Thanks to the research of Brian Davey for the Dent, England Historical Society, we have the following information about my great great grandfather, William Walton BURTON, of Ogden, Utah and Star Valley, Wyoming. (William was the father of Arthur Fielding BURTON, who was the father of Calpurna BURTON (FLUCKIGER), my paternal grandmother). This shows William Walton Burton’s ancestors toWilliam Thistlethwaite.
William Walton Burton --- 1st Generation ---
William Walton Burton wrote this biographical sketch: In April1851 he was ordained an elder and appointed to travel in the Bradford conference. He wrote the following:
“For nearly a year I could see but little success attending my labors. In the meantime, a young man had been sent to labor with me, but he became discouraged, went home and left me alone again. Some of those who had been friendly, became prejudiced against me, through slanderous stories circulated by ministers, and almost every door that had been opened was now closed.
While in this condition, I took shelter, one cold wet day (and I had the tooth ache at the time), under a tree, and offered a most earnest prayer, that the Lord would open my way before me, help me to live acceptably before him, and crown my efforts with success. The Lord answered my prayer, for it was not long before I had many friends and all the places opened to preach in that I could attend to.
About this time (1852) ministers of six denominations in Knaresborough sent for one John Theobold, a lecturer and author of slanderous works against us, to come and help them put down "Mormonism." On his arrival, he gave five lectures and issued a challenge to meet any of the leaders of our Church in discussion.
The president of the Bradford conference reported our condition to the presidency of the British mission, and asked counsel as to what would be best for us to do; word came to the effect that in our case it would be best to accept the challenge for discussion and that I was the one to meet Mr. Theobold. As other and more experienced Elders were within reach, I had not expected this; however, I resolved to obey, trust in the Lord and do my best.
This was in 1852, and during the week that the discussion was pending the revelation on plural marriage was first published in the "Millennial Star."
2 branches organized Five nights' discussion was held. The Lord was with us. Our friends increased every day, and soon after the debate was over, we had a branch at Knaresborough of thirty-eight members and another branch at Skelton, about eight miles from there, of eight members. One night, while trying to find my way through some fields, to a place where I expected to lodge, I lost my way, and having no overcoat I walked to keep warm. I was quite absorbed in thought, thinking how much the Elders were trying to do for the world and how little their efforts were appreciated. Suddenly I stopped, without knowing why. Having a cane in my hand, I instinctively put it before me and found no bottom. I then remembered that somewhere in the fields there was a deep stone quarry. I turned around, felt my way with my cane, and a few rods away found a road. I knew where I was and that this was the stone quarry.
John Cummings, of Skelton, was my friend from the first time we met. He invited me to make my home with him, when in that neighborhood, and he also opened his house for me to hold meetings in. Notwithstanding all this, his wife was bitterly opposed to me and our people. Mr. Cummings and I were sitting up late one evening conversing on the principles of the gospel, after holding meetings there for some months, when Mrs. Cummings said: "I had a strange dream last night. I thought that I was walking along a road and that Mr. Burton was there. He ran after me, and caught me."
I answered, "The interpretation of that dream is that I shall soon baptize you." Her response was: "No, never, you will never baptize me, for I shall never join your Church." She seemed so positive that I felt that perhaps I had said too much.
About two weeks afterwards I had an appointment to hold meeting at Langthorpe, two or three miles away. It was rumored that a Baptist minster had said that he would be there and expose "Mormonism." Mrs. Cummings was induced to walk that distance to hear us exposed. The minister was not there, but that night Mrs. Cummings was convinced of the truth. I was invited to go home with them. Mrs. Cummings scarcely said a word all the way home.
When we entered the house, it was nearly midnight. She sat down and seemed to be very thoughtful. Her husband turned to her and said, "Hannah, why don't you take your things off?" She responded "John, are you ready to be baptized tonight." He answered, "No, not quite ready tonight." But she said that she could not sleep, if not baptized that night; and, turning to me, she said, "Mr. Burton, will you baptize me tonight?" I answered, "Yes, if your husband will go with us." He assented, and though it was midnight, and the winds were whistling through the trees, we started off down to the river, about two miles away, and I baptized her, fulfilling the interpretation to her dream to the very letter.
From England to Utah through New Orleans and Kansas City
Feb. 22, 1854, I sailed on the ship "Windermere" from Liverpool for New Orleans. We were eight weeks and five days on the way, and we encountered heavy storms. On the 18th of March we were in the same latitude that we were in on the 8th. The weather was very rough, and the captain of the vessel came to Elder Daniel Garns, who presided over the Saints, and said, "Mr. Garns, I have done all I can for the vessel, and I am afraid that it cannot stand this sea. We are in great danger. I don't know, whether there is a God or not. Your people say there is, and if there is a God and He will hear you, you had better talk to Him."
It was early in the morning; a fast was decided upon, and prayer meeting held at 10 a.m. The storm abated a little—enough, to make us feel out of danger—but continued in considerable force till the 18th. On the 14th (March) smallpox broke out. There were forty cases on board and thirteen funerals took place between Liverpool and New Orleans. On the 17th the ship caught fire under the cooking galley. Great excitement prevailed, until the fire was extinguished. On the 27th, the provisions and water supply failed and from that time till we reached New Orleans April 23, 1854, our ration was one sea biscuit a day.
We had no new cases of small pox after leaving New Orleans, but were afflicted with cholera, which proved fatal to many from that time till June 19th, when we commenced our journey over the plains from our camping ground near Kansas City.
We arrived at Salt Lake City Sept. 23, 1854. During the winter I taught school, and resided with my eldest Brother Robert. Soon after my arrival, I was ordained a Seventy and joined the 17th quorum.
March 28, 1856, I married Rachel Fielding. During 1862, 1863 and 1864 I taught school in Kaysville, Davis county, and in the latter year I moved to Ogden, where I taught school for about ten years. I also served many years as superintendent of schools for Weber county, was bookkeeper for the Ogden
Branch Z. C. M. I. for five years, served as first counselor to Joseph Parry, president of the 3rd Ward, and presided over said Ward during Elder Parry's absence on a mission.
For many years, and up to 1882, I served as a member of the city council. In the latter year I resigned. I also served many years as a member of the High Council of Weber Stake and up to my leaving there for Star Valley in 1886. When the Star Valley Stake was organized Aug. 14, 1892, I was appointed first counselor to Elder Geo. Osmond, who was chosen Stake president."
William Walton Burton was born on 23 Mar 1833 at Bradford, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was baptized on 9 Jun 1845 at Bradford, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He emigrated on 22 Feb 1854. He married three Fielding sisters (Rachel, Ellen and Sarah FIELDING) at different times, but all three were concurrently his wives between the years of 1870 and 1906. Between them the three sisters bore him 29 children. Hence he appears twice on the 1880 census, once with Rachel and secondly with both Ellen and Sarah, who are described on the census form as 1st wife and 2nd wife. He married Rachel Fielding (27335), daughter of Joseph Fielding (27414) and Hannah Greenwood (27415), on 28 Mar 1856 at Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA. He was a school teacher in Kaysville, Utah at first and then for about ten years in Ogden from 1862 to 1864. He married Ellen Fielding (19949), daughter of Joseph Fielding (27414) and Hannah Greenwood (27415), on 2 Nov 1862 at Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA. He married Sarah Ann Fielding (27336), daughter of Joseph Fielding (27414) and Hannah Greenwood (27415), on 23 May 1870 at Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA. He was a agricultural employer and wagon dealer in 1880. He appeared on the census of 1880 at Third Street, Ogden, Weber, UTAH, USA. He appeared on the census of 1880 at Weber, UTAH, USA. He moved to Wyoming.
In Star Valley, Wyoming
A History of Lincoln County, Wyoming, records "A Utah man named William Burton moved to the valley (Star Valley, Wyoming) in 1886 and started a store in which his sons, Thomas and Arthur, were interested as well as in ranching. They put up a fine building in Afton and organized the Burton Creamery
Association, a business that has branches throughout the valley, and that has done more to make Star Valley known to the outside world than any other. Star Valley cheese is shipped all over the country, and is highly valued. Other creameries were started and practically every one in the valley is interested in the business."
He was widowed when wife Rachel died on 8 Mar 1906. He was a rancher in 1910. He appeared on the census of 1910 at Monroe Avenue, Ogden, Weber, UTAH, USA. He died on 27 Jun 1918 at Ogden, Weber, UTAH, USA, at age 85. He was buried on 30 Jun 1918 at Ogden, Weber, UTAH, USA.
--- 2nd Generation ---
3. Isabella Walton (7268) was born on 7 Apr 1802 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. She married James Burton (7270), son of James Burton (7340) and Rose Clarkson (7341), on 5 Mar 1825 at Hawes, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. As of 5 Mar 1825, her married name was Burton (7268). She was widowed when husband James died in Bradford on 18 Jul 1849. She emigrated in 1855. She died on 31 Mar 1863 at Kaysville, Davis, Utah, USA, at age 60. She was buried in Apr 1863 at Kaysville City Cemetery, Kaysville, Davis, UTAH, USA.
--- 3rd Generation ---
7. Isabella Lund (6344) was born on 22 Sep 1770 at Garsdale, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. As of 11 Jul 1793, her married name was Walton (6344). She married William Walton (6345), son of Richard Walton (8675) and Isabel Metcalfe (8676), on 11 Jul 1793 at Askrigg, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. She died
on 29 Jul 1827 at age 56. She was buried on 1 Aug 1827 at Gayle, Hawes, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.
--- 4th Generation ---
15. Alice Thistlethwaite (6341) was born on 12 Jan 1737 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. She married Thomas Lund (6342), son of Samuel Lund (6783) and Elizabeth Mason (6782), on 6 Nov 1765 at Leayet, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. As of 6 Nov 1765, her married name was Lund (6341).
She was widowed when husband Thomas died on 20 Apr 1783. She died on 27 Jul 1795 at age 58.
--- 5th Generation ---
30. James5 Thistlethwaite (6186) was born on 6 Jul 1708 at Harborgill, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He married Isabel Fothergill (6187), daughter of John Fothergill (8284) and Margaret Hough (8285), on 19 Dec 1733 at Friends Meeting House, Hawes, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He lived from 1735 to 1745 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He lived in 1748 at Raysgill, Langstrothdale, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned in the will of his father William
Thistlethwaite as an executor in 1766. He was widowed when wife Isabel died on 13 Jul 1770. He was a husbandman in 1779. He died on 24 Feb 1786 at Stalling Busk, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, at age 77. He was buried on 1 Mar 1786 at Bainbridge, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.
--- 6th Generation ---
60. William6 Thistlethwaite (6144) was born circa 1677 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was christened on 10 Mar 1677 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned in the will of his father Richard Thistlethwaite as a beneficiary on 19 Nov 1686. He was mentioned in the will of his uncle Anthony Thistlethwaite as a beneficiary on 16 Feb 1693. He lived from 1698 to 1760 at Harborgill, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned in the will of his brother John as a beneficiary on 5 May 1698. He married Alice Mason (6145), daughter of James Mason (6148) and Alice Mason (6149), on 3 Oct 1705 at Leayet, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned in the will of his father in law James Mason on 3 Dec 1728. He was widowed when wife
Alice died on 7 Mar 1750. He left a will on 6 Feb 1760. He was described as "a handsome man of middle stature, of friendly genteel manner, his disposition somewhat reserved and his words few", by Bernard Thistlethwaite. He lived in 1766 at Rayside, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was a yeoman in 1766. He died on 12 Jul 1766 at Rayside, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was buried on 14 Jul 1766 at Leayet, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.
--- 7th Generation ---
120. Richard Thistlethwaite (6106) was born circa 1621. He was christened on 6 May 1621 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned in the will of his father William Thistlethwaite as joint executor on 7 May 1661. He was mentioned in the will of his mother Isabel Thistlethwaite as a beneficiary on 24 Aug 1666. He married Margaret Harker (6107), daughter
of (--?--) Harker (22843), circa 1676. He was mentioned in the will of his brother John Thistlethwaite as sole executor on 13 Jun 1684. He left a will on 24 Aug 1686. He died in Nov 1686 at Harborgill, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, at age 65. He was buried on 6 Nov 1686 at Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He was mentioned posthumously in the will of his brother Anthony.
--- 8th Generation ---
240. William8 Thistlethwaite (6104) married Isabel Nelson (6105), daughter of Mr (--?--) Nelson (15441), circa 1620. He was mentioned in the will of his brother Richard as a Supervisor and joint executor on 19 Sep 1651. He was one of the ringleaders of an eight year long Tithe Strike against
Trinity College, Cambridge, to whom Dent Tithes had been given by Henry VIII. He left a will on 19 Apr 1660. He died circa 1660 at Harborgill, Dent, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. They had six children - Richard 1621, John 1623, Miles 1625, Anthony 1627, William 1630 and Agnes 1634.
Printed on: 19 Feb 2005 Prepared by:
Brian Davey
13 Osborne Road, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA4 4LS
bdavey7231@aol.com