Discoveries in the fall of 2007, #1

On the wall of the Smithfield museum was a very large frame of multiple pictures of the early settlers of Smithfield.  The first two pictures to see in the top left corner was William Ainscough and Mary Clark Ainscough his wife.  The third picture from the left is their son, William Thomas Ainscough, my great-great grandfather.  The picture of William I had seen before, my mother has it in her genealogy.  I think it is the only picture that we all have of William.

Linda Gittens, a volunteer worker of the musuem, was very willing to help us find anything we could about William Ainscough.  What unfolded for the next two hours were some wonderful discoveries.

Fall 2007

Smithfield Utah Museum.  This is a "must see" for the history of our ancestors.  Here you will find a large framed combination of pictures of the first pioneer residents of Smithfield.

Closeup of headstone

Memorial Day 2007

On a visit to Smithfield, in the spring of 2007, I discovered that the headstone of Christianna Ainscough, William's wife, was broken off at the base.  Upon returning home, I contacted my mother, Ardath Ainscough Broadhead and told her what I discovered.  She spoke with determination that the headstone should be fixed, and offered to pay for it.

2008 History sent to William Thomas descendants

Of all of William's children, only three lived to adulthood, Elizabeth Ann born in Nauvoo, William Thomas born in Smithfield, and Cordelia Therisa born in Smithfield. Elizabeth had three children, two died as infants. Cordelia Therisa died at age 28, married though having no children. William Thomas, had a large family, 7 lived to adulthood, Mary Elizabeth, William George, Elmer Earl, Lewis Franklin, Lillian Hortense, Stanley, and Charles Owen.

I called my mother, Ardath Ainscough Broadhead, this week, now in her 85th year of age, and told her I had 10 copies of the new history left and asked her who I should send them to.  She suggested that her cousins would be interested. So I sat down and made a list of the children of William Thomas and tried to find one person from each of the children of William Thomas.

Yesterday, saturday, I packaged 6 histories to send them to Joan Francis in Taber Alberta Canada, granddaughter of Mary; Grant Ainscough, in Vancouver, British Columbia, son of William George; Bob Ainscough in British Columbia, son of Elmer Earl; Joan Anderson in Milwaukie Oregon daugher of Charles; Noreda in Vancouver, British Columbia, daughter of Stanley; Carol Palmer in Idaho Falls Idaho, daughter of Charles.  I do not know of any descendants of Frank or Lillian.  If any of you do, please let me know.

Wayne

Picture of William Ainscough

Here is a picture of William Ainscough.  This picture shows him in his later years.  This is the only picture the family has had as long as I can remember. Just last fall in 2007 I found a second picture in Smithfield, in the city museum. The city had published a book about it's history, and in it was a picture of William in the ward choir. I will post that picture soon.

Wayne