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    William Rowsell

    Birth: 1 November 1843 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England
    Death: 2 July 1916 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
    3rd great-grandfather (my relation)

    Family

    Parents

    • Douglas Rowsell
    • Ann Cleal

    Spouse & Children

    • Mercy Webber (1838-1874)
      • Rosina Rowsell​
      • William D. Rowsell
    • Grace Lye (1852-1931)
      • James Albert Rowsell
      • Fredrick Rowsell
      • Eliza Mercy Rowsell
      • Walter Rowsell
      • George Alma Rowsell
      • Ellen Rowsell
      • Charles Rowsell
      • Arthur Alvin Rowsell
      • Grace Bertha Rowsell
      • Evy May Rowsell
      • Elva Rowsell
      • Alonzo Rowsell

    Historical Overview

    William Rowsell was born and raised in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. He was the son of Douglas Rowsell and Ann Cleal. 

    William married Mercy Webber on 25 December 1864 in Bourton, Dorset, England. William and Mercy likely met while boarding at the same house in Crewkerne when they were both working as weavers, as they were both recorded in the same household in the 1861 census.

    Together, William and Mercy had two known children, Rosina and William D. Rowsell.

    William and his family joined the Mormon church in the early 1860s and in 1873 they immigrated to the U.S. to join the rest of the Mormons in Utah. Shortly after arriving in Utah, Mercy became ill and died on 2 May 1874.

    The next year William married Grace Lye in Salt Lake City on 15 February 1875. Grace was also from Somerset, England, joined the Mormon church, and immigrated to Utah.

    Grace and William had at twelve children, including my great great-grandfather Walter Rowsell.

    William died 2 July 1916 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA.
    - Last updated 27 December 2018

    Timeline

    Picture
    1843 Birth Register (GRO Certified Copy)

    1 November 1843 - Birth

    William Rowsell was born 1 November 1843 in the town of Crewkerne. He was the son of Douglas Rowsell and Ann Cleal. He was one of the youngest children of Douglas and Ann. ​- Last updated 14 May 2017

    Crewkerne, Somerset, Endland

    Source: General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth, County of Somerset, Chard Registration District, Crewkerne Sub-district, William Rowsell, born 1 November 1843 in Crewkerne, registered 27 November 1843; General Register Office, Southport, England.
    Picture
    1843 Baptism Register

    26 November 1843 - Baptism

    On 26 November 1843, only a couple of weeks after his birth, William was baptized in the parish church in Crewkerne.  ​- Last updated 5 January 2019

    Crewkerne, Somerset, England

    Source: Church of Crewkerne (Church of England, Somerset), Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Crewkerne in the County of Somerset (1842-1965), p. 29, number 227, William Rowsell, baptized 26 November 1843; FHL Microfilm 1526554, Item 22.
    All images below are from the Old UK Photos website. Each photo is a link to the website.
    For more photos and information about Crewkerne, see the Crewkerne page here.
    Picture
    1851 UK Census

    1851 - Residence (Census)

    William was 7 years old in 1851. His parents, Douglas (age 50) and Ann (42) had four other children. The family was living on South Street in Crewkerne, Somerset, England.

    Douglas was a general laborer, likely working with various people in the community. Ann was a glover (someone who makes or sells gloves).  ​- Last updated 5 January 2019

    Crewkerne, Somerset, England

    Source: 1851 England Census, Crewkerne, Somerset, ED 8a, Folio 369, p. 14, Dwelling 54, South Street, Douglas Rowsell Household; digital image, “1851 England Census,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed January 2016.
    Picture
    1861 UK Census

    1861 - Residence (Census)

    By 1861 William was living as a boarder in the household of Henry Diamond and his family. William was on 17 years old, but at this point his mother had passed away and his father's presence is unknown.

    William was working as a weaver for a woolen web business.

    His future wife, Mercy Webber, was also a boarder in the same household. She was also a weaver, likely for the same company William and Henry worked at. William and Mercy likely met while boarding for Henry Diamond. ​- Last updated 5 January 2019

    Crewkerne, Somerset, England

    Source: 1861 England Census, Crewkerne, Somerset, ED 4, Folio 65, p. 25, Dwelling 111, Viney Bridge, Henry Dimond Household; digital image, “1861 England Census,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed December 2018.
    Picture
    1863 LDS Baptism (Membership Record)

    12 August 1863 - Baptism (LDS)

    William Rowsell joined the Mormon Church on 12 August 1863 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. His future wife, Mercy Webber, had previously joined the Mormon Church on 27 November 1860 and so it is likely he joined after having a number of discussions with her, while living at the home of Henry Diamond (see 1861 Census above).

    William was baptized by a man named William Mills and was confirmed by Edmond F. Bird. While looking at other church membership records, it appears there were a number of people from the Diamond family who also joined the Mormon Church. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    Crewkerne, Somerset, England

    Source: Crewkerne Branch, England, British Mission (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, England), Record of Members, 1848-1879, number 101, William Rowsell, born 1 November 1843, baptized 12 August 1863; FHL Microfilm 86993, Item 4.
    Picture
    1864 Marriage to Mercy Webber

    25 December 1864 - Marriage to Mercy Webber

    William Rowsell and Mercy Webber were married on 25 December 1864 at the Parish Church of Bourton in Dorset, England. William was 21 years old and Mercy was 26 years old.

    Sometime after 1861 William and Mercy moved to Bourton and decided to get married on Christmas day in 1864. 

    ​William's father was Douglas Rowsell, a gardener, and Mercy's father was William Webber, a lawyer. ​- Last updated 5 January 2019
    Mercy Webber
    (1838-1874)

    Bourton, Dorset, England

    Bourton is about 45km north east of Crewkerne. 
    Source: Parish Church of Bourton (Church of England, Dorset) Record of Marriages, p. 53, number 106, William Rowsell and Mercy Webber, married 25 December 1864; digital image, “Dorset, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed December 2018.
    Picture
    1871 UK Census

    1871 - Residence (Census)

    In 1871 William and Mercy's little family was living in Misterton, Somerset, England. Misterton is a tiny village just south of Crewkerne.

    William and Mercy had two children, Rosina (age 5) and William D. (age 11 months). Rosina was born in Bourton, Dorset, suggesting that William and Mercy lived there for a period of time after their marriage there. William D. was born in Crewkerne, Somerset, so they likely moved back to the Crewkerne/Misterton area before he was born.

    William was working for another web weaving business, this time as a girth web weaver. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    Crewkerne, Somerset, England

    Source: 1871 England Census, Misterton, Somerset, ED 1, Folio 7, p. 4, Dwelling 20, [no street name], William Rowsell Household; digital image, “1871 England Census,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed December 2018.
    Picture
    1871 UK Census

    23 July 1873 - Immigration to United States

    By 1873 William and his family decided to leave England and head west to join the other Mormons in Utah Territory. The family made their way north to Liverpool and in early July boarded the passenger ship Nevada.

    According to a history on FamilySearch, the ship departed Liverpool on 10 July 1873 towards New York City. There were 587 total passengers, 283 of which were members of the Mormon Church.

    They arrived in New York City on 23 July 1873 and then boarded a train to join the rest of the Mormons in Utah. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    Liverpool, Lancashire, England

    New York City, New York, USA

    Source: United States, Treasury Department, Customs Service, Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897, S.S. Nevada, arrived 23 July 1873, Line 392, Wm Rowell [Rowsell]; digital image, “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed December 2018.

    2 May 1874 - Death of wife, Mercy (Webber) Rowsell

    William's wife, Mercy, became sick shortly after they arrived in Utah. She died of consumption (tuberculosis) on 2 May 1874 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019
    Mercy Webber
    (1838-1874)

    Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, USA

    Source: Salt Lake City (Utah) City Recorder, Record of Deaths in Salt Lake City, volume 1 (numbers 0001-7960) (1847 – 1884), p. 158, line 6286, Mercy Rowsell, died 2 May 1874, Ward 9, Salt Lake City; FHL Digital Collection 4139616, digital image, “Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1849-1949,” FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), accessed January 2019.

    15 February 1875 - Marriage to Grace Lye

    A little more than a year after the death of William's wife, Mercy, he married Grace Lye on 15 February 1875 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory.

    William and Grace first met while in Crewkerne, England. They were both born and raised there and the both joined the Mormon Church and immigrated to Utah.

    According to family trees, they were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. The Endowment House was a building used to perform certain Mormon ceremonies, like marriage, until the Salt Lake Temple was finished years later.
    Grace Lye
    ​(1852-1931)
    Records for the Endowment House are not available to the general public, so I don't have a copy of the record to cite as my source.  ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, USA

    Source: “William Rowsell,” PID KWZR-C56, Family Tree, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), accessed January 2019.

    ​Note: Endowment records are not available to the public. You must be temple recommend holding member of the Mormon church, and even then you are not allowed to make photocopies of the endowment records, so the FamilySearch Family Tree is the best source I can provide for their marriage.

    Children of William Rowsell and Grace Lye

    William and Grace had a total of 12 children together.
    • James Albert Rowsell (1876-1957)
    • Fredrick Rowsell (1877-1950)
    • Eliza Mercy Rowsell (1878-1947)
    • Walter Rowsell (1879-1970)
    • George Alma Rowsell (1881-1963)
    • Ellen Rowsell (1883-1924)
    • Charles Rowsell (1885-1971)
    • Arthur Alvin Rowsell (1887-1974)
    • Grace Bertha Rowsell (1888-1975)
    • Evy May Rowsell (1892-1893)
    • Elva Rowsell (1894-1894)
    • Alonzo Rowsell (1895-1959)
     ​- Last updated 6 January 2019
    Source: FamilySearch Family Tree and various sources of my own research.
    Picture
    1900 U.S. Federal Census

    1900 - Residence (Census)

    By 1900 William and his family moved from Richmond to West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah. I am not sure the exact date when they moved here.

    William was 57 years old and Grace was 47 years old. Five of their children were still living with them:
    • Charles (15 years)
    • Arthur (13 years)
    • Bertha (11 years)
    • Alonzo (4 years)

    The census has some incorrect information on it. It shows that William immigrated in 1870, when it was really 1873. It also shows his birth date in 1842, when it was really 1843. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

    Source: 1900 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule), West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah, ED 67, Sheet 9, Dwelling 147, Family 150, William Rowsell household; digital image, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed January 2019.
    Picture
    1910 U.S. Federal Census

    1910 - Residence (Census)

    In 1910 William and Grace were still living in West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah. William was 66 years old and Grace was 56 years old. They only had two of their children still living with them; Grace (age 21) and Alonzo (age 14).

    This is the last U.S. Federal Census that William appeared in before his death in 1916. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

    Source: 1910 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule), Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, ED 116, Sheet 2A, Dwelling 29, Family 29, William Rowsell household; digital image, "1910 United States Census," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed April 2017.
    Picture
    1916 Death Certificate

    2 July 1916 - Death

    William died on 2 July 1916 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, of stomach cancer. He was 71 years old. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

    Source: Utah, State Board of Health, Death Certificate, Certificate 932, William Rowsell, died 2 July 1916, in Third Precinct, Salt Lake County, Utah; digital image, “Utah Death Certificates, 1904-1956,” FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), accessed March 2014.
    Picture
    1916 Obituary

    4 July 1916 - Obituary

    William's obituary was published in the Salt Lake Tribune​ on 4 July 1916. Below is a transcript of the obituary. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019
    OLD UTAH RESIDENT DIES FROM CANCER
    William Rowsell, Prominent Farmer of West Jordan District, Succumbs to Long Illness
     
    William Rowsell, an old resident of Utah and for many years a prominent farmer of the West Jordan district, is dead at his home, Fourteenth South and State streets, from cancer. He had been ill six months.

    Mr. Rowsell was 72 years of age and came to Utah from his native England at the age of 24 years. He brought with him his wife, who was Miss Mercy Webber. They had two children. Mrs. Rowsell died shortly after they came to Utah. Some years later Mr. Rowsell married Miss Grace Lye, who also had come over from England. Twelve children were born to this union, of whom ten are now living. The second Mrs. Rowsell survives her husband.

    The children living are William D. Rowsell and Mrs. Rose Allsop, of the first union and both of Salt Lake; James A. and Fred Rowsell of West Jordan, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoaglund of Midvale, Walter Rowsell of Salt Lake, G. A. Rowsell of Garfield, Mrs. Ellen Davis of Salt Lake, Charles and Arthur A. Rowsell of Garfield, Mrs. Bertha Payne of Salt Lake and Alonzo Rowsell of Salt Lake. There are thirty-two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

    After Mr. Rowsell came here he worked in the smelters. Then for fifteen years he lived in Richmond, Cache county, returning to Salt Lake county to engage in farming at West Jordan. He was an active member of the Mormon church.
    ​
    The funeral will be held at 1 o'clock Wednesday in the West Jordan meeting house, following a brief service at the home at noon. Burial will be in West Jordan cemetery.

    Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

    Source: “Old Utah Resident Dies from Cancer,” obituary, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah, 4 July 1916, p. 3, col. 2, William Douglas Rowsell; digital image, “Salt Lake Tribune, 1916-1917,” Utah Digital Newspapers (http://digitalnewspapers.org/), accessed December 2015.

    5 July 1916 - Burial

    William was buried in the West Jordan City Cemetery on 5 July 1916.

    ​His wife, Grace, was also later buried right next to him. ​- Last updated 6 January 2019

    West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

    Source: “William Douglas Rowsell, Sr,” Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com), West Jordan City Cemetery, West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah, William Rowsell, born 1 November 1843, died 2 July 1916, memorial 19532580, accessed January 2019.
    Disclaimer: All of the information on this site is according to my personal knowledge from conducting thorough research. There are many online trees and other information available online that may have more information than this site, but I do not add information to this site unless I have verified or discovered the information myself. Also, at any time I may change/update information on this site based on new evidence. If you have any questions about the information on this page or you are a distant cousin, let me know!
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