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| Mary Street Bateman Mother of Samuel Bateman |
Copied from Family Search by Pat Nelson Fonnesbeck - By Cora Garner, a granddaughter
Mary Street was born in Manchester, England, May 12, 1809. She was dark complexioned and very small in stature. She was a very ambitious person and as a young girl had to work hard doing Laundry work. She would carry large baskets of clothes on her head to deliver, as they had to conveyance for such work in those days. How times have changed!
Mary joined the Latter-day Saints Church while in England. She had much faith and trusted in the Lord for guidance and inspiration. She married Thomas Bateman, a large man, weighing over two hundred pounds. There were twelve (12) Children born to this union. Six (6) were born in England and the others in America. They immigrated with their family to the United States on the Ship Lehi. They came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and some time later moved to Nauvoo where they lived until the Saints were driven out by mobs. She was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, there, and his beloved wife, Emma.
Thomas and Mary then moved their family to Winter Quarters, where they remained who years. Her husband was a brick make. He secured plenty of work there and they were able to earn money enough to buy a good team of and wagon in which they traveled to Salt Lake City.
The Bateman family arrived in Salt Lake City in September, 1850. They built a home on the south east corner of West Temple and Second South. The property was owned by a brother, Joseph Bateman. They lived there for some time. Thomas, her husband, worked on the Salt Lake Temple until he became restless and decided to go back to England to dispose of some property he had there. On his return home he was drowned at sea. After he fell over board, his body was never seen again. His death is still a mystery to his family. She never received anything from his property. There was a young man on board the same ship who said that he would see that Thomas money would be delivered safe to the widow; but when he landed in America, he disappeared and they never found or heard from him. It was also known that he had a gold watch for each of his sons, but they never arrived. Too much happened to immigrants with money on their way over.
It was a great sorrow and trial to Mary when she learned of her husband’s death. She was only forty-one years old when left with nine (9) children to struggle in poverty, as it took what money they had to pay for his fare to England. She was blessed with health to work and care for them until they were able to care for their faithful and beloved mother. While she suffered the trial of the Saints in early days, she had faith that all would be well with those who did what was right and followed the counsel of our Leaders. She trusted in her
Heavenly Father for strength to rear her family in the way she had tried to live. She wasn’t
disappointed because her last days were happy with her large posterity.
Mary and family all kept the faith and were workers for the Gospel for which she was proud. After they moved to Wight’s Fort, east of Bingham, on the west side of Jordan River, a fortress was built to protect the people from the Indians. They were not to be trusted as they would steal cattle, horses, and other belongings. The first white child, a grandchild, buried at Wight’s Fort was Mary’s daughter Harriett, who married Lyman Wight. After the people moved from Wight’s Fort, which was named after Lyman Wight’s father, Lewis Wight, it was used for many years as the cemetery for the south end of Salt Lake County. There are people who buried their loved ones in early days, who still bury their dead there. However, there aren’t many others who use this cemetery at present. Mary’s daughter, Harriett, and her husband moved to Brigham City. She was anxious that her mother would come with her. There were three brothers, Joseph, William and James and two sisters, Martha and Margaret who were unmarried at the time. Two brothers, Samuel and Thomas, who were
married, took homestead on what is called West Jordan, on the west side of the Jordan
River. Mary, with the remainder of her family thought it would be better that she go to Brigham City for awhile.
Trouble again came to upset the saints, as stories had been told to cause Johnson’s Army to follow and try to molest their happiness. The counsel from Brigham Young was that the Saints move south until the army passed through the country. They were very peaceable and marched right through the valley and settled at Camp Floyd. They decided the things they had been told were false and instead of causing trouble they proved a blessing, as the army had all kinds of food and the people were able to trade with the soldiers for provisions they were not able to get otherwise. As it happened, the Lord again protected His children from further trouble and here again Mary’s faith was strengthened , as the promises made the Saints were fulfilled. When they returned to their homes, nothing had been disturbed. They began farming their places and Providence was over them. With what belongings they had they made this place, Salt Lake County and City, their home. Their first homes were mostly dugouts, but they were happy to settle and know they did not have to keep traveling away from those who were trying to harm them. The saints went to further South than Payson and Provo. Some of the army remained in Utah and joined the Mormon Faith. Two of them lived in the same place as Mary and became very dear friends of the family.
The Bateman’s, while living at Payson, were very poor. Many times they had no flour and nothing to eat but sego roots. When they no longer feared the army they returned to West Jordan. I want to relate and incident that took place on their return trip. They camped near the Jordan Narrows at the point of the mountain. Since Mary had two sons loving at West Jordan, she and two of her grandchildren decided they would start and walk ahead. They wandered too far west and were lost on the Jordan Range. They were very hungry and thirsty, and the children were crying for a drink when Mary came across a birds nest with eggs in it. She broke them and gave them to the children to quench their thirst. It was dark
before searchers found them.
Mary did not go back to Brigham City. The three single sons decided to take up land by homesteading, so she stayed with them. That winter they made their home with her oldest son, Samuel, in a dugout. In the spring her two unmarried sons, James and William, built her a one room log cabin.
She was a practical midwife. Regardless of her small stature she thought nothing of walking from West Jordan to Sandy, a distance of six miles to care for her patients. It was said when Harriet, her first child, was six months old, she and the baby weighed only ninety-six pounds. Her sons were large men, some weighing more than their father. It is not always the quantity in humanity, but the quality and endurance that wins the goal. She was happy when doing good to others. Elizabeth Allsop, a very dear friend of Mary’s lived in Sandy. Mary had assisted in bringing all of her children in to the world. Their love for each other was very great in their last days.
Her religion always came first and she was prompt in attending her meetings. Feeling embarrassed to be late for church she had a certain place to sit. All respected he and her place was never taken as all knew, unless sickness prevented, she would be there. The Indians became more friendly to the Saints as time passed and the white people began to settle and make their homes. One day when Mary was in her dugout working, she noticed some one coming to her door. Thinking it was one of the men, she didn’t pay much attention until she turned and saw a large Indian. She was startled, but being alone she knew she must be brave so she said, “You get out of here,” and he replied, “You heap brave squaw.” It is true, she was brave and dependable. When she gave her word she never failed to keep it unless trouble that could not be avoided arose. How wonderful if all could have this said of them; this world would be more free from distress.
She loved her native country. No one dare speak against England when she was near. She is had great respect for Queen Victoria. When the Law of Justice would be lenient with criminals she would say, “If they were in England, they would have to pay for what they have done. That should be righted by law.” She was honored and loved by all and was known in the community as Grandma Bateman.
She lived to the age of eighty-one years. She passed away at the home of her youngest son, William. Her desire all her life was that when her time came she wouldn’t be a burden to anyone. This was granted as she was only ill a week. Pneumonia caused her death on the 4th day of March 1891, at West Jordan, Utah.
Mary Street was born in Manchester, England, May 12, 1809. She was dark complexioned and very small in stature. She was a very ambitious person and as a young girl had to work hard doing Laundry work. She would carry large baskets of clothes on her head to deliver, as they had to conveyance for such work in those days. How times have changed!
Mary joined the Latter-day Saints Church while in England. She had much faith and trusted in the Lord for guidance and inspiration. She married Thomas Bateman, a large man, weighing over two hundred pounds. There were twelve (12) Children born to this union. Six (6) were born in England and the others in America. They immigrated with their family to the United States on the Ship Lehi. They came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and some time later moved to Nauvoo where they lived until the Saints were driven out by mobs. She was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, there, and his beloved wife, Emma.
Thomas and Mary then moved their family to Winter Quarters, where they remained who years. Her husband was a brick make. He secured plenty of work there and they were able to earn money enough to buy a good team of and wagon in which they traveled to Salt Lake City.
The Bateman family arrived in Salt Lake City in September, 1850. They built a home on the south east corner of West Temple and Second South. The property was owned by a brother, Joseph Bateman. They lived there for some time. Thomas, her husband, worked on the Salt Lake Temple until he became restless and decided to go back to England to dispose of some property he had there. On his return home he was drowned at sea. After he fell over board, his body was never seen again. His death is still a mystery to his family. She never received anything from his property. There was a young man on board the same ship who said that he would see that Thomas money would be delivered safe to the widow; but when he landed in America, he disappeared and they never found or heard from him. It was also known that he had a gold watch for each of his sons, but they never arrived. Too much happened to immigrants with money on their way over.
It was a great sorrow and trial to Mary when she learned of her husband’s death. She was only forty-one years old when left with nine (9) children to struggle in poverty, as it took what money they had to pay for his fare to England. She was blessed with health to work and care for them until they were able to care for their faithful and beloved mother. While she suffered the trial of the Saints in early days, she had faith that all would be well with those who did what was right and followed the counsel of our Leaders. She trusted in her
Heavenly Father for strength to rear her family in the way she had tried to live. She wasn’t
disappointed because her last days were happy with her large posterity.
Mary and family all kept the faith and were workers for the Gospel for which she was proud. After they moved to Wight’s Fort, east of Bingham, on the west side of Jordan River, a fortress was built to protect the people from the Indians. They were not to be trusted as they would steal cattle, horses, and other belongings. The first white child, a grandchild, buried at Wight’s Fort was Mary’s daughter Harriett, who married Lyman Wight. After the people moved from Wight’s Fort, which was named after Lyman Wight’s father, Lewis Wight, it was used for many years as the cemetery for the south end of Salt Lake County. There are people who buried their loved ones in early days, who still bury their dead there. However, there aren’t many others who use this cemetery at present. Mary’s daughter, Harriett, and her husband moved to Brigham City. She was anxious that her mother would come with her. There were three brothers, Joseph, William and James and two sisters, Martha and Margaret who were unmarried at the time. Two brothers, Samuel and Thomas, who were
married, took homestead on what is called West Jordan, on the west side of the Jordan
River. Mary, with the remainder of her family thought it would be better that she go to Brigham City for awhile.
Trouble again came to upset the saints, as stories had been told to cause Johnson’s Army to follow and try to molest their happiness. The counsel from Brigham Young was that the Saints move south until the army passed through the country. They were very peaceable and marched right through the valley and settled at Camp Floyd. They decided the things they had been told were false and instead of causing trouble they proved a blessing, as the army had all kinds of food and the people were able to trade with the soldiers for provisions they were not able to get otherwise. As it happened, the Lord again protected His children from further trouble and here again Mary’s faith was strengthened , as the promises made the Saints were fulfilled. When they returned to their homes, nothing had been disturbed. They began farming their places and Providence was over them. With what belongings they had they made this place, Salt Lake County and City, their home. Their first homes were mostly dugouts, but they were happy to settle and know they did not have to keep traveling away from those who were trying to harm them. The saints went to further South than Payson and Provo. Some of the army remained in Utah and joined the Mormon Faith. Two of them lived in the same place as Mary and became very dear friends of the family.
The Bateman’s, while living at Payson, were very poor. Many times they had no flour and nothing to eat but sego roots. When they no longer feared the army they returned to West Jordan. I want to relate and incident that took place on their return trip. They camped near the Jordan Narrows at the point of the mountain. Since Mary had two sons loving at West Jordan, she and two of her grandchildren decided they would start and walk ahead. They wandered too far west and were lost on the Jordan Range. They were very hungry and thirsty, and the children were crying for a drink when Mary came across a birds nest with eggs in it. She broke them and gave them to the children to quench their thirst. It was dark
before searchers found them.
Mary did not go back to Brigham City. The three single sons decided to take up land by homesteading, so she stayed with them. That winter they made their home with her oldest son, Samuel, in a dugout. In the spring her two unmarried sons, James and William, built her a one room log cabin.
She was a practical midwife. Regardless of her small stature she thought nothing of walking from West Jordan to Sandy, a distance of six miles to care for her patients. It was said when Harriet, her first child, was six months old, she and the baby weighed only ninety-six pounds. Her sons were large men, some weighing more than their father. It is not always the quantity in humanity, but the quality and endurance that wins the goal. She was happy when doing good to others. Elizabeth Allsop, a very dear friend of Mary’s lived in Sandy. Mary had assisted in bringing all of her children in to the world. Their love for each other was very great in their last days.
Her religion always came first and she was prompt in attending her meetings. Feeling embarrassed to be late for church she had a certain place to sit. All respected he and her place was never taken as all knew, unless sickness prevented, she would be there. The Indians became more friendly to the Saints as time passed and the white people began to settle and make their homes. One day when Mary was in her dugout working, she noticed some one coming to her door. Thinking it was one of the men, she didn’t pay much attention until she turned and saw a large Indian. She was startled, but being alone she knew she must be brave so she said, “You get out of here,” and he replied, “You heap brave squaw.” It is true, she was brave and dependable. When she gave her word she never failed to keep it unless trouble that could not be avoided arose. How wonderful if all could have this said of them; this world would be more free from distress.
She loved her native country. No one dare speak against England when she was near. She is had great respect for Queen Victoria. When the Law of Justice would be lenient with criminals she would say, “If they were in England, they would have to pay for what they have done. That should be righted by law.” She was honored and loved by all and was known in the community as Grandma Bateman.
She lived to the age of eighty-one years. She passed away at the home of her youngest son, William. Her desire all her life was that when her time came she wouldn’t be a burden to anyone. This was granted as she was only ill a week. Pneumonia caused her death on the 4th day of March 1891, at West Jordan, Utah.
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| Mary Street Bateman |
What a fascinating lady! Thanks for sharing this!
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