Daniel & Sarah Wooding Smith

Sarah Wooding Smith, at age 48, was not only a widow, but death had claimed eight of her eleven Children, two of which- Mary Ann (10) and John Wooding (8)--had died within days of their father. Six of her other children---Ann, James William, William, Mary Ann b. 1833, Daniel, and Jabez--had died in England as children. Only three of her eleven children remained--George (who was still in England), Samuel, and Jane Louisa.

"She will always be remembered by the people in the Salt Lake City community in her time for her charity toward the poor, the homeless, and the weary as they pioneered their way into this Rocky Mountain retreat. It was at her home that the Ingram orphans, Richard, Sarah Jane, and Frances Ann found “shelter, food and love." (Later Sarah Jane and Frances Ann became her daughters in-law when they married Sarah's son, Samuel.)

On 5 August 1845 Daniel, Sarah and their son, Samuel Smith, had their Patriarchal Blessing given them by Patriarch John Smith. Exactly one month and five days later, Daniel died either in or on the outskirts of Nauvoo.

In order to clarify what future genealogists may think is an error in Sarah Wooding Smith's records, I might mention that her daughter Jane Louisa and Jesse Turpin were sealed by Brigham Young at his home on 8 January 1850. At the same time, Sarah was sealed to her deceased husband, Daniel Smith. Then, though it seems strange to us in this day, Sarah Wooding Smith and Jesse Turpin, her son-in-law, were married for time. This was a marriage in name only; and, although we don't know just why this was done, apparently there were several instances when this occurred. Sarah lived with her daughter, Jane, and her husband the remainder of her life.