William
Henry Waylett was born 13 February 1826 at St. John, Lambeth, England.
He was the son of John Percival Waylett and Eleanor
Maria Owens.
His father was a Comedian and performed in the
London theatre.
Due to his father's profession, the family traveled a great deal. His father's
health began to fail, and the family decided to move to his maternal
grandparent's home in Cefn Isaf,
Denbigh, Wales.
John died in 1841 in Aberdare. Eleanor later married
Hugh Jenkins on November 30, 1859, in Denbigh, Wales.
Sarah
Williams was born November 29, 1835, to Rees Williams and Leah Jones of Denbigh,Wales. Sarah and
William met in Wales
and also became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They were taught and baptized by Elder Perry, a missionary in the vicinity of
Denbigh, County. William and Sarah decided to marry and immigrate to America with
the Williams family, who also were immigrating. They sailed for America on the ship Jersey on February 5, 1853.
The ship's captain married Sarah and William on 11 February 1853.
They
crossed the plains in Captain Joseph W. Young's Handcart Company in 1853,
walking all the way-pushing and pulling their belongings in handcarts. While
residing in Salt Lake City,
Utah, one child, Leah Maria, was
born to the couple. The family moved to Brigham
City, Utah, in about
1857. While they were there, 7 more children were born to them: William Henry
Jr., Matilda Ann, Noel Byron, Rees William, Deborah Mary, Ellen Marie, and
Sarah Abigail.
William
apparently returned to England,
possibly as a missionary, for he sailed again on the ship Pennsylvania from Liverpool
to New York
on May 23. 1865. He was a member of Captain William S. Willis' ox train company
that arrived in the Salt
Lake Valley
on November 29, 1865. William served as Justice of the Peace for many years in Brigham City. Utah.
In
1872 the family moved to Malad, Idaho
where 3 more children were born. They were Margaret Mabel, Peter, and Mary. He worked at the
Gristmill in Malad until 1879. While returning from
work, driving a wagon and team, the team ran and he was severely injured. He
died a few days later on 17 October 1879.
Sarah Williams Waylett died 30 November 1909 in Malad, Idaho.
Both are buried in the Malad
City Cemetery.
Submitted by: Judith H. Jones
