Charles and Rachel Hawthorne Simkins

Story of Charles and Rachel Hawthorne Simkins

    In the family of Charles Simkins there were nine children, eight boys and one girl, Eliza Charlotte, who died in infancy.  Both father and mother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, were baptized, and planned to immigrate to America.  The father was by trade a pattern maker.  The mother began to make preparations for the long sea voyage.  There was much to do in breaking up the home - clothes for so many boys had to be made, and many things to be disposed of.  In the meantime, the father of such a large family had much to plan for, as they were poor people and had to save every penny they could for the voyage.

     Preparations were about completed, and all were happy at the thought of the journey and wonderful change they were about to make.  The mother was one day busily engaged in packing a large low steamer trunk when she was suddenly taken very ill.  Father thought it was perhaps a stroke, but in a few hours she passed away, leaving a stricken father and eight boys, three of whom were small.  All thoughts of the voyage were forgotten until the dazed family could recover.  The money that was saved for the voyage was used to lay the loved mother away.  The father put his trust in his Heavenly Father and said, "Thy will be done."

     Again the father tried to save money for the voyage, but without the mother to help plan and save, the father realized they could not all go to America at the same time.  So a council was held among the family, and it was decided the father and the small boys were to go first, and the older boys were to stay in England until the father could send enough money for them.  In the meantime, the older ones procured work, and so the family was separated for a time.

     Finally, after careful planning and work, the family was reunited in America.  They crossed the plains just as they could, working their way through, the father keeping the young boys with him.  Later, he married a very worthy woman who had lost her husband on the sea voyage coming over.  She was indeed a very worthy mother to the family of boys.  The father, Charles Simkins, died March 13, 1875 at Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah, at the age of 77 years, and was buried in the Beaver City Cemetery.

     Given to me by my Aunt Charlotte, grand-daughter of Charles Simkins, daughter of Hezekiah and Ann Darling Wiley Simkins.

                                                                                  /s/   Erma Johnson

Note:   From the book "Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah" by Frank Esshom, published by the Pioneer Book and Publishing Company, the following information is obtained:

Charles Simkins was born March 26, 1789 in Lancastershire, England, and died March 13, 1875.  He came to Utah in 1859 with the merchandise Train with Abraham O. Smoot in charge.  Married Rachel Hawthorne of Staffordshire, England, a daughter of William Hawthorne of Staffordshire.  The children are James, Daniel, Charles Jr., Hezekiah, William, Rosten, Isaiah, and Joseph, Sons, and one daughter, Eliza Charlotte.