Ann Sims (b. 1792)

A couple of weeks ago I received a letter from someone asking me where I found the death place of Ann SIMS (who married William PAINTER). She died in Apr of 1888 and the place that I had for her was Augusta, Kennebec, Maine. The answer to the question is that I inherited the information. Not being satisfied with that answer I decided to do a quick search and see what I could find for Ann.

The first place I looked was the census. The closest census to her death date is the 1880 census. I found her in that census living with her son, William PAINTER. They were living in Augusta, Richmond, GEORGIA! This is not proof that she died in Georgia but it makes more sense than Maine.

Since I was looking at the Census I decided to look for Ann in other censuses. I found her in the 1851 British census as the head of the household (her husband died in 1836). She was 57 years old and her occupation was listed as Nurse. Three of her Children were living with her - John (age 13), Harriet (age 18), George and his wife Catherine Hughs (both age 27). The were living in St. Michael Parish, Coventry, Warwickshire, England.

In 1861 Ann was living with Harriett McLean who was also a widow on Earl Street in St John Parish, Coventry, Warwickshire, England. She is listed as 68 years old and her occupation was listed as Nurse. Also in 1861 I found Ann on a passenger list on the ship "Underwriter" (It looks like she is traveling with the McLean's). Her destination is listed as "Utah" and she is booked in the lower storage. The passenger list is dated 22 May 1861.

Ann Married William BROADHEAD on 10 Oct 1868 in The Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. On the 1870 she is listed in William Broadhead's household. she is 78 years old.

Flossie

I inherited a lot of genealogy from my great grandmother Flossie PAINTER.

The following is a letter from Flossie Painter Sanford to her decedents. The letter was put into a time capsule in abt. 1930. The capsule was opened 50 years later abt 1980.

(Front of envelope) To the descendants of Frank J Sanford and Flossie Painter Sanford

Lucille, Barbara Elizabeth, Frank Dee, Ruth, Carrie Lavern,
Ina, Carl Arthur

(Page 1) Springville, Utah July 12 - 1931
Dear Children – Our home at present reminds me of a little nest, a father a mother and seven children that have not yet Begin to fly for them selves.

But still travel together in one car, a happy band depending on the protection of father and mother and their livelihood from our 26 acre farm 2 ½ miles from Springville We do all our own work picking Strawberries, rasp. berries cherries tomatoes peaches hoeing weeds cutting peas Hay - ect

(Page 2) We have 800 hens. get 24¢ for extra (eggs) one day old, milk 5 cows one is Dee’s cow All Jerseys.

We are all real happy with our lot, feel as tho we have been blessed a great deal. And if we can only accomplish the examples we are trying to set before you by raising you all to be honorable men and women we will call our task well done If you all grow up to have Love for God Love for each other Love for your country To keep the word of wisdom To be honest and strive for improvement- Honor thy father & they mother

(Page 3) Your father is 2nd counselor in the Sunday School superintendency and has attended S.S every Sunday since Nov 22 - 1928. Barbara, Ina, Ruth have not been absent for 3 yrs. Lavern for over 1 yr. Dee has attended Sunday School every Sunday since he was a deacon in May 1930. Lucille is 16 and teaching a class in Kindergarten. Barbara is sect.
of her dept.

I worked as a teacher in the Sunday School for 5 years, took Carl along in his basket when a tiny baby. I have resigned now on account of my health, as were expecting a new arrival in Oct 1931.

(Page 4) Your father & I are members of the genealogical comm. Papa is chairmen of the junior temple excursions he has to take the boys to Salt Lake temple to be baptized for the dead they go in our car he takes them to places of interest and usually a show making the trip interesting as well as doing their bit in the Latter day saints church.

I am a class leader in relief Society in the social service dept. Our subject is Human Behavior.

Dee is a boy scout.

Barbara, Ruth, Lavern are 4h club members Ina is to young.

(Page 5) This year times are very hard, work is scarce and money is tight. There has been so much invention in the past few years that machinery takes the place of man power. Water has been scarce this year and crops are not good but the price is low at present wheat is plentifully the buyers are offering 37 or 40 cents a bu.

So far we have not felt the effects of hard times although people who are in debt are having a hard time to hold their own.

I want each one of you to write a short note for this letter So I will close my Part

(Page6) May the blessings of the Lord attend you, & that each one of you has lived a worthy life, that you are glad you were privileged to come to this earth Is the desire of your loving mother,
[signed] Flossie V. Painter Sanford

P.S. Father Sanford is 73 years old is still in good health although very hard hearing. Father & mother Painter are both still working hard but their health is not so good. Father is 67- M[other] 63

If you will please make an effort for each one to read this letter, It will be well done.

(Page 7) What if tomorrow should be sad, or never come at all I’ve had at least today This spark of light Twix night and night Let it be bright today Let now the shadow of tomorrow nor the sorrow of the dead yesterday Spoil my life today For if tomorrow should be sad er never to come at all I’ve had at least today -- Mother

(Page 8) Life is simply froth and bubble Two things stand like Stone Kindness in anothers trouble Courage in your own [signed] Ruth Sanford

Smile and the world smiles with you. Weep and you weep alone. [signed] Carrie Lavern Sanford

I am 9 years old Aug 3. am in the 4th grade like to read. like to go to Sunday School. [signed] Ina Sanford / Lucille Sanford age 16

(Page 9) My earthly desire is to fulfill a mission, Obtain a high rank in scouting and become a coach Frank Dee Sanford age 13

(Page 10) I desire to become a school teacher, and go on a mission; Barbara Sanford

Springville, UT July 14, 1931

We are listening now to an experiment Broadcast in a ship on the Pacific Ocean the first of its kind and it is coming in quite well. If this letter stays in Keeping for 50 years there will be many great things happen by then. Hoping the readers of this which I hope are all of you children Have health wealth and Happiness and honorable people [signed] Frank J Sanford

(Page 11) I desire[desire is crossed out] want to Run the car When I am a big man, to take down the eggs and strawberries Carl, age 3 years

The First One

Picture to the right is of John BIRD (b. 1806) and Ann Russon (b. 1808)

JOHN BIRD

"On Wednesday, 17 Jan 1855, the Clipper ship "Charles Buck" sailed for New Orleans, Louisiana from Liverpool, England. It was commanded by Captain Smalley and had four hundred and three souls on board, composed of about seventy saints from Scandinavia in charge of Elder Eric G.M. Hogan and a large group of passengers who were emigrating saints from Great Britain. This latter group had been transferred from the ship "Hellios." Elder Richard Ballantyne, who had recently arrived in England from a mission to Hindustan, was the acting president of the entire group.

Aboard the Charles Buck was John Bird, accompanied by his wife, Ann Russon, two sons and two daughters. Walter, the oldest son had already made his way to the New World with a friend, Thomas Tew, Jr., and they had established themselves in Springville, Utah. Eliza, the second child of the Bird family, died at the age of eighteen months in England and Rebecca, John, Ann Elizabeth, and William Henry accompanied their parents on the voyage.
John Bird was the only son of John Bird and Elizabeth Taylor, having three sisters, and all for children having been born in Solihull, Warwickshire, England. John was probably born in 1806, or shortly before, as he was christened on 12 Jan 1806. At about the age of twenty-four or twenty-five he married Ann Russon, daughter of Thomas Russon and Sarah Tongue, born in Overbury, Worcestershire, England. John and Ann evidently moved around a bit as they had children born in Yardley, Fieldgate, Elmdon, Solihull, and Aston - and the census taken in 1851 indicates that they were all living at Charles Henry Place, Charles Henry Street, Birmingham at that time.

Four years earlier, in 1847, the gospel of Jesus Christ had been preached to the Bird family and the oldest son, Walter, had been baptized. John and Ann accepted the message of the missionaries and were baptized in 1849 and soon after began to make plans to gather with the saints in Zion. Walter arrived in Utah on 30 Aug 1851 and began to accumulate funds to assist his parents, and with the assistance of the Perpetual Emigration Fund, he was finally able to secure passage for the family.

The Charles Buck docked in New Orleans on the 14 March 1855 and the family continued their journey up the Mississippi, then up the Missouri River and landed at Atchison, Missouri. They joined the saints living in an area called "Mormon Grove." John Bird, a shoemaker by trade, through necessity had worked in the lead works in England and his health was somewhat impaired. He along with all the others, was deprived adequate nourishment on the voyage, and when his became exposed to Mountain Fever, he suffered and died on 11 May 1855, leaving his grieving family to continue across the plains alone.

John was buried at Atchison, Missouri, having reached the age of less than fifty years. He joined the many others who made a courageous attempt to cross the plains and were caught short. One historian estimated that there may have been as many as six thousand souls who parrished on the plains before the railroad eased the burdens."