Our Fitt Family History

Our Fitt Family History 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Histories Felix Fitt (b.1797) Sarah Abbs Thomas Fitt (b.1828) Ann Bennett George Fitt (b.1855) Caroline Wakefield (b.1858) Greenhalgh Family Histories Appendix More Fitt Family Photos Immigration Death Certificates 2

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Felix Fitt, (1797-1849) Sarah Abbs (1794-1838) Felix Fitt was born to James Fitt and Mary Hannant, on April 16 1797, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. Felix s father,james, was born about 1764, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. Felix s mother, Mary, was born about 1768, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. Felix was baptized on April 16 1797, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. Felix had 8 siblings: George Fitt, Sarah Fitt, James Fitt, Matthew Fitt, Gibeon Fitt, Mister Fitt, Mary Ann Fitt and Maria Fitt. With time, Felix married Sarah Abbs, on August 2 1819, at age 22 in Buxton, Norfolk, England. St. Andrew Church, Buxton, Norfolk, England Sarah was born circa 1804, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. Together, they had 6 children: Susan Marie, James, Thomas, George, Sarah, and one other child. Felix passed away on November 24 1849, at age 52 in Buxton, Norfolk, England. He was buried on November 28 1849, in Buxton, Norfolk, England. 4

Thomas Fitt (1827-1890) Ann Bennett (1829-1886) (Son of Felix Fitt and Sarah Abbs) Online link: Thomas Fitt Born to Felix Fitt, (who was born in Buxton, Norfolk, England in 1778), and Sarah Abbs. Children to Felix & Sarah were: Sarah, born 8 April 1821; Susanna Maria, born 18 May 1823; James, born 17 April 1825; Thomas, born 15 April 1827; George, born 6 Sept. 1829; and one girl whose birth date is unknown and died at birth. Childhood In abt. 1939, when Thomas was just 12 years old, his mother, Sarah, died. Being quite depressed and discouraged, by his wife s death, Thomas s dad, Felix, drank heavily and couldn t find work his children were forced to find work and support themselves. Thomas, his brother James, and a cousin worked on a farm in Norfolk. They were hired by the year and were paid a schilling less than the married men working at the same job. Thomas, a young man at this time, resented being paid so little, so he left Norfolk, and made his way to Manchester, which was about 168 miles away; Manchester, being a very big city in the county of Yorkshire. Today, Manchester is in the Greater Manchester County. Thomas Gets Marries, Ann Bennett, and Raises a Family 5

It was in Manchester, that Thomas met his wife to be, Ann Bennett. Ann was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, England, on 9 Mar 1829. Thomas was 21 years old, when he married Ann. They were married in Christ s Church of Doncaster on 02 Jul 1849. The story goes, that Ann Bennett had the reputation of being the best looking girl in Manchester. Together, Thomas & Ann had the following children: Sarah, born 10 Nov 1850; Thomas, born 20 July 1851; William, born 4 Dec 1853; George, born 7 June 1855; Felix, born 28 Jun 1858; Maria, born 28 Nov 1863; Elizabeth, born 10 Aug 1852; and John, born 22 Jan 1860. The Coal Mines & Family Brick business Thomas worked in the coal mines in winter and his sons worked with him except for his son, Felix; who, for whatever reason, would not go to the coal mines. In the summer months, their business was making bricks. Felix worked with them making bricks, though his job was to carry bricks from the mold table to dry in the sun. Thomas also burned (baked) pottery. His daughter, Sarah, put the flowered patterns on the pottery before baking. 6

Joining the LDS Church Thomas Fitt and his family went to the Methodist Church in Kimberworth, which is near Rotherham and Homes, Yorkshire, England. On day while walking down the street, Thomas heard the Mormon missionaries preaching on the street. He was very much interested and invited them to dinner. Upon their arrival for dinner, Ann, gave them a very cold and bitter reception. She went on to say that they, the missionaries, would have to wait until her children ate because she would not have her children crowed out. She also said, that if they ever came again, she would scald the devils. Charles Hennery Parkins, president of the local Mormon branch, came over every Sunday and conducted services at Rotherham. Thomas was baptized into the LDS Church 14 July 1861, by Elder Robert Edwards, confirmed by Elders Robert Edwards & Joseph Huntington. Ann was not baptized 3 years later, 10 Oct 1864, by Elder Robert Edwards, confirmed by Elders Robert Edwards & Joseph Huntington. On 2 Jun 1867, George, Felix, and siblings were baptized by Elder Henry Parkins. 7

On Sundays, the family attended Sunday school between 9am and 12noon, then an evening meeting from 7pm 9pm. Making an outing of it, the family went to the Ann s parents house, taking a basket of supper with them. The family rode by donkey cart, dressed in their Sunday Best with plenty of good food to eat. Making their way to America Thomas s daughters, Sarah, met a missionary named John Colbert and married him. On 18 Oct 1871, from Liverpool, John Colbert, his mother and his new wife, Sarah, made their way to Salt Lake City Utah. Their transport was paid by brother Levi Richards, a missionary friend. John was able to secure work at the Howes Foundry, in Salt Lake City. Sarah s brother, William, also went with them, paying his own way. William had made arrangements to stay, with a missionary friend, in Fillmore, Utah. William worked very hard and saved every penny possible for two years, when he had enough saved up to help pay the transportation for this parents, Thomas & Ann, and his brothers George & Felix. The story goes, that one Sunday, while the family was at church, Felix found his father s stash of money, hidden in a salt sack. Thomas and 8

Ann had saved over 1,000, which they soon used to emigrate to America. On 6 Jun 1873, the family came to Salt Lake City, Utah, on the S.S Nevada. While on the high seas, George, Felix, and a young boy named Plant went on the upper deck on a drizzly, rainy morning and the ship was rocking from side to side. It lurched and George and Felix grabbed the railing. The Plant boy missed the railing and was sent sliding to the edge of the boat and they thought he was going overboard. However, just as he reached the edge of the boat, it rocked the opposite way and he went sliding back. On another occasion, some of the ship s machinery broke and was near sinking. George kept banging on the door, trying to wake his brother Felix up, but what is the use of getting up, if the ship is going down?, said Felix. 9

However, things were sorted out, and the ship arrived safely in New York. The family stayed in wonderful place called Castle Garardens. They remained there two days, then caught a train heading west, with Salt Lake City, Utah being their destination. The journey to Salt Lake City took six days. When they arrived, Salt Lake City, it being the Fall of the year and winter setting in, the streets were very muddy and everything seemed so bare and desolate to the young children. The train depot was nothing but a little shack. Thomas s son, Felix, begged his day to keep going, not to stop, but Thomas said This was Zion, and the place where they were going to stay. 10

They were used to seeing the vardant landscapes of England that they were homesick for and wanted to return Home. However, neither their pride nor their money would allow them to return and they made the best of matters. They were taken in by missionaries whom they had known in England. Elder Richards had invited the family to stay with him during that early winter season. After a few months, some of the children were offered to stay with another missionary friend near Milford. The children worked for their board and clothes with the understanding that they should be allowed to go to school. But, apparently, as the days went on, and, although they worked hard enough, nothing was done about their going to school and they were not assertive enough to raise the issue. However, when Spring came, they had not been to school and their clothes were worn and ragged, so they came back to Salt Lake City and some got work as an apprentice mason. 11

Life in Salt Lake City, Utah The family went to live in the 19th Ward, with their daughter Sarah & husband, John Colbert. The met for Church in the 19th Ward chapel. After six months, Thomas moved the family to the 26th Ward. There they started a family business of making bricks. (This photo shows two men unloading bricks into a storage room at the Salt Lake Pressed Brick Company.) It was here, that the family was baptized again, which was the custom in those early pioneer days, in City Creek, which is in downtown Salt Lake City, near Pugsley s Mill. City Creek, today 12

Thomas bought an old adobe house on 7th South, between 3rd & 4th West, which was big enough to rent out to his children, as they got married. He later built a new house. (Today, this is the only house in that area) Thomas & Ann were endowed & sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 28 Feb 1876. Thomas s wife, Ann, died ten years later on 22 Jan 1886. About two years later, Thomas married Elizabeth Bower Farnsworth. The family resented their dad remarrying. Thomas Fitt died 29 Jun 1890. 13

Third District Court Ogden Junction, February 12 th 1879 Online link: https://goo.gl/fismdz City Council Salt Lake Herald, February 17 th 1884 Online link: https://goo.gl/rwbwhg Died Salt Lake Herald, January 31 st 1890 Online link: https://goo.gl/3odmek Probate Court Salt Lake Herald, July 24th 1891 Online link: https://goo.gl/unzixt Note: Dower is a provision accorded by law, but traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband 14

George Fitt (1855-1934) Caroline Rachel Wakefield (1858-1946) Son of Thomas Fitt and Ann Bennett Young children of George & Caroline George Fitt and Caroline Wakefield Near Third West and Seventh North, Provo, Utah 15

A Rowdy Neighbor The Salt Lake Herald, July 11, 1898 - Page 8 Online link: https://goo.gl/9uu3dw 16

The Missing Beer Keg The Salt Lake Herald, November 21, 1901 - Page 2 Online link: https://goo.gl/1uojjt A Rowdy Neighbor The Salt Lake Herald, July 11, 1898 - Page 8 Online link: https://goo.gl/9uu3dw 17

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Visiting Orangeville, with brother William Emery County Progress, March 28 th 1908 Online link: https://goo.gl/nirtmc 19

Levi Fitt Wounded in Battle Salt Lake Herald, August 29 th 1918 Online link: https://goo.gl/sxqxzq Levi Fitt being the son of George Fitt and Caroline Rachel Wakefield. Wounded Utahn Given War Cross Salt Lake Telegram, February 24th 1919 Online link: https://goo.gl/jdnimd The Croix de Guerre (English translation: Cross of War) is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. 20

George Fitt, the Builder, and Contractor 21

George Fitt s Death Notice Salt Lake Telegram, July 16th 1934 Online link: https://goo.gl/vf68x3 Funeral Notice The Salt Lake Tribune, July 18, 1934 Online link: https://goo.gl/wiemmk 22

MORE FITT FAMILY PHOTOS Susanna (b.1823), is the sister of Thomas Fitt 23

William Fitt's family 24

IMMIGRATION List of Passengers Deseret News, June 25 th 1873 Online link: https://goo.gl/p07mz2 25

DEATH CERTIFICATES George Fitt (1855-1937) Age 78 Son of Thomas Fitt & Ann Bennett William Fitt (1863-1920) Age 57 Son of Thomas Fitt & Ann Bennett 26

Caroline Rachel Wakefield s Death Certificate (1858-1946) Age 88 Wife to George Fitt Sara Eliza Fitt (1883-1955) Age 72 Daughter of George Fitt & Caroline Wakefield 27

CAROLINE RACHEL WAKEFIELD (1858-1946) Daughter of John Wakfield and Caroline Rachel Wilson Online link: Caroline Rachel Wakefield Caroline, who was actually born with the first name of Mary, and her mother Caroline left England without their father John Wakefield. I'm not sure why he didn't come. Maybe he wasn't a member or maybe they didn't have the money. They landed in New York and left with a wagon train of Saints westward to Salt Lake. From the Autobiography of William A. Blair... I shall not forget the grand old ship American Congress, with 350 Saints. I may say; the parting from father, mother, brothers and sisters is a trial that came too often in those days. To stand on deck and watch one s home pass slowly out of sight, well, one s feelings cannot be described. However, my help was needed to care for a little girl who, with her mother had left father, he being opposed to the Saints, and thought they could come to Zion and be happy. Dear Sister Wakefield, her heart failed her as she stepped on deck. She tried to return, but we were moving out to sea. The dear woman had to be carried below. She said to me, I shall never walk again. She asked me if I would care for the little girl. Well, she was carried up on deck many times during the next six weeks but failing every day. She passed away on the banks of the Missouri. 28

I had been to the river to wash my clothes. I stayed in the water too long, took cramp and was laid on a bed by the side of the dear dying sister. I remember telling the little girl to keep the flies out of her mother s mouth, and knew no more for three days. Some motherly women woke me and offered some broth. I asked for Sister Wakefield. She said she was buried two days since and the girl had gone on the plains. Thus ended my care for the poor child. However, in a few days I was ready for the trip and started with Daniel Thompson's train... From the Diary of Joshua K. Whitney... In company with Brother Nicholson, administered to Sister [-] [POSSIBLY: Wakefield] who was ill. At 11 a.m. attended meeting which was held between decks of this vessel where, Brother Childs and Cambel [Campbell] & Grover & myself addressed the Saints.... Arrived at St. Joseph on Friday the 13th of July, all in good spirits at near 8 p.m., having only one death on the cars which was Sister Wakefield, who has been ill ever since she left London.... Thursday the 19, fine day here all day. Sister Wakefield was internal who died at 3 a.m. She has been ill all the way from London. After her mother's death, Caroline, who was actually born with the first name of Mary, took her mother s name. Caroline was then taken in by a family who treated her poorly like an orphan would be treated in England. They fed her with the dog and beat her until she had no hair left on her head. When they got to Salt Lake Granny Broadbent saw her being mistreated and went to Brigham Young. He took her from the family 29

and gave her to Granny Broadbent and her husband. She oiled her head until her red hair grew back. They raised her until she was old enough to be married. She married George Fitt and they had 12 red headed children. She died in 1942. Caroline Rachel Wakefield s Obituary The Salt Lake Tribune, February 7, 1946 - Page 17 Online link: https://goo.gl/4iysyd 30

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