Smurthwaite, Alfred (1867-1932)

(Grandfather of the contributor, Richard Neal Heywood)

Alfred Smurthwaite

Birth 4 May 1867, Salford, Lancashire, England 
   Father: John Gradon Smurhwaite. 
   Mother:  Ellenor Smith

Marriage 25 Jun 1890, Logan, Cache, Utah           Spouse:  Margaret Ellen “Maggie” Brown

Death 31 Mar 1932, 
    Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah

Find A Grave Link

1871 Census  

Name: Alfred Smurthwaite

Age: 4

Relationship to Head of Household: Son

Birthplace: Manchester, Lancashire

Salford, Salford, Lancashire, England

John Smurthwaite           Self M 42 Durham, Durham

Ellen Smurthwaite           Wife F 42 Durham, Durham

James Smurthwaite           Son M 20 Durham, Durham

Thomas Smurthwaite   Son M 18 Durham, Durham

John Smurthwaite           Son M 14 Sheffield, Yorkshire

Ellen Smurthwaite         Daughter F 11 Sheffield, Yorkshire

Charles Smurthwaite   Son M 9 Salford, Lancashire

Lilly Smurthwaite         Daughter F 6 Manchester, Lancashire

Alfred Smurthwaite           Son M 4 Manchester, Lancashire

Henry Smurthwaite           Son M 1 Salford, Lancashire

1881 Census

Name:      Alfred Smurthwaite

Age                3

Birth:       1868 Manchester, Lancashire, England

Relationship to Head of Household: Son

Address:       3 Vine St

Place:            Hulme, Lancashire, England

Household

John Smurthwaite           Head M 51 Durham City, Durham, England

Ellen Smurthwaite          Wife F 53 Durham City, Durham, England

Thomas Smurthwaite Daughter M 28 Durham City, Durham, England

Ellen Smurthwaite         Daughter F 21 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Charles Smurthwaite Son M 19 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Lilly Smurthwaite        Daughter F 16 Manchester, Lancashire, England

Alfred Smurthwaite          Son        M 13 Manchester, Lancashire, England

Henry G Smurthwaite      Son       M 11 Manchester, Lancashire, England

1885 Immigration from England

    Alfred and John Smurthwaite traveled from Manchester on the ship Wisconsin in 1885.  Departure:  10 Jun 1885, Liverpool, England.  LDS Immigrants: 541.  Church Leader, Jorgen Hansen.  Arrival 1 Jul 1885, New York, New York

               "DEPARTURE OF THE THIRD COMPANY. -- On Saturday, June 20th, at 3 p.m., the Guion steamer Wisconsin left this port for New York, having on board 541 Saints, including 30 returning missionaries.  There were 158 British; 335 Scandinavians; and 18 Swiss and Germans.  A meeting was held on board, when Elder C. W. Penrose addressed the emigrating Saints, giving counsel and encouragement to them, and general directions as to their conduct, and President D. H. Wells nominated the following: Jorgen Hansen as president of the company; W. C. A. Smoot as first, and J. G. M. Barnes as second counselor.  These elders were sustained in these positions by unanimous vote.  With songs of Zion the Saints started on the journey in excellent health and spirits.  May they go in peace swiftly."

". . . A company of emigrating Saints, 32 in number, sailed from Copenhagen, June 11, 1885, per steamship 'Cato' in charge of Elder Lars F. Swalberg.  Another company of Saints, 40 in number, sailed from Christiania, June 12, per steamship 'Angelo,' in charge of Elders Martin Christoffersen, Thorvald A. Thoresen and Joseph Monson.  After a pleasant voyage, this company of emigrants arrived in Hull, England, on Sunday afternoon, June 14th, after 47 hours' voyage across the North Sea.  They remained on board the ship until Monday morning, when they continued the journey to Liverpool by rail.  Here they joined the company of Saints which had left Copenhagen the previous Thursday (June 11th).   A company of emigrating Saints, consisting of 273 Danish and Swedish emigrants, sailed from Copenhagen June 15, 1885, per steamer 'Panther,' which had been specially chartered for the purpose of bringing these emigrants to England. The company was placed in charge of Elder Jorgen Hansen.  Other returning elders were the following nine: Frederik Ludvigsen, Charles J. A. Lindquist, John Hyrum Anderson, Samuel P. Nielsen, Emil Erickson, Ole Sorensen, Charles J. Christensen, Ole Hansen, and Christian N. Lundsteen.  The weather was fine and the best of order prevailed while the emigrants boarded the ship.  Many friends and strangers had gathered on the wharf to witness the departure of the 'Mormons.'  Just before the sailing of the vessel, Elder Christian Nielsen Lundsteen was brought on board by the police; he had been banished from the country, and when he arrived in Copenhagen the previous Sunday morning and reported himself at police headquarters, he was placed under arrest and kept a prisoner till the following afternoon.  He did not feel downcast because of the unpleasant event, but rejoiced because he was counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ.  The steamer 'Panther' encountered stormy weather on the voyage from Copenhagen to Hull, especially in doubling Cape Skagen, where a delay of 12 hours was made necessary on account of the bad weather.  Considerable seasickness prevailed as a matter of course.  Early in the morning of June 19th, anchor was cast off Hull, but, owing to low water, the emigrants did not land till about noon.  The same day an extra train was placed at their disposal and they left Hull at 12:30 p.m., and arrived in Liverpool in the evening, the train taking them direct to the Alexandria dock, whence their baggage was hauled to the steamship 'Wisconsin,' on which they went on board, together with quite a number of emigrating Saints from Great Britain.  The whole company then consisted of 541 emigrating Saints and 30 returning elders, under the direction of Jorgen Hansen. . . ."

<HSM, pp.290-91> 

LDS Immigration Index, www.lds.org

Missionary in England

In the Field

Elder Alfred Smurthwaite
(Far left, bottom row)

A Missionary

Change of assignment

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"Elders Alfred Smurtwaite and J. W. Crook have been released from their labors as Traveling Elders in the Newcastle Conference and have been appoointed to labor in the Manchester Conference."

Return from Mission.  1894

 [Presumed to be returning from his mission to the British Isles.]

"1894, 11 Dec. Port of arrival New York.  . Estimated Birth abt 1866.  Age 28.  Male.  Port of Departure Glasgow, Scotland.  Ship Anchoria.  Destination Utah.  Occupation:  Store Clerk.  Citizen USA"

Source: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Accessed via www.ancestry.com

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Pioneer Facts

Given by Charles B. Smurthwaite, May 18, 1981 at Distinctive Catering—

        Mother Maggie was a vivacious child. She was full of love and was loved by her family and friends. She was a school teacher, very talented elocutionist, and always had the leading lady part in the theatricals which were given all over Cache Valley. It was when she was "Queen of the May" that she met Alfred Smith Smurthwaite, he vowed he was going to "marry that lovely lady" and he did.  They were blessed with nine wonderful children, all with special talents!

        Father Alfred Smith Smurthwaite was born at Salford, Lancashire, England.  He was born to John Gradon and Ellenor Smith Smurthwaite, both of whom were born in Durham and were always proud of the fact that the Smurthwaites dressed the stones used in the construction of the Durham Cathedral. John Gradon Smurthwaite, father of Alfred, was a newspaper man, skilled violinist and performed often with a string ensemble. He gave private violin lessons.

        Alfred was the eighth child of the family of nine. His brother Harry Smurthwaite at eleven years of age was a child prodigy and played the organ at the Manchester Cathedral. After coming to America, he furthered his musical studies in the Boston Conservatory of Music and later was the pipe organist at the Logan Tabernacle for many years.

        Father Alfred Smurthwaite cultivated in his life a deep appreciation for the fine arts, music, and literature and was an excellent orator, presenting throughout and masterfully presented sermons and orations. He acquired a fine foundation for the fundamental portion of life. He received a merit for his beautiful penmanship. His spoken English was fluent, his grammar excellent. During his adult life he collected a sizeable library and enjoyed good reading.

        Father Alfred Smurthwaite was a traveling salesman for the Scowcroft and Sons Wholesale Grocery firm, which helped to enlarge his acquaintances and to build lasting friendships.       

Father Alfred Smurthwaite would say, "I'm the easiest man in the world to care for! Just give me what I like."  

Source:  Ancestry.com, Family and Local Histories.  SUP, East Mill Creek Chapter: Pioneer Facts Presented During  1978-1983. 

Family

Alfred Smurthwaite's Family

Alfred's Young Daughters

Alfred's Children as Adults
Alfred Tennyson "Tenn", Margaret Eleanor (Heywood)  Sarah Agnes (Maack)
Mary Salter (Smith), Grace Lillian (Jefferson), Charles "Bud" Brown
Henry "Harry" Cornelius 

 1932 Death 

Name: Alfred Smurthwaite

Burial Place: Wellsville, Utah

Death Date: 31 Mar 1932

Death Place: Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah

Age: 64

Birth Date: 04 May 1867

Birthplace: England

Occupation: Salesman

Spouse's Name: Margaret B. Smurthwaite

Father's Name: John Smurthwaite, Father's Birthplace: England

Mother's Name: Ellenor Smith. Mother's Birthplace: England

Death 31 March 1932