI
FREE BMD:
Births Jun 1851 Hill Sarah Billesdon 15-58
Occupation: 1851 - (with Mother Burton Overy, LEI)
1861 - (Visitor with BANKS family DBY)
1871 - Nil found
1861 CENSUS: (Ancestry.Com)
Dwelling: 4 Market Place, Burton Upon Trent, DBY (Burton Upon Trent)
RG9/1964/92/11
Thomas BANKS, Head, M, 31, Fishmonger, b.Newcastle, STS
Elizabeth BANKS, Wife, M, 24, b.Newcastle, STS
Sarah HILL, Visitor, S, 11, b.Burton.
+#*(b) Thomas MEASOM, m.#15/1/1852, Burton Overy, LEI
b.#*(b) 1/1/1827, Burton Overy, LEI, c.# 27/1/1828, Burton Overy, LEI
Occupation: 1851 - Farm Labourer (with Parents Burton Overy, LEI)
1861 - Gen.Dealer (Burton Overy, LEI)
1880 - Farmer (Spanish Fork, Utah)
Died:*(b) 9/10/1883, Spanish Fork, Utah, USA
Buried: # 12/10/1883, Spanish Fork Cemetery, Utah
Parents: # James MEASOM and Phebe ATKINSON
To: USA - Bet 1870-1872
1851 CENSUS: (Ancestry.Com) (Hard to read)
Dwelling: Burton Overy, LEI (Billesdon)
Source; HO107/2080/199/19
James MEASOM, Head, M, 44, Farm Labourer, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Peby MEASOM, Wife, M, 44, b.Kabworth, LEI
Thomas MEASOM, Son, S, 23, Farm Labourer, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Hannah MEASOM, Dau, S, 16, Shoe ...nller, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Sally? MEASOM, Dau, 10, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Emma MEASOM, Dau, 5, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Ely MEASOM, Son, 4?, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
1861 CENSUS: (Ancestry.Com)
Dwelling: Burton Overy, LEI (Billesdon)
Source: RG9/2254/23/10
Thomas MEASOM, Head, M, 33, General Dealer, b.Burton Overy LEI
Sarah MEASOM, Wife, M, 31, Fancy Hosiery Knitter, b.poonah, East India (Brit Subject)
Ellen Hill MEASOM, Dau, S, 12, Fancy Hosiery Knitter, b. Burton Overy, LEI
Job MEASOM, Son, 8, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Charles MEASOM, Son, 6, Scholar, b.Burton Overy LEI
Phoebe MEASOM, Dau, 4, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
Agnes MEASOM, Dau, 2, Scholar, b.Burton Overy, LEI
1880 US CENSUS: (IGI & confirmed with USA Census)
Census Place Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah
Family History Library Film 1255338
NA Film Number T9-1338
Page Number 199C
Thomas MEASON Self M Male W 53 ENGL Farmer ENGL ENGL
Sarah MEASON Wife M Female W 50 EAST INDIES Keeping House EAST INDIES EAST INDIES
Rozette R. T. MEASON Dau S Female W 19 ENGL At Home ENGL EAST INDIES
Phillis Ann MEASON Dau S Female W 17 ENGL At Home ENGL EAST INDIES
Henrietta MEASON Dau S Female W 14 ENGL At Home ENGL EAST INDIES
Thomas MEASON Son S Male W 12 ENGL Labourer ENGL EAST INDIES
James MEASON Son S Male W 8 UT ENGL EAST INDIES
[note - details about Sarah Hill m Thomas Measom is erroneous - should be 1829 not 1850 - so puts questions agains the 1861 census details]
============
==========
[S1427] Osterman files, compiled by David L. Osterman [(E-ADDRESS), & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Pleasanton, CA.
[S23] Book of Remembrance (Nancy Lynn Boulter), Patterson, Marjorie Smith, (Genealogy including pedigree and family group sheets for Nancy Lynn Boulter. Compiled by Marjorie Smith (Patterson) and Spencer Measom Patterson and given to Nancy for Christmas 1973. Some information added later.), Research done by James and Therese Measom, Spanish Fork, Utah (Reliability: 2), 9 Mar 2006.
[S20] EDITH5.GED, compiled by Lynn James Boulter [(E-ADDRESS), & MAILING ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Sandy, UT, 84070.
[S2150] 1851 England Census, Ancestry.com, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Data imaged from the National), Class: HO107; Piece: 2080; Folio: 199; Page: 19; GSU roll: 87706. (Reliability: 4).
Birth date: abt 1828Birth place: Burton Overy, Leicestershire, EnglandResidence date: 1851Residence place: Burton Overy, Leicestershire, England
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=uki1851&h=9591162&ti=0&indiv=try &gss=pt
[S2135] Utah County, Utah Cemetery Index, Utah Valley Regional Family History Center, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1998.Original data - Utah Valley Regional Family History Center. Utah County (UT) Cemetery Index. Provo, UT, USA: Utah Valley Regional Family History Center, 1997.Original data: Utah Valle).
Birth date: 01 January 1827Birth place: Death date: 09 October 1883Death place: Utah, Utah
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=utah&h=53697&ti=0&indiv=try&gss= pt
[S23] Book of Remembrance (Nancy Lynn Boulter), Patterson, Marjorie Smith, (Genealogy including pedigree and family group sheets for Nancy Lynn Boulter. Compiled by Marjorie Smith (Patterson) and Spencer Measom Patterson and given to Nancy for Christmas 1973. Some information added later.).
[S2151] 1841 England Census, Ancestry.com, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from the National), Class: HO107; Civil Parish: Burton Overy; County: Leicestershire; Enumeration District: 8; Page: 12; Line: 10; GSU roll: 438741. (Reliability: 4).
Birth date: abt 1828Birth place: Leicestershire, EnglandResidence date: 1841Residence place: Burton Overy, Leicestershire, England
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=uki1841&h=6348318&ti=0&indiv=try &gss=pt
[S2152] 1861 England Census, Ancestry.com, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from the National), Class: RG9; Piece: 2254; Folio: 23; Page: 10; GSU roll: 542943. (Reliability: 4).
Birth date: abt 1828Birth place: Burton Overy, Leicestershire, EnglandResidence date: 1861Residence place: Burton Overy, Leicestershire, England
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=uki1861&h=21489682&ti=0&indiv=tr y&gss=pt
[S23] Book of Remembrance (Nancy Lynn Boulter), Patterson, Marjorie Smith, (Genealogy including pedigree and family group sheets for Nancy Lynn Boulter. Compiled by Marjorie Smith (Patterson) and Spencer Measom Patterson and given to Nancy for Christmas 1973. Some information added later.), See Detail Text for sources of information (Reliability: 2), 9 Mar 2006.
1. Tur Langton Civil records
2. Gen. register on births and deaths in India
3. Husband's military records [James Bird aka James Hill]
4. Brighton Register
5. Wife death certificate [Ann Jarvis]
Researched by Betty Ruth Brockbank Jenson
65 East 2nd South
Spanish Fork, Utah
Husband went by name of BIRD in military. [Children] #'s 1,2,7,8 went by name of BIRD. #'s 3,4,5,6 used HILL surname
==========
Scott and Amy Jensen Ancestry
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~amyandscottancestry/ index_files/SarahHillP1.htm
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF SARAH HILL1
Born: August 19, 1829
Died: December 4, 1909
When James Bird Hill, son of James and Catherine Bird Hill, was about 19 years old, he enlisted for unlimited service in the 2nd Queen’s Royal Regiment of Foot at Birmingham, England on January 4, 1819.
On September 18, 1820 he married 17 year old Ann Jarvis, daughter of James and Sarah Bullock Jarvis at Birmingham, Warwick, England.
Apparently, the soldier’s wives were allowed to go where their husbands were assigned most of the time, for we know that Ann went with Private James Bird Hill to Dublin, Ireland and later to the West Indies. Eight children were born to them during the eighteen and a half years of their marriage, but only four of them lived. They were John, James, Esther, and Sarah. Sara was born August 19, 1829 at Poona, Mahatashra, India.
Sarah had lived in India for ten years when her father died July 31, 1839 of a disease after taking part in the famous storming of the Ghazni, Afghanistan. He was entitled to his share of the Ghazni prize money and this was given to his widow, Ann Bird Hill, who was residing with their family at Poona, India (Poona is about 100 miles from Bombay, India).
Note: James Bird Hill’s granddaughter, Phyllis Measom Beckstrom, wrote that her grandfather suffered many hardships and privations in the army and that his death was the result of starvation.
It must have been very difficult for the remaining family members whose souls were already filled with grief from the loss of husband and father, when in less than a month after his death, the lastborn son, Thomas, died.
It was no wonder that now, after 12 years of being away from her native country England, Sarah’s mother Ann longed to go home. The army sent her and the four children to Burton Overy, England to live with James’ parents. The voyage took four months and fourteen days, and was worrisome and tedious enough for Ann that she never wanted to sail the ocean again.
Sarah’s mother never remarried. She was a midwife and practiced in England for many years as she raised her family.
Sarah Hill was eighteen years old (in 1847) when she married Thomas Measom, son of James and Phoebe Atkinson Measom, at Burton Overy, Leicester, England. They made their home in this beautiful little village of Thomas’ birth.
Within a few years after they had married, they heard the message of the Mormon Elders who represented the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thomas was baptized first, and Sarah was baptized a few years later on December 16, 1854 by Elder Nathan Meads in the Burton Overy Branch, Leicester Conference, British Mission. When they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they had faith in God and in his work which he had established.
Sarah and Thomas were to become parents of eleven children. Ten of them were born in Burton Overy, they were: Ellen, 1948; Emily, 1950, who died at eight years of age; Job, 1852; Charles, 1854, Phoebe, 1857, who died when she was almost twelve years old; Agnes, 1859; Rosetta, 1861; Phyllis, 1863; Henrietta, 1866; Thomas, 1868; and James Atkinson, 1872, who was born in Spanish Fork, Utah.
The death of one of their young daughters was caused from burns. Her nightgown caught on fire when she got too close to the fire in the fireplace. The little girl, with nightgown aflame, ran out into the yard and one of the neighbors saw her. He got over a wall that he thought was humanly impossible to get over, but he was too late. She was burned too badly and lost her life.
Sarah Measom was a woman of great faith. It was the custom for the saints in England to buy a suit of clothes for the LDS missionaries when they had completed their labors in the mission field there. They gave it as a farewell gift. One night they were giving a farewell party for a departing missionary. Thomas went over to where Sarah was sitting and very softly said, “Tonight we are to give our share of the money for the suit of clothes, and all we have is the rent money which is due. The landlord will ask us to leave if we don’t pay it now.” Sarah, whose faith was stronger than Thomas’, said, “Give it for the suit.”
Early the next morning Sarah and her sister went to a large meadow. After dividing it, each taking half, they started to look for mushrooms. Sarah gathered a large basket and also an apron full. Her sister had only been able to find a few mushrooms. Sarah said, “The Lord had helped me to get my rent money.” She sold the mushrooms and received three times the amount she needed for rent.
Thomas and his father James bought a mud and thatch cottage from the Earl of Stamford for five pounds each. This entitled them to vote at a time when only property owners could vote. Very few people owned their own property at this time. When he bought this home Thomas said, “Sarah, this will take us to America.” And it did.
Thomas and Sarah’s daughter Phyllis said, “I remember well my parent’s home in England. How, when I stood outside the house and looked up at it, I could see the moss clinging all over the walls and roof because the climate was so damp.
Inside the house there was a long room which mother kept polished so brightly that the floors and the furniture shone. My mother always kept the doors locked and the blinds down except when we had company. She kept that room especially for the Mormon missionaries to conduct their meetings there.”
This room was used as a gathering place for the Latter-day Saints in Burton Overy to hold their meetings. The missionaries were always welcome in their home, and Sarah reserved their best room for the Elders. She did this for more than 15 years. She lived in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths.
Thomas had injured his back while washing sheep and was not able to do hard work. Sarah did much sewing and knitting for hire to help with the finances. When baby Charles was only three days old (June 1854), Sarah received an order for hoods and scarves for the soldiers. Propped up in bed, Sarah knitted each day until the order was filled.
It was the desire of Thomas and Sarah to immigrate to America and Utah so that they could more fully live the gospel of Jesus Christ with the saints. Sarah labored and saved so that this dream might be realized.
Sometimes it was very difficult, if not impossible, for some of the saints to save enough money for all members of a family to immigrate to the new land of America at the same time. And so sometimes it was necessary to send some members of the family ahead and the others to follow as soon as proper arrangements could be made. Whether this was the reason or not, Sarah and Thomas sent their two older children to America a year before they left England. Ellen, age 21, and Job, age 18, sailed from Liverpool on October 6, 1869 with a group of saints on the ship Minnesota (see Thomas’ life history for more details).
The immigration of the Measom family required great sacrifices, great faith, and great courage, yet they did not hesitate. They exercised these virtues when they sent two of their children across the ocean before them into an unknown territory. They were also manifest when Thomas and Sarah said their goodbyes to a family and friends before leaving Burton Overy.
I can imagine that when Sarah kissed her mother goodbye, tears flowed freely down her face, for she could foresee that this would be the last time she would see her in this life. Ann was old and blind and did not want to sail the ocean again. Ann’s home was only a short distance from Sarah’s and she had received help in her home from the Measom family as well as having food sent to her, which included each Sunday a specially cooked meal. Now Sarah would have to rely on others to care for her beloved mother.
Phyllis stated, “Mother left my grandmother in England aged and blind, and why? Because she had perfect faith in God, in her religion, and in the leaders of the church.” And Sarah said, “There is only one real failure in life, and that is not to be true to the best one knows.”
In bidding goodbye to her friends, one special friend and distant relative, Mary Measom, said, “Goodbye Sarah, I shall never see you again.” Sarah replied, “No Mary, but you will see two of my sons who will come back here on missions.” These prophetic words were fulfilled more than 20 years later when her sons Charles and Job returned to England to serve on LDS missions.
On the shipping register Thomas Measom listed his age as 42 year old and Sarah’s age as 41 years old. Their children Charles, Agnes, Rosetta, Phyllis, Henrietta, and baby Thomas sailed with them. They paid cash for their tickets.
They sailed for New York with a group of 186 saints from Liverpool England with Elder Frank H. Hyde in charge. Their ship, a 2000 tons register, was named Idaho.
After leaving England, a severe storm arose and lashed at the vessel until it seemed as though the ship would sing. It would go down into the trough of the sea while those mountainous waves would dash over the deck of the ship. Thomas said, “We will never get to see America.” Sarah replied, “Of course we shall; where is your faith? There are too many saints on board for the ship to sink.” The saints knelt and prayed for their safety. The terrible storm abated and the ship landed safely in New York Harbor on September 21, 1870. The Measoms disembarked, thankful for God’s mercy. Sarah later said that she felt that the eleven elders on board the ship is what helped to save them.
From New York they traveled by rail and arrived at Ogden, Utah October 1, 1870. More than likely someone met them at the railroad station with a team and wagon and they began the three day journey to their destination of Spanish Fork, Utah.
In Spanish Fork Thomas found work on John Beck’s farm (the girls worked for him in the dairy). They all had to work very hard. Thomas, never a healthy man, was now in very poor health. This left Sarah with added responsibility to see that the family was properly maintained.
Sarah’s daughter Phyllis wrote, “Here again mother displayed her great faith and industry; but along with this industry, one might almost say, an intense love on industry with a ruggedness of strength; a forthrightness and a deep sense of being square with other people. Toil, the mountains, the great out-of-doors, and their religion tended to make them so. They were independent; they stood upon their own feet. To be sure they had their weaknesses, but these weaknesses were not so manifest in the fields of substantial virtues--honesty, trustworthiness, independence--as in the lesser things.”
They had come to Mormonism from another creed. That had meant a decision on their part, an effort to make up their minds very definitely. They had remained true to their newfound faith under the most trying conditions. All of this required enormous courage and faith…always, they walked by the light of faith.
While residing in Spanish Fork Sarah continued her work of knitting. She was a professional dressmaker and milliner. She helped Emma D. Rees in her milliner shop. She also made fine quilted petticoats which were much in demand and brought a good price. Together with this and her housework, she went out nursing for many years. As a side issue she cut and dried fruit of all kinds. Hers was a busy life requiring much patience and industry.
Her children married and had children. She was an inspiration to them. They looked to her for advice and sympathy.
Sarah had one more child after they immigrated to America. They named him James Atkinson Measom and he was born one and one half years after they settled in Spanish Fork on June 12, 1872. He was their eleventh and last child.
Sarah’s husband Thomas passed away on October 9, 1883 in Spanish Fork, Utah; thirteen years to the month after they arrived in Utah. Sarah was left to carry on alone.
When Thomas passed away, Henrietta, Thomas J. and James A. were not married and Sarah worked to provide for them. She was a widow for 26 years.
As Sarah grew older and wasn’t able to care for herself, she moved to her son Thomas Measom’s, home in Lake Shore, Utah ([Beth Jensen] made a note that the Thomas Measom-Sarah Hill records of the LDS Spanish Fork ward was sent to Lake Shore March 5, 1902).
The family celebrated Sarah’s 80th birthday as follows:
The eightieth birthday of Sarah Measom was very peaceably spent at the residence of her son, Thomas Measom, in Lake Shore August 19, 1909
The day’s pleasures began by all singing “Now Let Us Rejoice in the Day of Salvation.”
Henry Tilley bid all welcome, and praised the noble worth of Sister Measom. He had seen her labor and save that she might bring her family to Utah; she had accomplished this and had been a true mother and friend to us all. There were eighty one present, one for each year she had lived and one for good measure, who partook of the beautiful dinner and afternoon social.
At dinner, Charles Measom said the first meal the Measom family ate in Spanish Fork was at the expense of William Jesc (Jex).
Brother William Jesc responded, “And the last one I have eaten was at a greater expense of the Measom family.” Brother Jesc said the hymn that had been sung was the first hymn he had heard in a Mormon meeting in England, and it impressed him; so he began to inquire into the principles of Mormonism, and found them true, and had accepted the same, and felt glad of the many blessings he had had honor of the same. He said the early friendship he had with the Measom family had grown stronger and he felt their joy and their sorrow. He asked the young to always remember what their parents had brought them to this land for and to never grow cold in the faith. “It is good to look back once in a while, compare our humble fare thirty-nine years ago to this splendid spread today, and see what a great change, and thank God for it.” He said he hoped Sister Measom and family would be blessed, as they have already been.
Singing: “An Angel From on High”
Recitation by Leonard Beckstrom
Singing: “Dreaming on the Silvery Rio Grande,” by Hortense Anderson
Sketch of Sarah Measom’s Life given by Phyllis Anderson Hone:
We have met today to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of one of the early settlers of this state, one whose hand has been uplifted in the cause of the right for many years, who has been a worthy and honored mother and a faithful wife.
This noble woman who has stood the tide of time so well and so long was born far away on one of the sunny isles of the East Indies in Poona, August 19, 1829.
Here her childhood was spent, where beautiful birds and flowers forever enjoy summertime and chattering monkeys play tricks in the palm trees. In 1839 when she was ten years old, her father, James Hill was killed [he died of a disease, not wounds] at the battle of Can Bull.
Her mother, Ann Hill, longed for her native land after her husband’s death, and returned to England, taking her children, two sons and two daughters, with her. They were four months and fourteen days upon this tiresome journey, and then settled in Burton Overy, Leicester, England, contented to have England’s sun in the summer and snow in the winter.
In December 1848, at the age of nineteen, she was married to Thomas Measom. They made their home in England, and in the summer of their lives, when happy children’s voices made tired limbs rest, they left their home and embarked on the vessel “Idaho,” at Liverpool. This was in 1870 when Gran was forty-one years old.
Her husband had been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1955. She did not join the church until two years after he did. When landing they came to Utah, the home of the saints, and came to dwell at Spanish Fork. They settled on a farm and were blessed and prospered.
She has been the mother of eleven children, forty-three grandchildren, and thirty-nine great grandchildren. Ten children were born in England and one, named James, was born in Spanish Fork.
Her husband died in 1883, leaving her with the responsibility of raising her younger children. She was then fifty-four years old. With a heart like hers she shouldered the burden and trudged on. She has lived to see her children grown and has stood by them in joy and in sorrow.
She has blessed the day she has seen her sons to go to her native land to carry the tidings which brought her across the sea.
She has lived worthy of honor from children and grandchildren and today children of her children’s children come to take her hand and wish her yet to live to see many happy returns of the day.
She has been a widow twenty-six years. When age prevented her to do the work of her home, she went to live with her youngest son.
Grandmother, we cannot tell you how proud we are of your life and your presence here today. We need you, and have needed your advice and sympathy. You who have been lowly and lonely find support and company now offered you from many hands. You have tasted the bitter and quaffed the sweet, may God bless you even more in the future than he has in the past.
May health and comfort fill your days forever; may you always have cause to feel as proud of us, your children, as we feel of you, the mother of our mothers and the guiding star of your family.
Charles Measom said, when the family left England, his mother when parting from a friend the friend said, “Goodbye Sarah, I may never see you again.” “No,” mother said, “but my two boys will come back on missions and you will see them.” When he was in England he visited this old lady and she said, “Well, your mother’s words have come true. Your brother Job, when he was here, came to see me and now you have come.” He sang her a hymn and they rejoiced together.
Music by Etta Anderson, age ten
Song by Thomas Measom
Music by Phoebe Anderson
Paper (comic) The Measom Family, by Phoebe Measom
Phyllis Beckstrom and company sang, “The Wild River.”
Song, “Just Set a Light,” by Rose Marcham
Recitation by Charles Measom, age seven
Song by Thomas Patterson
Song by Joseph Francis
Verses composed by Annie Francis read by her
All sang, “Count Your Many Blessings”
Many other old-time songs were sung by Henry Tilley and wife and Brother William Jesc. After a short time was spent on the lawn, supper was served and candy, nuts, melons, and games wore the evening away, when all returned home hoping to have Grandma Measom with us many more years.
S. S. M.
The following poem was given at Sarah Hill Measom’s 80th birthday program:
TO GRANDMA MEASOM
It is eighty long years ago today,
Since a little babe in your mother’s arms you lay.
What lot would be thine no one could foresee.
They little thought of your crossing the sea.
That the gospel truths you would embrace.
Bringing comfort and cheer with your kind dear face.
That many years of usefulness would be your fate.
In the far off land; fair Utah State.
But the gospel’s true plan your heart did touch
To embrace them you did sacrifice much.
But through all trials you have faithfully stood
Firmly and earnestly upholding the good
Let all of us here your example take.
And strive your good deeds to emulate.
That the world might be better for our living here
So let’s try to shun evil and the Lord ever fear.
From childhood to old age you have faithful been
To comfort and help others as all here have seen.
And now in your old age may their kindness to you
Be constant, earnest, watchful and true
May God’s peaceful spirit, Dear sister be thine
To cheer you along till the end of your time.
May your remaining years in joy be spent,
Surrounded by your children in sweet content.
(end of program)
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Sarah had been rebaptized a year after immigrating to Utah, on August 13, 1871 by James G. Higginson, confirmed by James Boyack Jr.
Sarah and Thomas were endowed October 12, 1872 and sealed the same day in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Sarah was rebaptized again on September 6, 1877 by James G. Higginson, confirmed by James Anderson.
When they first moved to Spanish Fork they were in Spanish Fork Ward, Utah Stake. When the wards were divided Sarah lived in the Spanish Fork 3rd ward (December 20, 1891) Utah Stake. Nebo Stake was organized January 20, 1901.
Three months and fifteen days after the celebration of her 80th birthday at her son’s home in Lake Shore, Sarah Measom died. She died on December 4, 1909 at her son Thomas’ home. The funeral was at Lake Shore the following Tuesday afternoon; she was buried in the Spanish Fork Cemetery.
DEAR MOTHER
Your much loved face is no longer seen
But your children will still keep your memory green
And each natal day, as the years hurry past
We will honor you more than we did on the last
For you left us a heritage that will endure
You left us a faith that is strong and secure
You left us a home in the heart of the hills
With wide spreading fields and pure crystal rills
--Phyllis Measom Beckstrom, daughter
Important Dates
· Born: August 19, 1829
· Died: December 4, 1909
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http://home.midsouth.rr.com/tilley/histories/Sarah%20Hill%20Measom.pdf Sarah Hill Measom This biography of Sarah Hill Measom who came to Utah September 1870, was written by her daughter Phillis Ann Measom Beckstrom for Camp Lake Shore Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of Utah County, Lake Shore, Utah, 19 August 1939. My mother, Sarah Hill Measom, was born August 19, 1829 in Poona, India. Poona is about one hundred miles from Bombay. Mother was the daughter of James and Ann Jarvis Hill. Grandfather Hill was called into military service when a young man in England. He was born at England, Leicestershire, Burton Overy, March 1, 1801. In the spring of 1822, he married Ann Jarvis and they lived in Ireland, County Dublin, Dublin until August 1822. On August 11, 1822 he wrote a letter to his parents in Burton Overy, England. This one hundred seventeen year old letter is still a treasured keep-sake in the Measom family and after all these years is easily read, the ink has not faded at all. In this letter my grandfather tells his parents that he is to go with the British Army to India. So, with his young bride he sailed for India in August 1822, where they resided for the next twelve years. Here their four children, James, John, Sarah and Esther were born. In 1834 Grandfather was called into active service; therefore he sent Grandmother and the children back to England to her own people. During the war, Grandfather Hill suffered many hardships and privations in the army and finally died of starvation. Grandmother Hill was a mid-wife; she practiced in England for many years and reared her family never remarrying. In her later life she became blind. I remember when I was a small child of carrying her dinner to her each Sunday; my mother always prepared the Sunday dinner. Grandmother's home was only a short distance from ours, and as long as our family lived in England, we helped Grandmother in her home and in taking food to her. My father Thomas Measom, was born in Burton Overy, England, January 1, 1827, the son of James and Pheobe Atkinson Measom. He married my mother in Burton Overy in 1847. Eleven children were born to them: Ellen, Emily, Job, Charles, Pheobe, Agnes, Rosetta, Phillis Ann, Henrietta, Thomas J., and James A. Measom. Of this large family, I am the only one remaining; all my brothers and sisters have preceded me in death. My parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in England; they had perfect faith in God and in the work which he had established; when they bought their home in England, my father made the statement, "This will take us to America" which it did. At that time it was a rare thing for a person to own his home, so in this my parents were fortunate indeed. Father owned a pony and cart, he used this much as delivery wagons are used here. They had a few rods of land on which they raised a fine garden each year. They also kept bees. Mother did much sewing and knitting, when my brother Charles was only three days old, an order was received for hoods and scarves for the soldiers. Mother was propped up in bed and knitted each day until the order was filled. Mother reserved the best room in our home for the Elders. She did this for more than fifteen years. Thus, she lived in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths. Then the time arrived that our family were prepared to leave England and gather with the Saints in Utah. In bidding farewell to her friends, one special friend and distant relative, Mary Measom said, "Good-bye Sarah Measom. I shall never see you again." Mother answered, "No Mary, but you will see two of my sons, who shall come back here on missions." These prophetic words uttered by Mother were literally fulfilled more than twenty years later when my brother, Charles called at her home to make a visit; he being there a missionary for our church. As he was taking his leave Mary said, "Well Charles, I am happy to have lived to see this day." Then she repeated the words of farewell by Mother and said, "It is now literally fulfilled, for your brother Job came to see me when he was a missionary here and today you have come. So of a truth, I have in reality lived to see two of Sarah's sons and to hear messages of truth delivered by them." Our family came to America in September 1870. My sister Ellen and my brother Job had been in America then for nearly two years. They came in 1868. We located in Spanish Fork, Utah. The migration of our people required the greatest of sacrifice, the greatest of faith, the greatest of courage, yet they did not hesitate. Mother left my grandmother in England, aged and blind; and why? Because she had perfect faith in God, in her religion and in the leaders of this church, she said, "There is only one real failure in life and that is to not be true to the best one knows." They sailed in the ship Mayflower. This was its last trip. It sank on its return voyage. After arriving in Utah, they still had to work very hard. My father, never a real healthy man was now in very poor health; thus leaving Mother with added responsibility in order that the family be properly maintained. Here again she displayed her great faith and industry, but along with their industry, one might almost say--an intense love of industry with ruggedness of strength, a forthrightness and a deep sense of being square with other people. Toil, the mountains, the great out-of-doors, and their religion tended to make them so. They were independent; they stood on their own feet. To be sure they had their weaknesses, but these weaknesses were not so manifest in the field of substantial virtues; honesty, truthworthiness, independence as in the lesser things. They had come to Mormonism from another creed. That had meant a decision on their part, an effort to make up their minds very definitely. They had remained true to their newfound faith under the most trying conditions. All of this required enormous courage and faith; always they walked by the light of faith. While residing in Spanish Fork, Mother continued her work of knitting. She was a professional dressmaker and milliner, doing all her sewing by hand. She also made fine quilted petticoats which were much in demand and brought a very good price. Besides this and her housework, she went our nursing for many years. As a side issue, she dried fruit of many kinds. So hers was a busy life, requiring much patience and industry. She died at Lake Shore, Utah, December 4, 1909 at the age of eighty years. She was buried at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. Dear Mother, your much loved face is no longer seen, but your children will still keep your memory green. And each natal day as the years hurry past, we will honor you more than we did on the last, for you left us a heritage that will endure. You left us a faith that is strong and secure. You left us a home in the heart of the hills, with wide-spreading fields and pure crystal rills.
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