Miscellaneous Family Notes

Miscellaneous Family Notes that might be of interest.

Letter from Spencer Heywood to his sister, Kristin.  Date unknown.  (Typed from a copy.  The date is not given.  When the right margin has been cut off, ...  is inserted.)

Dear Kristin, you are very motherly like and I would like to thank you for that.  Wial (sic)mom has been away you have A good job in taking control of the family and keeping ... in line.  You make us food and clean up without any... and you help us with our chores and still have Atitude (sic).  You are such a good sister and I al... am sad when you leave and I wish you never have to leave for college and that you could always ... me.  I admire your motherly qualities and I hope I will be able to marry someone as good ... you.

Love,
Spencer.

(Contributor's note:  I found a copy of this letter, handwritten, in my computer file.  Richard N. Heywood, Spencer's grandfather.)

James Smurthwaite, 1832-1809
            James Smurthwaite was born on 3rd September 1732 at St Margarets in Durham. James was one of twin boys born to Lancelot and Barbry.

            James grew up and at the age of 23 years old married his sweetheart Jane Anderson.  Jane had been born in Chester-Le-Street just a year before James therefore was 24 years old on their wedding day.  Together they produced a large family; Ann, John 1757-1773 (16years at death) Mary 1758-1768 (10 years at death) Elizabeth 1761-1761 (infant at death) Elizabeth 1762-1768 (6 years at death)  Margaret 1764, Lancelot 1765, James 1767-1802 (34 at death), Francis 1772 and finally Jane 1773.

     You may notice that in some cases a date of death is not shown. To date I have been unable to trace their deaths therefore I hope that they lived a long and happy life.   James himself died in the same place where he had been born; St Margarets, Durham on the 14th January 1809
     (Note:  Source is unknown.  Accuracy is questionable.)

Martha Spence (Heywood)    "Martha Spence Heywood (15 S 1003)  Martha was one of the original 1861 pioneers with her husband Joseph L. Heywood.  She died February 5, 1873.  She held school in her home until a public school house was built.  There was not taxation to support public schools.  Hers was strictly a private affair, and she charged $3.00 per month per student according to Israel Neilson, Sr., who was one of her first students.  The fee was probably $3.00 per quarter rather than per month. According to Israel they studied from a "blue-backed speller," Wilson's and McGuffey's Readers, an arithmetic book, and the Book of Mormon (boy, wouldn't the church-state separatists have a fit over his one!).  She used what she had.  There weren't any bookstores where books could be purchased.  She didn't have a bell to call her students, so she would shout the commands, "All out," or "all in," as occasion demanded.  She was considered on the the best early teaches." [Source: Utah's Cotton Town p 82 . found among the contributor's miscellaneous papers.]