Martha Whitehead Born: May 21, 1816; Rochdale, England Married: Henry Ramsbottom Died: March 9, 1895; Franklin, Franklin, Idaho Immigration Date: 1869

Henry Ramsbottom and Martha Whitehead

Henry Ramsbottom and Martha Whitehead had both been married previously. Martha had two children, William and Hannah, from her first marriage. Hannah died at the age of sixteen in England. Henry had four children by his first wife, they were, John Henry, Mary, Sarah, and Elizabeth Ramsbottom. They all came to America. Together Henry and Martha had five more children, two of whom died in infancy. Their other children were Elizabeth Ann, Jane, and James. James being just eight years old when they came to America.

The family attended meetings held by the Latter-Day Saint Elders who also visited them in their home many times. Martha and the three children accepted the Gospel and were baptized and were strong in the faith. Henry didn't accept the Gospel with the rest of the family. Martha and the children had a strong desire to come to America and join with the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley, but Henry was much opposed to their going.

Martha worked at the woolen mills to help provide for the family. After her marriage to Henry Ramsbottom, she continued to work at the mills, taking a little time off after the birth of each child. This she did for nearly thirty years.

By her work and thrift and some help from her son, William Whitehead, the family was able to save enough for their passage to America. Henry dreaded to see them come to America without him. Without his knowledge they had secured his passage, the family made arrangements with the ship's crew that when he came on board the ship to bid them good-bye, they would in some way keep him there until the ship was underway. This they did so that before Henry realized what was going on, he was on his way to America with his family. The voyage was very rough part of the way across, on one occasion the sea was so rough during the night, the ship was tossed about until they were thrown from their beds onto the floor. They were also very seasick.

Upon arriving in New York City, they took the first train leaving for the west, landing in Salt Lake City in 1869. They soon left Salt Lake. By team and wagon going to Franklin, Idaho, where they built a home (this home is still standing and at present is owned by Mr. and Mrs. James T. Nelson, east of the Del Monte canning factory). At the time, Franklin was the only settlement north of Richmond, Utah. Soon after arriving in Franklin, the land was surveyed and opened for homesteading. The Ramsbottoms homesteaded a sixty acre tract of land. The family endured many hardships and privations along with the other pioneers. Some of the first families that homesteaded the Nashville (now Whitney) area were the Ramsbottom family, Robert Hull, William Handy, James Chadwick, Eph. Ellsworth, and the Hughes family.

Henry had a handloom that they used to weave with and he also weeded lots in the summer and worked in the flour mill in the winters. Martha took in washing and ironing and also worked for the Morrison family to help earn things the family could use, taking her pay in butter, buttermilk or whatever things the family needed.

At one time Martha was very sick. An Indian lady came to the home asking for bread. When she did not see Mrs. Ramsbottom, she asked if she was sick. James told her that she was, the Indian lady left saying that she would be back soon with some roots for medicine, this she did. Soon after taking some tea made from the roots, Martha began to feel better and was soon able to get around.

Martha was very spiritually inclined and started doing temple work for her father's family in the Logan Temple in 189 1. At one time while doing this work, she could not remember the name of a sister-in-law who was dead. During the night, a vision was given her in which she was given the name and age of this person. She was a kind, loving mother, a good housekeeper, a very good cook, and anyone was always welcome at her home.

This record was taken from histories of Jane Ramsbottom and James Ramsbottom (children of Henry and Martha Ramsbottom) written by Lottie Jensen and Mae Handy (grandchildren of Henry and Martha Ramsbottom).

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