Faded into the Mist of Time
Mariann Musgrave Brownson
Worstenholm Family History
George Worstenholm (Jun. 1, 1830 – Jan. 20, 1900) in England
married Tracey Young (Feb. 16, 1833 – May 6, 1906). They converted
to Mormonism, and came to America in 1862.
Few realize that at one time there were more Mormons in England
than in the US. The Mormons chartered several ships to bring converts to
the US, and set up a revolving fund so that those whose passage was paid
would repay the amount loaned so that more converts could be
transported. The fund also equipped the new settlers with wagons, horses
and supplies so they could make a living. George and Tracy, along with
their sons George L. and John A. sailed on the ship John J. Boyd on
23Apr1862 from Liverpool to New York, arriving on 1Jun1862. They spent
two years in New York, two in New Jersey, then by 1868 were in Illinois.
Many Mormons gathered to go on to Utah, but the Worstenholm’s
passed through Missouri (Tracey had Young Family relatives in St. Louis)
and ended up settling in Wayne County, IL. Son George L.'s name is
mentioned in some Mormon records of Illinois, as belonging to a group of
Mormons who splintered off, abandoning the multiple wives tenet. At any
rate, their daughter Evelyn Ada married James Alfred Gaston, Jr., who
was raised a Baptist. George's farm is identified on the 1871 Arrington
Township, Wayne County plat map.
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| Evelyn Ada
Worstenholm Gaston (Photo courtesy of Mariann Musgrave Brownson) |
This is the record from the record The Mormon Migration from
Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City, UT:
George Worstenholme
Born: 1831 (Correct year is 1830)
Origin: England
Occupation: Machinist
Voyage: Liverpool to New York, Apr. 23, 1862 – Jun. 1,
1862
Ship: John J. Boyd
Family Members:
·Tracey Worstenholm
— age 28 (b. 1834 (Correct year is 1833), from England
·George Lewis
Worstenholm — age 5 (b. 1857), from England
·John A.
Worstenholm — age 3 (b. 1859), from England
The ending "holm" usually indicates a Scandinavian origin, but
our Worstenholm’s came from England. The name Worstenholm is possibly
derived from Norfolk, England, Worstead Village, where worsted cloth was
first made in 1296. The family illustrated how mobile immigrant families
were in America. We can follow their trail by tracing their children's
birthplaces from census data.
George L. (1857) born in England.
John A. (1859) born in England.
Nellie (1863) born in New York.
Alice (1865) born in New Jersey.
Charles (1868) born in Illinois.
Evelyn Ada (1871) born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Leon (1874) born in Illinois.