LFA Newsletter Volume 47, Issue 1 (Summer 2020)
From LFAwiki
7731 Jefferson Road
Magna, UT 84044
board@livingstonfamily.org
| Volume: 47 Issue: 1 - (View the PDF Version) | Date: Summer 2020 |
Contents |
NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION & COMMUNICATION
WE WANT TO SHARE OUR NEWSLETTER WITH MORE FAMILY MEMBERS!! EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PLANNED EVENTS AND BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS AND HERITAGE. PLEASE HELP US BY SENDING THE NAMES, EMAILS, AND PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED LIVINGSTON FAMILY. WE WILL KEEP THIS INFORMATION SECURE AND ONLY USE IT TO SEND THE PDF VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER AND REUNION INFORMATION. SEND TO MIKE LIVINGSTON AT MBLIVI@GMAIL.COM.
A Message From Our Board Chair
By Eric Epperson
Who knew that 2020 would start off in such a dismal, unpredictable fashion?! The idea behind social distancing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic, has rocked our world! Three months ago, who could anticipate all the virus implications we now live with? At this time, given the recent changes we’ve seen in our daily lives, we are unable to hold our upcoming June reunion.
I hope you all are finding ways to stay healthy, safe, and happy during these unprecedented times! Now, more than ever, we need to pull together as family and find ways to stay connected with those we love! May you all enjoy your immediate and extended family member associations this summer, as much as allowed, and please anticipate that our 2021 Livingston Family Reunion will be different, and even more enjoyable, than the wonderful reunions we have had in years past!
Lovingly,
Eric Epperson
2020 Reunion
By Amy Metler
Every year, we look forward to connecting as cousins, strengthening familial bonds, and learning more about the amazing Livingston heritage we all share. However, given the concerns around COVID- 19 we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the Livingston Family Reunion for 2020.
This was a very tough call to make, as the yearly reunion is one of our favorite ways to celebrate being a Livingston, but we need to prioritize the health and safety of all our cousins.
We love you all and want everyone safe and healthy. Thank you for being understanding of these strange times and the difficulty and weight of the decision made.
Helen Livingston Watts (1837-1915), Daughter of Archibald and Helen Muir Connor
History of Helen Livingston Watts compiled from information gathered by Georgia Memmott, Bountiful, Utah, from church records, history found in Smithfield... as a city on a hill, the history of Helen from Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, page 3285, and from memories of Helen told to Georgia by her grandmother, Harriett Miles Watts, wife of Joseph Watts who was the nephew of Helen Livingston and her husband Joseph Watts.
| Birthdate | 17 Jan 1837, Shotts, Ironworks, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Death | 7 Aug 1915, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah |
| Parents | Archibald and Helen Muir Conner Livingston |
| Pioneer | Richard Ballentyne Company 1855 |
| Spouse | Joseph Watts |
| Married | 1 Feb 1859, Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Ordinances | Baptized 12 Jan 1856, Carson Valley, Utah Territory Endowment 15 Nov 1861, Sealed to Spouse 15 Nov 1861, Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah, Endowment House Record, Page 612 #4174 Sealed to Parents 16 Oct 1901, Manti, Utah |
Helen, sometimes known as Ellen, lost her mother Helen Muir Conner, in Scotland when she was but nine months old. Her father, Archibald, married again two years later and after ten years, he and his wife both died of cholera within two months of each other. This left Helen to the mercy of the world at the tender age of twelve years. She found work in different families for six years. Then her grandmother, Christina Livingston, having joined the Mormon Church, decided to come to the United States and join the Saints in Zion or Deseret Territory. She brought her grandchildren with her. Her son Archibald
had three children by Helen Muir; James, Charles and Helen. After the death of Helen his wife, he married Jean Bain and had Jane, Isabella, Archibald and William. James came to America first and later sent for his grandmother Christina, who was caring for the other children in England to come to America. He paid part of their fare through the Perpetual Education Fund. She left Holytown with the 5 grandchildren and her two youngest children, James and Ellen in November of 1854 and stayed in Liverpool, England one month then she left England in January 17th 1855 and was on the sea for two months. Young Helen spent three months at Garden Grove with her family waiting for an ox team to take them across the plains. She left in June 1855 with Richard Ballentyne’s Company, reaching Salt Lake City in October 1855. She walked every step of the way, barefooted and even without a bonnet. Everyone was put on half rations the last half of the way.
In Salt Lake, Helen went to work for Hursel Barton. Helen worked nineteen weeks at 50 cents a week and from this money she bought a pair of shoes and a calico dress. The next summer in 1856, she went to Carson Valley with Bishop Covey and family and she being now anxious to join the Mormon Church was baptized by Elder John Hyde, who was traveling in the same company on his way to serve a mission to the Sandwich Islands.
After reaching Carson, she had a hard time for over a year, having to work most of the time just for board, so she came back to Salt Lake City and then moved South with the people due to fear of Johnston’s Army. She went to Spanish Fork with the William Branch Family. Returning to Salt Lake in 1859, and finding work at the home of Francis Pumroy. She became acquainted with Joseph Watts, a new convert from England. They were married by Elder Atwood that summer. She was twenty- two years old and Joseph was forty-nine years old. That summer they journeyed north to Summit (Smithfield) Cache County, Utah arriving the first of May 1860. They made themselves a little home on Summit Creek in the fort to begin with, which was two and a half blocks west of the main street. They went back to Salt Lake City the next year, 1861, to go through the endowment house to be sealed.
Joseph Watts was the son of William Watts of Froxfield, Wiltshire, England, born 1809. He and his brother, Henry and Henry’s wife, Eliza Whale, came to America with the help of the Perpetual Emigration Fund too. They came in 1855. This was shortly after they were baptized in England.
Joseph and Helen lived happy together for a little over forty years until Joseph was stricken with paralysis in October and died five weeks later, Nov 29 , 1899. They had no children to
bless this union but helped and enjoyed their nieces and nephews of brother Henry Watts (seen in the photo). They even took in a little Pilkington girl to help raise for awhile. She was known as Aunt Helen or Aunt Ellen. Many hardships and trials were endured laboring to make a farming community while living with the threat of Indians. Helen lived sixteen more years alone in her little two room home after her husband died with the exception of a few months under the nursing care of a neighbor, Jane Claypool. She died of acute intestinal problems and bronchitis. She is buried next to Joseph in the Smithfield Cemetery.
NOTE: The description of how Granny immigrated to America is different than the description of the history written by Margaret Mae Bergeson Livingston, which is at the following link: History of Christina Campbell Livingston
Association Board Information
| Photo | Name, Phone | Assignment | Line | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Eric Epperson, 801-599-4327 | Chair | William Line | 2022 |
 | Dennis Davis, xxx-xxx-xxxx | Co-chair | James Line | 2020 |
 | Mickie Lewis, 801-250-9323 | Treasurer | James Line | 2022 |
 | Evie Brewerton, 801-580-7939 | Secretary | William Line | 2021 |
| | Amy Metler, xxx-xxx-xxxx | Reunions | William Line | 2021 |
 | Christine Worthington, xxx-xxx-xxxx | Reunions | James Line | 2022 |
 | Barb Venema, xxx-xxx-xxxx | Reunion Committee | James Line | 2021 |
 | Karolyn Hall, 719-661-4014 | Membership/Newsletter | James Line | 2020 |
 | Jaynann Lillywhite, 505-632-2514 | Family History Research | Isabella Line | 2020 |
 | Mike Livingston, 801-850-3616 | Newsletter | James Line | 2021 |
The PDF version of this newsletter can be viewed and downloaded by clicking
Fall Newsletter (620KB).