Written by Violet Isabelle Gray Goodwin
August 19, l968
Riverside County, California
Born: August 15, 1815 in Chroley, Lancashire, England
Death: March 2, 1890, Minersville, Utah
Married to Isabelle Peet on December 25, 1842, Liverpool, England
Submitted by Violet G. Goodwin on September 7, l968 - Harriet Burton Brandshaw Camp of DUP
Richard Clayton was born 15 August 1815 at Chorley Lancashire, England, the only son of Edward and Margaret Clayton. He was the third child in his family, having two older sisters; Elizabeth born 13 January 1811 and Ann born 27 October 1812.
Richard's father, Edward, was born 1786, son of Richard Clayton and Elizabeth Riding. He was christened 20 December 1786 at Latham Chapel in Ormskirk Parish. His mother, Margaret, was born about 1790 at Whittle Le Woods Lanes. As yet, we haven't found the name of her parents. The Clayton name is prevalent in Lanes. Chorley is a small parish in South Central Lanes. It is in the midst of green fields and rolling hills of Western Britian, and there might be some coal mining operations there to keep the area folk living, but in the year 1815 it was probably a sleepy little parish subsisting mostly on agriculture pursuits in which the Clayton family might have owned a small acreage or might have been tenants to a rich landlord. In later years and on his death certificate, Edward was noted as a Drayman. Earlier he had been a brewer. This may have been his vocation in Chorley or he could have taken it up after the family moved to Liverpool.
Richard's mother was born in a tiny hamlet about two miles Southwest from Chorley. Her father could have been a farmer or even a small tradesman. It was most natural for Richard to go courting away from his hometown and perhaps who knows, they might have met on a market day in Chorley. The market day is common to all of England and brings profits and bargains to the elders of the family, but romance to the young. This indeed is a holiday and comes once a week.
Common to the rest of Europe is what is known as the Industrial Revolution which uprooted families from quiet homes and countrysides and brought them into the large cities which were crying for manpower. In the years of 1800 to 1850 wages were good for the factory worker, and many left the agricultural areas to stream into the cities and go into factory work. This move was good for money, but tragic for health in many instances. The soil filled cities brought on lung troubles called consumption in those days, but T.B. to us, and many people crowded into small living quarters. This bred disease. These country folk, used to clean pure country air, died by the thousands in the large smoky cities.
We don't know when the Claytons came to Liverpool, but when Richard was 27 years old he was married to Isabelle Peet, 25 December 1842 at St. Nicholas Church in Liverpool. The marriage certificate states that he was a resident of Limekeln Street, and she lived at Charter Street. She was 21 years of age at the time of marriage.
Isabelle was born 15 July 1821 at Runcorn Cheshire, a parish situated on the south band of the river Mersey which forms a large bay as it enters the land to run for nearly five miles inland being used as a waterway from the ocean for barges. This river forms part of the boundary line separating Lancashire from Cheshire County. She was the daughter of James Peet born 7 February 1792 at Newbourgh Lanes, and Margaret Stanney born 22 April 1793 in Liverpool. James Peet was called a brathbuilder.
Newburgh Lanes is a parish about two miles north of Liverpool near the large parish of Ormskirk. So perhaps the Peet family, being farmers, were too caught up in the migrations to the large industrial areas. Isabell's mother was born in Liverpool 22 April 1793.
The Christmas day nuptial of Richard and Isabelle must have been a wonderful occasion, for Christmas in England is a joyful time. Common with many others of the time, Isabelle could not write her name, for an "X" shows as her signature on her marriage license. She was perhaps too busy working as a factory hand or a servant maid, or any of dozens of occupations which suddenly opened up to females of the time.
The newlyweds set up housekeeping in Limekeln Street, and Richard worked in a brewery or beer house on this street. He may have worked with his father or have been the owner. The home was about a quarter of a mile from the ships landing dock, and this would be very busy and not too desirable of a location to raise a family as the docks are noisy and dirty. Ships come from all over the world with all kinds of cargo and merchandise. However, it proved to be a good place for the Claytons for many reasons.
A son was born to Richard and Isabelle on 15 May 1843 at Booth Lanes. He was named Edward, after his Grandfather Clayton. Margaret came along 19 November 1845 at Runcorn Cheshire. Why in Runcorn we don't know. Was Richard working there or was it a visit to some of Isabelle's people? On 1 November 1847 John was born back in Liverpool, and here the family was to remain for a time.
The year 1847 was a sad time for the Clayton's, for on 1 June 1847 Margaret, the second child, and first daughter, died. On 1 November 1847 little John died during his first year. On 27 April 1848 Edward, the eldest son died, aged five years. On 26 May 1849 Richard and Isabelle had a daughter born who died the same day. They had her christened Elizabeth. Franklin Richard was born 27 October 1850. Twins came to the family, Margaret Ellen and James on 18 June 1853. James died on the 19th of June, a day after birth. A little daughter joined the family 21 February 1856, who was called Elizabeth Ann. It was very common to name later children after deceased older brothers and sisters.
One can only imagine the anguish of these parents in losing five out of eight children born to them. Can we blame the environment or perhaps weakness of mother or children? At any rate, we can be most grateful for the progress which medical science has made toward curbing the mortality rate of the children, and almost doing away with the terror of epidemics which wiped out entire families in those days.
The location of the family home was to prove a blessing to the Claytons, for they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached soon after the Mormon elders came to England. The first baptisms into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England took place at Preston Lanes--about 40 miles north of Liverpool, and the gospel spread quickly on the west coast of Britian, and Isabelle was the first in the Clayton family to be converted and baptized. This took place on 15 April 1844. Richard was baptized four years later on 28 May 1848. Franklin Richard was baptized when he was nine years old on the 17 March 1859, Margaret Ellen on 6 June 1861 at eight years of age, and Elizabeth Ann was baptized 21 January 1865 at nine years of age.
The Claytons were most devout Latter-day Saints and belonged to the Liverpool Branch during their stay in England. We have no way of knowing how the family were treated by relatives and friends after joining this peculiar sect, but their lives were given to serving their fellowmen, and this included not only giving of their time and efforts to the work to convert others, but giving of their substance. When church headquarters in Salt Lake set out to bring saints to Zion from Europe, the Clayton home was an open house for the saints coming from many lands to take ship for America, and many meals and beds were contributed, not only to visiting English people, but brothers and sisters from the Scandinavian countries and Continental Europe. It would have been most interesting to have been able to visit the Claytons at that time. Truly it was to impress upon the children the Lord's blessings to those who give service. Because of the proximity of the Clayton home to the docks as well as the office which the church had set up in the area, an interpreter for the many foreign saints made the Clayton's his home for four years.
The "Millennial Star", a church publication, was housed four blocks from the Clayton home. Little Elizabeth had a most special duty to perform, and she looked forward to it. The brethren in the office were far away from their American home, and Elizabeth was sure they were lonesome for their families, so what would be nicer than to take them some goodies. Mother thought it a very good idea. So Elizabeth was often seen tripping down the walk toward the plant. Today her treat might be freshly baked hot bread, maybe fresh butter to go with it, and a day or two later, some fresh eggs or some other tasty food.
In her later years, Elizabeth was to tell her children and grandchildren of her pleasure in this small service. Surely she was welcomed with delight by the brethren.
There was always a dream in the Clayton family to gether with the saints in Zion, but there was never quite enough money to make that dream come true. Surely in the years from 1844 to 1868 prayers for a way to be opened to them were said, and at last their prayers were answered when the church headquarters amended a plan which was to prove the greatest blessing to the poor saints in Europe.
The perpetual Immigration Fund was a most magnificent plan in that it helped people who, in turn, helped other people. The church would advance enough money to bring a family or part of a family to Utah, and upon his arrival the immigrant immediately began to pay his passage back to the general fund which, in turn, was lent to someone else. Many thousands of saints were able to immigrate who never in worlds without end would have been able to save enough to come on their own. By 1868 the plan had been working for some time and was most successful.
Richard was now 53, Isabelle 47, Franklin Richard 18, Margaret Ellen, 15, and Elizabeth Ann 12 years of age. It was time to gather to Zion before the oldest son would perhaps marry out of the church or go away to work or many other things which perhaps could break up a family unit. The Claytons embarked on the Packet Ship "John Bright," one of the last of the sailing vessels which left Liverpool on 4 June 1868. Like most of the companies of sailing saints that consisted of people from other countries, this ship contained a group of 176 Scandinavian saints. It must have been most interesting to become acquainted with these brethren and sisters and perhaps learn a bit of their language on this voyage of nearly six weeks on the water. Elder James McGaw was in charge and, as in all immigrating companies, the people were divided into groups of so many, who had officers of their own to help maintain order. Rules were laid down to prevent confusion and people were made as comfortable as it was possible in the crowded ship. Songs were sung and prayers said. It was a common thing to hear Captains of these ships carrying saints, comment on the order and peace which prevailed against so many odds.
The "John Bright" docked in New York on 13 July 1868, and plans were already underway for the saints to board the train which would take them to Laramie, Wyoming where outfits were ready to take them on to Utah. The train trip lasted ten days, and on 23 July the Claytons were 573 miles west of Omaha and that much closer to Zion.
Good planning got them with Captain John R. Murdock's mule train, and they left Laramie City with 600 saints in 50 wagons on 27 July 1868, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 19 August 1868. (As I, Violet Isabelle Gray Goodwin, great granddaughter of Richard and Isabelle write this history, it is just exactly 100 years ago today on 19 August 1968. I have much to be grateful for, for coming from such wonderful forebears.) This company of 600 souls lost only six persons in death on this trek.
Elder Murdock took his company through Salt Lake Valley and on south to Beaver county, with some of the saints stopping off along the way with friends and relatives. Richard Clayton decided to take up land in newly opened Minersville, and soon he had a homestead where he opened up a blacksmith shop which he ran for many years.
Richard and Isabele were to see their children grow into maturity and marry. Franklin Richard married Alice Maria Heap, daughter of Smith Heap and Alice Park of St. Louis, Missouri. They were sealed in the Endowment House on 27 July 1874 by Wilford Woodruff. This blessing and privilege was worth any trials or hardships they had gone through to make the trip to America. To be married by an Apostle in the House of the Lord was a dream realized.
Franklin must have had a good education for we find him doing much in this new country, and even at one time was a federal employee. He was on the committee which formed the bylaws at the first town meeting at Minersville. He started a newspaper called "The Southern Utonion," and also had the "Beaver County Record." In 1880 he was the census enumerator for that area. At this time he was father to a young son 6 and half years old. Surely much more can be known of this public spirited young man who, perhaps, had some early training in the offices of the "Millennial Star" in Liverpool.
Franklin and Alice were the parents of five sons born in Minersville and Beaver, Utah--their birthdays ranging from 1874 to 1888. Their names were Franklin Richard, Jr.; Charles; Ernest; Willard; and Rufus. Charles and Rufus died soon after birth. In fact, Charles is listed as a premature birth, so we have no way of knowing if he lived at all; but, he must have because his death date is listed in the Beaver County Courthouse.
Margaret Ellen met and married James Goff on 30 March 1870 when she was 17 years of age. For some reason she didn't have the blessing of a temple marriage as her brother did. Margaret was a stalwart English stock. She was a large robust woman and a good wife and mother. These good people are my grandparents, parents to my mother, Isabelle, named after her Grandmother. James and Margaret Ellen's children were born and raised in Minersville, and also some of their grandchildren.
These pioneer people were happy to be in America and especially for their membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But many times they suffered hardships even now, none of the modern conveniences that we have today. They had to boil the drinking water until they were able to lay pipes for more sanitary water to drink, and when they did this there was only a limited number of water faucets in town, and many people had to carry their drinking water for quite a distance. The bath water and water used to wash the clothes was usually dipped up from the irrigation ditches. Their clothes had to be washed in a large round tub with a washboard and homemade lye soap which would usually sting the hands and leave them sore and chappy. Flat irons were heated on the wood kitchen stoves and used for ironing the clothes. Many other things went to make pioneer life a hard life. But, it was also a period of time when people were more friendly and neighborly. They took time for dances for the married folks and also the young folk that hadn't reached that age. Minersville had a wood dance each year. The men of the town would go out in the church. This would furnish the heat for the cold winter when the church building was used. Then they would have a big dance where all would have a good time. They not only had good times on the holidays, but many times in between.
Margaret Ellen and James were the proud parents of eight children. They too knew the sorrow of having sick babies and losing them in death. Their children's birthdays ranged between the years of 1871 and 1889. Their names were as follows: Edward, James Edward, Joseph, Wilford George, Isabelle, Alfred Aaron, Ernest Richard and Lorin Elisha. The first, third and seventh children died as babies. James Edward married and had to children. His wife died. Later James married Suzie Veater. They were the parents of a large family. Their children were born and raisesd in Panquitch, Utah. Wilford married Louise Worthen and they lived in St. George, Utah. They never knew the joy of having a family. I loved my mother's brothers very much, they were good uncles. They were kind and fun loving.
My dear mother, Isabelle, lived in Minersville with her parents. She met a young fellow that was visiting with his brother in town. His name was Columbus Burdick Gray. He was from St. George, Utah. They fell in love and were married and made Minersville their home. They were the parents of seven children. They lost their second baby in death. Alfred Aaron married Susannah Jones from Paragonah, Utah. They lived in Minersville and Milford, Utah. To this union four children were born: DeWayne, Darwin, Juanita, and Alfred. Aunt Suzie died of cancer. Juanita was a very nice-looking girl. When was was in her 20's she became ill, and later the whole family was saddened to find out the cause of her illness was cancer. She died in a short time. Alfred also had the sad fate of not living a very long life, as he was also stricken with cancer. The sorrow the family felt was almost more than they could bear.
Uncle Alfred married a second wife, Margaret Bullock. Aunt Margaret had been a school teacher in Milford. She was a devoted wife and Mother to her step children and her own. She became the mother of three lovely sons--Eugene, Kim, and Ralph. Ralph was eight years of age, just the age where he could be baptized into the church. He was tragically killed while playing in the back yard. He cut his throat accidentally on a clothes line wire. Later, DeWayne was killed tragically also. A load of huge poles came down on top of him and crushed him. How much more could one family stand? The family had lived in Bingham, Utah for a long time. After the children were marred and just the two of them left home, they moved to Midvale, Utah. Kim and his young wife were having a pleasure trip to Las Vegas, Nevada when his life was brought to a sudden halt. When he died from a heart attack in the hotel room, this left only Aunt Margaret and Gene of that particular family--also Darwin in California. Aunt Margaret had her grandchildren to bring happiness and joy in her declining years.
Lorin Elisha, the last child of Margaret Ellen and James Goff lived in Minersville all of his life. He married Ethel Booth, daughter of James Booth. They lived in the same house as Lorin's parents had lived. Uncle Lorin worked as a farmer and sheepherder. They had a large fruit orchard and always raised a large garden. They had a family of nine children. They lived only one block from our house, so as children many hours were spent playing the orchard with our cousins. We also ate many meals at Aunt Ethel's.
As our mother had died when we were children in 1918, they seemed to want to help us all they could. Playing in their fruit orchard was the highlight of my childhood. Aunt Ethel used to give us a bucket for picking cherries. They had many apple trees which we enjoyed climbing in; we also spent many hours playing in the shade.
Elizabeth Ann, the baby daughter of Richard and Isabelle, had grown up too and was of the age to marry. A young man, named Joseph Dupaix, had traveled from California to Utah and stopped off at Minersville, where he met Elizabeth Ann and fell in love with her, and they were married on 2 June 1872. Joseph Henry Dupaix was born 16 January 1827 in Olmuty, Austria. His parents were from Luxemburg. His occupation was mining and he was a storekeeper also. They lived in Minersville where their five children were born. Mignonette, a baby girl, was born in 1872 and died as a child. Athos Joseph, born in 1876 married Rosina Gray. Francis Lorraine was born in 1879, married Lucille Agnus Webb. Henry Wilson, born in 1885 married Uletta Smith. Anna Theresa born 1888 was unmarried.
The second son, Francis Lorraine, was persuaded by his wife Lucille to take his aged mother to the temple for her endowments and sealings to her dead husband her children. Lucille was a very spiritual and faithful person. She was quite ill one day. She felt inspired, and it was revealed to her that the temple work should be done for her husband's parents. Elizabeth Ann, mother of Francis, had been baptized twice and refused to be baptized again, so they got consent to take her to the temple for her endowments and sealings to her husband and children. Satan tried several times to stop this work from being done. Lucille's husband was struck violently ill the morning they were packing their suitcases to go to the temple. His wife encouraged him and helped him to dress. He felt all right when he got to the temple, then during the session he was ill again. Two of the brethren took him out and administered to him and he was able to go ahead and have the work done for his father so that the sealing could be done. Lucille, telling this story of her mother-in-law says, "Grandma Dupaix handed her crutches and said 'here, I won't be needing these.' Later in the temple she walked up and down a long flight of stairs." To Lucille's memory, she never used them again.
This was the first and the last time that Elizabeth Ann had gone to the temple. Her face shown with a radiant glow that day, and she was very happy for these wonderful blessings that she had experienced that day. At this time the Dupaix's were living in Salt Lake City. Elizabeth Ann (Grandma Dupaix passed away two years later in l937). She was 79 years of age at the time she had gone to the temple.
Returning to the history of Richard and Isabelle, they now found their lives easier as the children married and made their own homes. They found joy in their posterity and enjoyed their lives together with family and friends.
On 29 January 1890, Isabelle died suddenly of a hemmorage of the lungs and was buried at Minersville Cemetery at age 69. Richard, along and lonely, followed her soon after on 2 March 1890 at age 75. He also is buried in the Minersville Cemetery. These good folks have many who will call them blessed, for much temple work has been done because they were converted and joined the church. Isabelle has been named heir for at least 39 names in the temple. They lived in full faith in the gospel with a happy assurance of the resurrection to again be united with their loved ones.
We, the decendants of these good people, feel that we owe much to our ancestors for the trails and hardships which they endured that we might have a richer and fuller life here in America. They have left us a heritage to be proud of.