Thomas Lythgoe & Esther Wilcock

By Esther Lythgoe Robinson, Granddaughter:

           My grandmother, Esther Wilcock Lythoge, was born March 6, 1805, at Hindley, Lancashire, England. Her parents were James Wilcock and Ann Ramsden Wilcock.

           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.

           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. 

Parley P. Pratt

          

          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 did 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.

 Original Tintype.
Other photo is most likely a touch-up of this one.

     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.

The following is the account of Esther Taylor relating to the death of Esther Lythgoe, taken from "Henefer, Our Valley Home" (p.89):

          Frightened--Because of the illness of her husband John, Esther Taylor was forced to work to care for her family every day. She walked to Echo, about 2 miles, to do washing on the scrub board for hotels and boarding houses. It was late at night when she was finished and she had no way to get home, but walk. One night as she walked along the railroad track just below Leonard's Point she heard some weird sounds like crying or moaning. There had been rumors of a cougar being seen and heard around the vicinity and Esther was sure the animal was after her. She was terribly frightened and ran home just as fast as her legs could carry her. Esther was always sorry she did not have courage to stop and investigate the noise because soon after this experience the body of Mrs. Esther Lythgoe, mother of James Lythgoe, was found lying in some trees beside the river. The old lady had been very ill and had wandered away from home. Esther always felt that perhaps she could have found Mrs. Lythgoe and saved her life.

Another story on the death of Esther Wilcock Lythgoe:

On the right is the original headstone (hand-carved by son James)
On the left is a newer upright headstone

         On July 19 last, Sister Esther Lythgoe, who has been mentally deranged for some time, and was in charge of her son, James Lythgoe, strayed from home. As soon as it was known, the Bishop, C. Richins, took the matter in hand and well scoured the country all around, with both old and young people for nearly two weeks, until all nearly despaired of finding her except her relatives, who kept up the search at intervals, but without success. On Sunday, August 16, two little boys were bathing, when they suddenly came upon the remains of Sister Lythgoe. Notice was given to the justice of the peace, a jury was summoned, who, according to the evidence given rendered the following verdict:

Territory of Utah,

County of Summit,

Hennefer Precinct.

According to the 2002 book, The Life and Times of Benjamin Thomas Nichols and his wife Olive Lovenia Booth: 1875-1934:

“Esther Wilcock Lythgoe parted form her husband of nearly forty years to accompany her daughters Elizabeth, Rachel and Ann with two grandchildren leaving England on the sailing ship 'Monarch of the Sea, destined for Utah on April 27, 1864. James and his wife along with her two sisters left some three weeks later on the 'General McClellan.' James said that '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’” (page 348). Family sources further state that Thomas Lythgoe was a Weaver, Collier and Grocer. He would not come to America with the rest of his family, allegedly due to a fear of water.

In the 1851 Census, Thomas Lythgoe is listed as being about 45 years old (born about 1806), born in Leigh, married and working as a "Green Grocer", while living with his wife, Esther, and children at Worsley, Lancashire.

In the 1861 Census, Thomas Lythgoe is listed as being about 55 years old (born about 1806), born in Leigh, married and working as a "Carter" and "Lab[ourer]", while residing with his wife, Esther (who was mistakenly named "Hestor" by the census taker) and some of their children on Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Lancashire.

In the 1871 Census, Thomas Lythgoe is listed as being about 63 years old (born about 1808), born in Leigh, and working as a "General Labourer", while residing with his daughter, Lucy, and her husband, John Collier, and their two children--Richard and Joseph Collier--near Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Lancashire.

In the 1881 Census, Thomas Lythgoe is listed as being about 77 years old (born about 1804), born in Pennington, a "widower", working as a "Grocer", while residing with his grandson--Joseph Collier--at: 181 Bolton Road, Pendlebury, Lancashire.

Close-up of headstone

In July 2008, Kathryn Stout, a professional genealogist in Lancashire, located the burial and gravestone of Thomas Lythgoe, at St. Augustine's parish church, Pendlebury, Lancashire. The inscription on the gravestone reads:

"Here resteth the body of John Collier, who died May 4th 1883, aged 60 years. Also Lucy wife of John Collier, who departed this life December 29th 1878, aged 52 years. Also Richard son of John and Lucy Collier, who departed this life June 20th 1878, aged 21 years. Also Thomas Lythgoe, who died September 30th 1887, aged 83 years. Also Clive, son of Robert & Dorothy Collier, died Feb 2nd 1934, aged 3 years. Also William Collier, died April 5th, 1900, aged 9 months. Also Joseph Collier, died February 22nd 1918, aged 57 years."

Lucy Collier mentioned on the headstone was the daughter of Thomas Lythgoe.

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 Lythgoe Dearden

ELIZABETH was born March 19, 1844. She emigrated to Utah single with no other family members. She lived at Richville until one evening Warner Porter, Bishop of Porterville, after the dance was about over, married her 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.