Catharine Squires

1849-1850

Catharine was born in Newbury, Berkshire (birth registered in the March Q 1849), the daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Squires (nee Miles) who were married on the 9^th June 1832 in Luton Bedfordshire.

Catharine died in 1850, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 28^th September (she was buried by her father Rev.Thomas Squires).

Catharine’s family:

Catharine’s father Thomas was born on the 4^th November 1811, he was baptised on the 29^th December 1811 at Bethel Indepentent, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, the son of Thomas and Sarah Squire.

Her mother Mary Ann was born c1812 in Market Street, Bedfordshire the daughter of John and Mary Miles.

Thomas and Mary Ann also had the following children:

Mary born 29^th March 1833 in Luton

Sarah born c1839 in Herford

John born 1841 in Luton

Ellen born 1844 in Luton

Joseph Hiram born 1846 in Luton

Martha born 1851 in Newbury

In 1841 Thomas (25) a Dyer, Mary (25) and their daughters Mary (8) and Sarah (2) were recorded living in Park Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire.

The 1851 census records Thomas (38), Mary (37) and their children Mary (18), Sarah (12), John (9), Ellen (7) and Joseph (5) living near Chubb’s Yard, Bartholomew, Newbury. Thomas was recorded as a Minister of the Latter Day Saints Chapel.

The Squires family emigrated to the USA in c1853 (sailed aboard the S/S GOLCONDA, destination, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, arrived in New Orleans on the 18^th March 1854).

See photo of Mormon History for the further story in USA

Author: C Gambles
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MORMONS in Newtown Road Cemetery

On Sunday 22^nd January Ros and I went to the Mormon church on Pinchington lane, to the opening of an exhibition, on  their early history in Newbury. 

We knew that the Mormons were quite active in Newbury in the 19^th century and we also knew of at least 2 Mormons buried in Newtown Road Cemetery and so duly arrived with their 2 biographies. There were quite a lot of people present and they were very welcoming and produced soup (no coffee, tea or alcohol!) and food. 

They had done a lot of work on their early history and had produced an impressive set of Panels. 

Of our 2 biographies the first regarding William Westall (C1825-1880) and Mary Ann Westall (C1821-1883), (both buried in NRC) was new to them.  When they checked their online records they did have them listed.  They were very grateful for the additional information. 

William , of Jack street and later Marsh street, was an employee of Samuel Biddis, he was a bricklayer and journeyman painter.   in November 1869 he had performed the physical part of the ceremony of 'Beating the Bounds' of Newbury Borough (an activity done every 7 years).  He was also a member of the local Fire Brigade.  William and Mary had lost several children but did have a Francis Maroni (a clue in the name!), who reached maturity and lived in Speen.   William’s widowed  mother Sarah Westall,  had earlier, in 1853, emigrated to the USA, with a party of Mormons from Newbury on the Utah trail, and joined her daughter Mary Ann Canning and family at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., lowa.

What became apparent from the exhibition was that a large number of Newbury Mormons emigrated to Utah, thereby almost totally depleting their numbers in Newbury, such that the church, in the early part of the 20^th century, appeared not to exist. 

The migrations were hard and many did not survive and died whilst crossing the USA from accidents or diseases such as cholera.  Our second biography meshed perfectly with one of their stories and showed just how tragic life was for these early “Saints”. 

We have the story of a little I year old girl  Catharine Squires (1849-1850) buried in NRC.  She was  born in Newbury,  the daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Squires (nee Miles) who were married on the 9th June 1832 in Luton Bedfordshire.  In those days there was, unfortunately, nothing unusual about a child dying except that in this case  on the 28th September she was buried by the Rev. Thomas Squires   -   her father!  He is listed in the 1851 census as a minister of the LDS church, living in Chubb’s yard, and had travelled from Luton where his other 6 children had been born. 

3  years later the Squires family emigrated to the USA, from Liverpool, aboard the S/S GOLCONDA, destined for Salt Lake City, Utah, and arrived in New Orleans on the 18th March 1854. 

Of the original 9 people in Newbury in 1849, the father, mother and 7 children, only 3 survived and the sad story is best continued  using  the Mormon’s own panel.

At the time of Thomas’s ministry the Mormons met at the old Gaol and workhouse (on the site of the old Library in Cheap street).

Author: clow
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