The History of Elizabeth Walters Crook

THE HISTORY OF ELIZABETH WALTERS CROOK

Not a lot is known about the wife of our immigrant ancestor, Joseph Crook but enough is known about her to know she was resourceful, talented, energetic, compassionate, hard working, loved music, loved flowers and gardens, a helpmate to her husband and supportive of her children. She had a quiet testimony of the gospel but a strong one nevertheless.

Elizabeth was the daughter of John Edward Walters and Elizabeth Cross. Elizabeth was born 30 Oct 1814 in Ross Carey, Herefordshire, England. She was christened in the Church of England at Ballingham Parish 6 Nov 1814. Ballingham is just ½ mile from Ross Carey. Carey was a hamlet and probably did not have a church but was part of the parish of Ballingham. Her father was born in 1788 at Woolhope, Herefordshire, and her mother 4 Aug 1793 at Ballingham. They were married 30 Jun 1814 at Ballingham. Evidently Elizabeth was the only child of this marriage. Her mother’s parents were from Ballingham. According to Elizabeth’s baptism her father was a carpenter. I do not know anything further about her parents.

I cannot find Elizabeth or her parents on the 1841 census but much of 1841 is unreadable. The area around Ballingham, Hereford is difficult to read.

Elizabeth migrates to Cheltenham, Gloucester, England where she is introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. She is baptized in Jun 1844 and is a member of the Cheltenham branch.

She marries Joseph Crook 21 Jan 1845. Their marriage certificate reads they were married at Highbury Chapel according to rites of the Independent denomination. Elizabeth is nine years older than Joseph but that is not unusual in England. Her marriage certificate states she is a dressmaker and she and Joseph have the same address #6 Portland Square which is probably a boarding house.  Elizabeth’s maternal grandparents are well educated in Ballingham. He is listed as a tutor so I am sure that is where Elizabeth is educated, either at school or at home. She also is a violinist and teaches music when she is living at Payson, Utah.

Elizabeth travels with Joseph for the next nine years as he works to get enough money for passage to the United States for him and his family. Elizabeth has four children: Joseph Edward (named after her father); Hyrum Francis; Brigham Heber Willard and Elizabeth (named for her mother and grandmother).  They embark from Liverpool on the ship “Samuel Curling”.

The family live in Kaysville for a time before settling in Payson. Elizabeth’s granddaughter Harriet (she was ten years old when her grandmother died) remembers Elizabeth was a beautiful seamstress, a musician, and had one of the first flower gardens in town. It has been said her garden was the most beautiful one in town. Family tradition states she received seeds from her mother in letters received. ****I have not been able to find her father and mother on civil registration or on census. There is a possibility her father died and her mother remarried but I have not found any record. Joseph also grew lots of herbs in the garden. She taught her children and others to play instruments and sing. She ran a boarding house and took in paying guests to supplement the family income. Rosemary Glissmeyer remembers seeing the boarding house or hostel when she was a child. She said it had several bedrooms and was a ten room home. It was made of adobe. Lynn Crook says he remembers reading Elizabeth started the boarding house when Joseph left for a time and worked to bring the railroad into Ogden. She encouraged her children to be educated, especially encouraging her son Joseph Edward to become an attorney.

She was always active in the church. She was endowed in the Endowment House 24 Nov 1865 and was sealed to Joseph on that date. She died 26 Jan 1891 and is buried in Payson. Her husband, Joseph, did temple work for some of her family in the Manti Temple in 1894.

As we reflect upon her life, we find a strong Pioneer woman. She was educated, had a trade of dressmaker, loved music, wanted beauty around her, was not afraid of hard work, and was resourceful and talented.

Written and compiled by Mary Bursick.