History of Matilda Crisp Goodman Kingsbury
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with daughter Fanny Elizabeth Goodman |
By Darrin Lythgoe, great-great-great-great grandson
Matilda Crisp was born 21 Aug 1821 in Welford, Northamptonshire, England, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Crisp. Her mother was born and grew up in the nearby village of Creaton. Mary’s parents, Samuel Crisp and Elizabeth Gamble Crisp, lived to old age and died in Creaton. It is unknown why Mary moved to Welford, although it is possible the move had something to do with her pregnancy (as either the cause or the effect).
Some time before 1833, Mary and Matilda moved to the parish of Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire. In that year Mary married a man named Richard Smith. It appears they stayed in this area for most if not the rest of Mary’s life.
On 11 Nov 1839, Matilda married William Goodman, a tailor 14 years her senior, in Aspley. Richard Smith is listed as a witness to the marriage. Less than two months later, on 29 Dec 1839, Matilda and William’s only child, a daughter, was born. Her name was Fanny Elizabeth Goodman.
In April 1847, Matilda’s mother Mary died and was buried in Aspley. Somewhere around that time Matilda, William and Fanny moved to the Somerstown area of London. It appears that they first resided at 25 Sydney St., then later moved to 28 Union St.
Shortly after their arrival in London, they met missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized into the church. Matilda was baptized on 29 Jan 1849 by Elder Booth, her daughter Fanny Elizabeth at the age of 9 on 8 Jun 1849, also by Elder Booth, and William on 15 Jun 1849, again by Elder Booth. William was ordained to the office of Deacon on 9 Oct 1849. The baptisms of Matilda and Fanny took place at Penton Baths.
Matilda and Fanny were baptized again on 6 Mar and 22 Mar 1851, respectively, although the reason is unknown. Matilda was baptized by Henry Debenham, and Fanny was baptized by Thomas Bullock at Holborn Hall, and was confirmed by Thomas Slight. Matilda’s husband William apparently left the church for a while in 1851. Records of the Somerstown, London Branch say that he was "cut off 27 Mar 1851 for disbelief."
It is likely that William returned to the faith at a later date, as he and Matilda both emigrated to Salt Lake City in the summer of 1866. The traveled on the ship "American Congress," and arrived in New York on the 4th of July. They traveled by train and steamer to Nebraska and then crossed the plains on foot or in covered wagon, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley on 30 Sep 1866. Fanny, by this time married, had come alone with her baby in 1862 and was joined by her husband, Thomas Moss, shortly thereafter.
Three days after Matilda and William’s arrival, Fanny gave birth to a daughter, Mary Lovenia, who is my great-great grandmother. Less than three weeks after that, however, William became ill with diarrhea and passed away on 21 Oct 1866. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (D-7-1, unmarked).
Less than two years later, in January of 1868, Matilda remarried, this time to William Kingsbury. Little is known about him at this time, but we do know that he was a member of the church. Matilda and William were sealed in the Endowment House on 25 Jan 1868. There are records from the time shortly after that which show Matilda and William doing temple work for their parents and grandparents.