SARAH WOODING SMITH
Compiled by Amy Smith Hancock
February 5, 1961
Sarah Wooding Smith was born 13 Aug. 1797, and christened 3 Sep. 1797, at Emberton, Buckinghamshire, England. Her parents Lord James Woodin (Wooding) and Mary Dainton, both lived to see this daughter marry, join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and come to America.
Sarah had five brothers and one sister of record: John, William, James, Samuel, Mark and Nancy Wooding.
Sarah Wooding married Daniel William Smith, 10 July 1815, Emberton, Buckinghamshire, England. Daniel and Sarah had seven children of record and were the parents of our illustrious ancestor Samuel Smith. Sarah was baptized according to her christening record 3 Sept. 1797, as was the custom of the Christian Churches; but she was baptized by the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 1841, in England.
The Daniel Smiths and family members came to America at the same time their son Samuel Smith and his wife Mary Ann Line and small daughter departed from Liverpool, England, 15 Jan. 1843 - with Nauvoo as their objective residence.
Daniel Smith, Sarah's husband died before they left for Utah, probably in the State of Iowa. [Correction: Daniel William SMITH died 10 Sep 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinios] His death date is recorded as 10 Sept. 1845. I here note that Samuel and Mary lost twin girls and they were buried (1846) at Mt. Pisga [sic], or later called Talmage, Iowa.
It is recorded that she came to Utah in 1848. So Sarah Wooding Smith is another Utah Pioneer and should be numbered among its valiant, immortal women. It appears that Sarah established her home in Salt Lake Co. with members of her family, still living with her.
This, I remember my grandmother, Frances Ann Ingram Smith saying concerning Sarah Wooding Smith, "She will always be remembered by the people in the Salt Lake City Communities - in her 'time' for her CHARITY toward the poor, the homeless, and the weary and broken-hearted as they pioneered their way into this Rocky Mountain Retreat. It was at her home that the Ingram (Ingraham) orphans: Richard, Sarah Jane, and Frances Ann, found shelter, food and love." So this precious lady became a mother to her future daughter-in-laws; while they were yet young children.
Frances Ann further stated, "Mother Smith was noted for her ability and understanding of the proper methods to be used in sanitation and the prevetation of contagious diseases being transferred throughout the community. She had the much cherished ability to care for and understand the ill, the depressed and to sympathize with those called to mourn the loss of a love one."
She had an exceptional good-humored disposition, a remarkable memory, a wonderful education - could tell jokes to fit every occasion and they always finished with a good and proper standard.
This and the following were compiled in 1960-61.
I found Sarah Wooding Smith's name in the pamphlet 'Through The Years' (Fourth and Eighth Ward, Brigham City, Utah, 1953...p. 51 - listed as a pioneer, a native of London, England, date came to Utah - actually meant to Brigham City settlement - 1861. She was probably living with her grand-daughter or visiting there with Nancy Ann Turpin Higley.
Signed: Amy Smith H. Empey
Aunt Beatrice Smith Weeks Olney Larsen, laughing and joking once remarked that she had heard it said, "Grandmother Sarah Smith was the world's worst cook, being inclined to make everything so that it ended up in the form of a stew." It is believable, since they had very little food and her house being a home for the needy "where the floors such as they were, became the beds for many" so stew would be the item of food always on the stove and ready to eat.
Little else is known about this pioneer woman, this great Female Relief Society worker.
These simple lines would exemplify the principles that guided this stockily built personality, and 'SHE LIVES TODAY' here in the characters of thousands of her descendants. She is as alive today in the world beyond as she ever was in her greatest surge of activity, here upon this earth.
Sarah Smith died at the age of 68 years, 26 Nov. 1865 and was buried in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Feb. 5, 1961
Compiler - Amy S. Hancock
[The following is] to be added to substantiate the history of Sarah as compiled by Amy Smith Hancock, (1961). By Virga May Holst Harding, gr. grand-daughter of Samuel's sister Louisa Jane Smith Turpin (Mrs. Jesse Turpin) and a gr. gr. grdtr. of Sarah W. Smith. Mrs. Harding is a historian of the Brigham City, Utah area. 26 Aug. 1962
Sarah Wooding Smith was the daughter of Lord James and Mary Dainton Wooding (Woodin or Woodding) of England. She was highly educated and her people were very wealthy. Sarah studied the profession of medicine and surgery. When she married Daniel Smith her folks felt that she was marrying below her station in life and their standards and wealth so they disinherited her.
Sarah W. Smith came to Utah (not with her son Samuel and family) but with her daughter and son-in-law Louisa Jane Smith and Jesse Turpin; 20 Sept. 1848 in the 2nd. Co. of Brigham Young. So she was one of the very first Doctors and Surgeons in Utah. Although the Utah History does not chronicle same.
Sarah's grand-daughter Nancy Ann Turpin (Higley) at the age of 12 yrs. helped her with a serious operation by handling the necessary instruments and bandages etc. to this brave nurse and doctor Sarah W. Smith, who took a large portion of the crushed skull form a man's head, which was laying against the brain, removed it and inserted a silver-plate. The man recovered and lived to an old age. Nancy assisted her a great many times in various cases. - - Virga Holst Harding.
From the Booklet 'Through the Years' Eighth Ward, Brigham City,m page 51, (1953) we find Sarah Wooding Smith's name as a pioneer and the date given as coming to Utah 1861 when in reality she came to Brigham City about that time. On page 50 of the same booklet is found Nancy Ann Turpin Higley and her husband Daniel Lee Higley. He is listed as coming in 1861. They are the grandparents of Virga Holst Harding.
Daniel and Sarah Smith and their Son Samuel Smith, had their Patriarchal Blessings the same day, place and from the same Patriarch. 5 Aug. 1845 - Nauvoo, Ill. and Pat. John Smith. #987-988-989; Vol. 9 pages 332 and 333. Daniel Smith owned and payed taxes on property in Nauvoo, Ill. a description is on the records. Daniel died one month and 5 days after his patriarchal blessing so he must have been buried in Nauvoo, Ill. His death date is listed as 10 Sept. 1845. Daniel was ordained a High Priest during his life-time and after joining the Church.
Sarah Wooding Smith trained her son Samuel to set bones to make and prepare medicine, to care for the dead and taught him the laws of sanitation.
I have taken a picture of Sarah Wooding Smith's grave marker and some of the markers in the same lot - her dtr., grand-children (Turpins) grt, gr. chl. the Budd's and one son of Samuel and Mary Ann Line Smith - the first buried on the lot in 1855. Sarah was the 2nd buried there. June Jensen Cavalli took me to S. L. Cemetery to take the picture 28 Aug. 1962.
[Gravestone Inscription:
SARAH WOODING
SMITH
BORN
August 13, 1797
DIED
Novem 16, 1867]
A little history of Samuel's sister and Sarah's only dtr. to live and get married; Louisa Jane Smith. Louisa Jane had three husbands. 1st. Jesse Turpin. 2nd. John Alfred Van. 3rd. John Crawford.
- Signed: Amy S. H. Empey
Daniel and Sarah's 11 children were all born in England. Only 2 sons and 1 daughter lived to marry. They had lost 2 sons and 1 daughter as children, they also lost 3 infant sons and 2 infant daughters. Three year old James and all 5 infants died in England. Sarah's husband Daniel, 8 year old John, and twelve year old Mary Ann all died the same year 1845 while living near Nauvoo, Illinois.
Ancestry chain: grandkids, kids, Myrle, George Ensign SMITH b.1898, Isaac SMITH b.1857, Samuel SMITH Judge b.1818, Sarah WOODING b.1797 4th great-grandmother.
