TAMS Pioneer Crossings

Bradley, John, John, Mary Ann
Homer-Duncan Company in 1862. John was 44, Mary Ann was 41, 8 children including son John who was age 14.

Brenchley, Caroline
Age 26, Caroline was a single woman with the Dan Jones/John A Hunt Company in 1856]
Traveled with:
Wiseman, John (54), b. England, surgeon
Wiseman, Mary Ann (42), b. England
Wiseman, John Joseph (5), b. England, d. Oct. 9, 1856, near Ft. Laramie
Wiseman, Henry H. (2), b. England, died Aug. 30, 1856, at Florence, Nebraska
(Caroline Brenchley of Hunt Co. reportedly traveled with Wiseman family to help care for their “blind daughter.” This was more likely Ruth Billington of company.)
Billington, Ruth (64), b. England, was blind, possible connection to Wiseman family in Hunt Co., spinster, also traveling with Elizabeth Gaskell of Hunt Co.

Hawkey, Middleton, Hannah
33, Traveled with the Edward Martin Handcart Company (fifth and sixth company) in 1856. Stepson James, 14, died near Laramie, Wy. Also had two daughters, Margaret,3 and Hannah, 4.

Jensen, Hans, 45, Caroline, 14
Paradise book has them crossing with Captain Murdock’s Ox company in 1863. Came from Denmark on ship with 700 people and no bunks. Caroline was 14 (known as Karen in Denmark). Siblings got to ride on wagons, but she didn’t.

Obray, Thomas, Caroline (Thomas’ third wife and our direct line traveled with other company – see Brenchley)
Thomas, 32, married other wife Louisa enroute on 24 June 1854 (the same day she was baptized) with the James Brown Company. She died 4 days later (10 days after leaving Missouri) on the 28 of June. Sister puts death three weeks later. From measles/cholera.

Written by Louisa’s sister Eliza: . . . “when we got to St. Louis we bought our teams and wagons, cows, provisions and all our outfit for traveling on the plains, Charles and his family occupied one wagon and us girls and brother Albert the other, my sister Martha [Shelton], Louisa [Shelton Obray,] Emily [Shelton], and I were baptized at fort Leavenworth by Alonzo [Alondus D. Lafayette] Buckland on the 24th of June 1854 [4 June 1854] with some others, Louisa was married to Thomas Obray the same day, by the same man, Thomas was returning from a Mission from Malta coming to Utah, with his brother Sam[uel Obray] and family, we got the measles, all of our family except Charles & Sam, they were the only ones that had already had them[.] we suffered very much, Rebbecca [Shelton], (my brothers wife) had the Cholera morbus, suffered dreadfully till death came to her relief, my sister Louisa first had the measles. she was commencing to get better with them when she took a backset[.] Cholera set in and she worse off after being a bride just 3 weeks, Thomas [Obray] took this pretty hard, also my brother Charles was worn out with waiting on the sick and his children died one after another till 5 were layd away all but his oldest son Alfred, it is hard to imagine that mans feelings, I dont know how the poor man stood it, a great number of our company died, and us girls continued very weak and poorly[.] not much appetite and Diareah [diarrhea] all the way to the Valley, we traveled on under trials and difficulties till we arrived in Salt Lake City 29. Sep. 1854, pretty well worn out, and also our teams, nevertheless was much rejoiced to view a city after our long march full of hope for the future, for now we were to the end of our journey and among the saints of God,” (Keeler, Eliza Shelton, Autobiography and journal, [ca. 1886-1898], 10-12.)

Brother Charles, who also buried 5 children and his wife in that same period, writes that Thomas was sealed to Louisa’s sister Martha when they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

Oldham, Maria, John, Maria (pronounced Ma-rye-ah )
John, 51, and Maria, 47, crossed the plains with the William S. Warren Company in 1864. Their daughter Maria, 19, was one of 7 children. Our Coombs ancestors were also in this company.

Son Samuel writes: Source of Trail Excerpt:
Oldham, Samuel, [Interview], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 22:5-6.

Read Trail Excerpt:
. . . .We then spent nine days and one night on a steamboat traveling up the Missouri River, arriving at a village called Wyoming, Missouri [Nebraska] in July 1864. After remaining there about three weeks, we started on our journey across the plains in Captain Warrens ox train.
We traveled for eleven weeks before arriving at Salt Lake City on October 4th 1864. It was a very arduous journey. My father [John Oldham] and mother [Maria Heap Oldham] were both sick for about three weeks before we arrived at our destination. The Indians were very hostile during the first part of our journey, and during the latter part, nutritious food was very scarce. As soon as we arrived in Salt Lake City, we all commenced to improve, until we were soon enjoying the best of health.

Olsen, Christopher
Chistopher Marinus, 17, traveled with the John E. Forsgren Company in 1853.

Phillips, Mary Jane, Henery, Jane, George
NY 1858, pittsburg for two years. Captain Horn company in 1860 or 1861. May have traveled with children Mary Jane and Martha (who encountered a snake on the banks of a river and had to be rescued).

Richman, John, Sarah, John
John, 34, and Sarah, 36 traveled with 3 children with the Henry W. Miller company in 1862. John William was 6 years old.

Sinfield, Samuel,
Samuel, 33, came with 2 daughters (9 and 11) in an unidentified company in 1853. Samuel was ordained a Seventy in Utah in March 1854, proving he had to have traveled to Utah in 1853. He married Hannah Middleton Hawkey who traveled with the Martin Handcart company after arriving in the valley.

Cross Referenced:
Stevenson (richman), Sarah (listed as Sarah Richman)
Tams, Elijah, Maria (Maria found with her Oldham family)
Williams, Mary Ann (listed as Mary Ann Bradley)

Joseph Brenchley OBRAY

Joseph Brenchley OBRAY was born 15 April 1867 in Paradise, Cache, Utah. He is the son of Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY and his 3rd wife (2nd polygamous wife) Caroline BRENCHLEY. He married Elizabeth Christine OLSEN on 7 December 1887. He died on 14 February 1940 in Paradise, Cache, Utah. He is buried in the Paradise Cemetery.

I love it when I stumble upon bits of family history through others on similar searches. Today I found this article by Bruce Crow: http://amateurmormonhistorian.blogspot.com/2010/11/louisa-obray-pioneer-midwife.html .

When looking back on her life, Louisa Obray had a great deal of which to be proud. In 1890, at the age of 35, she attended the Columbia Hospital for training as a nurse. She had already trained in Utah as a midwife under Dr. Ellis Reynolds Shipp. During Louisa's career she delivered an estimated 800 babies. She charged just $3.00 for her services which included bathing both mother and child and nine days of post-natal care.

Her biography tells a story of how she handled herself under pressure. “She came home one day to find Joseph Obray waiting to tell her not to unhitch the horse as his wife was in labor with her first child. She had already been in attendance on other mothers for twenty-four hours. Just then her daughter, Boston, ran out of the house begging her not to leave as she was about to give birth to her first child. Louisa looked at her daughter and said, “be at ease—you will be all right.”She was
described as "dignified and queenly in her bearing." And many of the people in
Paradise sought out her wise counsel "for help with their personal problems."

The article is about Louisa Obray (Gibbs) [1855-1927] acting as a midwife in Paradise, Utah. My family history is rich in this little community of Paradise and the family lines mingle and intermingle. Louisa's half-brother (and my great-great grandfather), Joseph Brenchley Obray (1867 - 1940) might be the Joseph referred to in this story. Joseph's wife Margaret Oldham Tams (1869 - 1958) gave birth to a daughter, Melba Elizabeth Obray on 15 June 1903. Louisa's daughter Boston gave birth to her oldest son Orson Donald Miles on 17 Jun 1903 just two days later. If, in fact, Joseph is the same, Louisa still may have made it to deliver her grandson.

Interestingly, my line does not continue through Margaret. Joseph was also married to Elizabeth Christina Olsen (1868 - 1899). My great-grandfather Hilary Olsen Obray was their son. Just to throw in a twist, Elizabeth & Joseph's son (Hilary)'s daughter Verda Bradley Obray (1911 - 1994) married Joseph's other wife (Margaret)'s younger brother (Josiah Oldham Tams, 1971 - 1941)'s son, Neil Richman Tams, (1908 - 1997). Neil and Verda are my grandparents, from Paradise, whom I know and love.

Related Links:

Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY (father)

Caroline BRENCHLEY (mother)

Researching Cause of Death (TAMS/OBRAY)

Neil Richman TAMS -
(Complications from hip surgery)

Verda OBRAY
(Heart attack)

Josiah/Zoe TAMS -
Death Certificate for stillborn girl, June 21, 1914. - Link

Josiah Oldham TAMS (Neil's father)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 69 - Cerebral Hemorrhage complicated by aterioalscerosis)

Marie OLDHAM (Josiah's mother)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 79 - Paralytic ?Fleus? complicated by cerebral hemorrhage)

John William RICHMAN (Zoe's dad)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 65 - Cardiac Insufficiency - chronic valvular heart disease complicated by chronic nephritis)

Jane SINFIELD (Zoe's mom)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 76 - Cerebral hemorrhage)

Joseph Brenchley OBRAY (Hilary's dad)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 72 - Pleurisy - Left Clau?) known as chest pain

John BRADLEY (Jessie's dad)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 73 - Carcinoma of the face - heredity)

Mary Jane PHILLIPS (Jessie's mom)
Death Certificate - Link
(Age 67 - Pneumonia terminal - myocarditis)

Samuel SINFIELD & Hannah MIDDLETON

It is interesting to me that on the same day that Samuel & Hannah were sealed, they were also sealed to both of their previous spouses (Hannah to Foster & Samuel to Phoebe). They also acted in proxy to seal Hannah's previous husband Foster to his previous wife (also named Hannah) that died before he married Hannah, my grandmother.

Samuel SINFIELD

I found this entry today at http://books.google.com/books?id=XqW19LTtgfIC&pg=PA2346&lpg=PA2346&dq=%22samuel+sinfield%22+1820&source=web&ots=HRv4SZdlQ7&sig=HRczTFxT3YL6GgaZYHKgeoqAw0Q#PPA2346,M1

Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers By Florence C. Youngberg
(pages 2346 - 2347)

Samuel Sinfield
(picture)
Born: 8 Mar 1820, Eversholt, Bedford, England
Parents: William and Elizabeth Pepper Sinfield
Died: 18 Feb 1904, Paradise, Cache, Utah
Arrived in Valley: 1853/54, by wagon train

Married 1st: Phoebe Cross
Date: 1 Nov 1841.
Died: 20 Aug 1852, England.

Married 2nd: Hannah Middleton Hawkey (wid)
Date: 1857
Born: 25 Oct 1822, Sunderland, Durham, England
Parents: John and Margaret Alderson Middleton
Died: 28 Apr 1903, Paradise, Utah

Samuel and Phoebe were baptized in 1842 and made plans to leave for Zion as soon as possible. One week before they were to leave, phoebe died. Samuel didn't change his mind. A little later, he and his two daughters sailed for America.

Upon reaching the Valley, he went on to Ogden where he located a farm. In 1857, he married Hannah, a widow with two small daughters.

When Samuel learned that the railroad would be coming to Utah, he traded his property for a log home in Paradise, Utah. They moved in 1869 to escape the "bad influence" he felt the railroad would bring. He was a very devout and serious person. he was strict with his children and very frugal.

He was a high priest in his ward when he died. Hannah died 10 months before he did.

Children of 1st wife:

ELIZA, b. 24 Jan 1842
EMMA HANNAH, b. 6 Jan 1844. Md. 10 May 1863, Daniel Miles Smith.

Children of 2nd wife:

GEORGE ROBERT, b. 18 Aug 1858. Md. 20 Mar 1889, Rebecca Platt. D. 28 Mar 1937.
JANE CHARLOTTE, b. 6 Apr 1860. Md. 20 Oct 1876. John William Richman. D. 20 Oct 1942.
HENRIETTA, b. 2 Mar 1862. Md. 27 Oct 1881, John Lloyd Price. D. 15 Oct 1938.

Submitted by: Dianne Parker

Confirming Ordinances

I've been working on the Tams line this week. After struggling at the ends of the line and not finding any links, I've decided to change my approach. I am working from my closest ancestors. I am 1) Confirming that all of their ordinances are done and 2) Confirming that all of their children's ordinances are done (including sealed to spouse). So far I have confirmed up to my Great-Great Grandparents on the Tams line (Elijah TAMS etc.). I am waiting, though, for some information on Boston & Leon Richman (Leon is the son of John William RICHMAN & Jane Charlotte SINFIELD -- and the brother of Zoe Sinfield RICHMAN). I can't find information on Leon's descendants -- but did find a website of a "Lynn RICHMAN" which has pictures suggesting they are descendants. Temple Ordinance Records show that Boston & Leon received their endowments on the same day that they were married -- which suggests to me that they were also sealed that day. However, the Ordinance Records do not show a "Sealed to Spouse." I sent an email to that site -- hoping for a positive indication that they were sealed (I'm 99% sure that they were).

Missing Photographs

On the TAMS line, I am still missing photographs of the burial markers for:

Thomas TAMS & Margaret HOMER (both died in Stafforshire, England).
John RICHMAN & Sarah Ann STEPHENSON (both died in Fremont, Idaho & buried in Teton-Newdale Cemetery).
Christopher Marinus OLSEN & Caroline Sophia JENSEN (He is buried in Richmond, Utah -- I can't figure out where she died/was buried).

Hans JENSEN (Caroline Sophia JENSEN's father) may be buried in Hyrum, Utah.

Henry PHILLIPS & Jane PRICE

John BRADLEY & Mary Ann WILLIAMS

John & Mary Ann Bradley are buried in the SW corner of the Hyrum Cemetary (about 5 miles from Paradise).

Thomas Lorenzo OBRAY & Caroline BRENCHLEY

Samuel SINFIELD & Hannah MIDDLETON

John OLDHAM & Maria HEAP

John BRADLEY & Mary Jane PHILLIPS

Joseph Brenchley OBRAY & Elizabeth Christina OLSEN

John William RICHMAN & Jane Charlotte SINFIELD

Elijah TAMS & Maria OLDHAM

I have an alternate birth year of 1945 for Maria.

Hilary Olsen OBRAY & Jessie Maud BRADLEY

Josiah Oldham TAMS & Zoe Sinfield RICHMAN

Neil Richman TAMS & Verda Bradley OBRAY

Paradise Cemetary

This is a map of the Paradise Cemetary. Click on the image to make it larger. This map gives rough directions to the burial location of many of my Grandparents. Neil TAMS & Verda OBRAY are not included on this map. They are buried in the vicinity (south, I think) of Elijah TAMS.