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March 28, 2024

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Astle & Hepworth
Hereditary Thyroid Cancer
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James Hepworth
Written by his granddaughter, Iris Hepworth Moon, May 1974

James Hepworth was born in Nethertown, Drighlington, Yorkshire, England, on the 3rd of March, 1849. His father was Joseph Hepworth, and his mother was Mary Hirst. He was the seventh child of 13 children. The family consisted of seven boys and six girls: Richard, William, Edmund, Squire, Hannah, Sarah, James, Joseph, Elizabeth, Ann, Mary Jane, Martha Annice, and Samuel.

His father, Joseph, was a collier (coal miner) and was the foreman of the Westgate Hill Mines. When James was just a lad, seven and a half years old, he went to work in the coal mines. It was in these coal mines that his brother, William, was killed at the age of 12. He worked in the mines with his father and his five brothers. They began their work at six in the morning, and worked until four in the afternoon. James' work was to take the empty wagons to the men. When he first began his work, he received six shillings a week, or the equivalent of one dollar and fifty cents in US coin. He worked in the mines until he was about twenty and was receiving two pounds a week, or about ten dollars. When he quit, his wage was about the highest wage received in that mine.

He received very little education. An old lady taught him the alphabet, a few of the times tables, and how to read a little.

His father Joseph, was a religious man, and would take his boys by the hand to church. His father was baptized December 19, 1847, when the missionaries came to their home bringing the Gospel. James was baptized June 1857 by William Stockdale, at the age of eight years and three months. His father was President of the branch for 20 years. The boys attended church from nine to twelve in the morning, and two until four in the afternoon. James had said that the janitor or the "dog nobber", looked after the children, and if they didn't keep quiet, he had a long stick with a knob on the end of it, with which he tapped the children on the head. James and his brother would sing for the missionaries at their street meetings. They helped to draw a crowd by their singing.

At the ripe old age of 19, James married Sarah Ann Calloway Armitage. They were married 10 May 1868, in the Parish Church, in the Parish of Birstal, in the County of York. Sarah Ann was a widowed lady of 28. James and Sarah Ann had two daughters, Martha, and Margaret Pearl (Maggie). Martha was born 1 September 1868. Margaret was born in approximately 1872. James became ill during this time with yellow jaundice, and he could not work. He was forced to borrow money for his debts. The man James was indebted to, became anxious and brought him into court. At his hearing, this same man said to the judge, "This man is a Mormon, and if you let him go, he will go down to the docks get on a ship and go to America, and I will never see my money again." The judge put James in jail! James vowed that when he got out of jail and started working again, he would save part of his weekly earnings until he could save enough for his passage to America. James left his wife and came to America. Years later, James sent money for the two girls to come to America. Martha would not come as she felt that her father James had deserted her mother. Margaret did come to America, but little is known of her. She did stay a short time with Alma and Leonora Hepworth. She married Peter G. Jensen, and they lived in Brigham City, Utah.

From James' memory, he told his grandson, Robert, that he sailed from Southampton on the Steamship Wyoming in 1869. From another record, a James Hepworth is found sailing 10 May 1871 on the Ship Wyoming. Cross checking with another record records his age at 25. In 1871, James would be 22.

In his story to his grandson, Robert, he reported that his crossing the ocean was uneventful, with one exception. This particular crossing was the fastest trip to that date. When he arrived in New York, he said that there were paved streets and quite a few large buildings. From New York, he went to St. Louis, and from there he went to Salt Lake City. He arrived in Salt Lake City on the 12th of July 1869 (or 1871). From Salt Lake City, he went to Oxford, Idaho, where his father settled. He arrived there in time to celebrate the 24th of July. While he was in Oxford, he herded cattle for a bushel of wheat per head per month. He lived with his brother, Squire, during that time.


According to the 1871 census of Middleton, England (page 17), a James Hepworth is listed as living at 78 Low Grange with the widow, Martha Coop, and family. He is listed as a nephew of the head of the household, age 22, married, working as a coal miner, and as being born in Nethertown, Yorkshire. It is safe to presume that the widow, Martha Coop, with whom this listed James was living, is Martha Hirst Coop, the sister of James' mother, Mary Hirst Hepworth, because (1) Martha Hirst married a William Coop in 1853 and (2) Martha's listed age and birth place both correspond with her birth date of 10 June 1832 and birthplace of Armley, Yorkshire. Therefore, through James' listed age, marital status, birth place, occupation and relationship to the head of household, it can be confirmed that this is James Hepworth born 1849 to Joseph and Mary Hirst Hepworth. Thus, it can be concluded that an emigration date in 1869 to the United States would have been impossible for James Hepworth. (Footnote added by Sean Knighton, gg grandnephew, 2008)

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