Mary Bishop (1819-1844)

English Immigrant Convert to Mormonism

Vital Stats

 * Father: unknown
 * Mother: unknown
 * 1817-Jul-19 : Christening at Stanford Bishop, Herefordshire, England
 * 1838-Oct-10 : Married (1) to Samuel Badham (1815-1868) in Stanford Bishop, Herefordshire, England
 * 1840-May-10 : Baptism by Wilford Woodruff at Castle Frome, Herefordshire, England
 * 1844-Jan : Migration to America, arrival at Nauvoo, Illinois
 * 1844-Jun-09 : Dies in Nauvoo, Hancock Co, Illinois

Family History
Samuel is the son from his mother's first marriage in Much Cowarne, Herefordshire, England. She would later remarry to William Hall. One of his sons, William Wood Hall (1832-1891), would later immigrate from England to Iowa and afterwards convert to Mormonism. His wife, Almira Jane Reid, recorded an extensive record of her life in Iowa and notates several encounters with Samuel Badham and his family during the 1850s. This is the principle genealogical source for both gentlemen.

Life in England
Samuel Badham appears to have been connected with United Brethren in England during the late 1830s. Spring of 1840, a Mormon Missionary from America, Wilford Woodruff arrives in Herefordshire. Traveling thru The Potteries area, he encounters tremendous success preaching amongst the United Brethren here. Samuel is listed in his journal record of baptisms for May 1840.

Samuel's baptism at Froome Hill is recorded in Wilford's journal under May 31, 1840. Also baptized here this day were Francis and Hannah Holmes, Elizabeth and Mary James, Elizabeth and John Birch, Elizabeth Went, Hannah Bishop, William and Elizabeth Embry, Mary Brooks and Mary Jonsey. William Hall and the Rowberry girls were baptized three days earlier at Hope Rough.

Wilford Woodruff recorded Samuel again in the Minutes of the Conference held at Stanley hill, Castle Froome, Herefordshire, England, June 21st, 1840. Here the Conference authorizes him and several others to be ordained priests. They also resolve for "Samuel Badham, Priest, to have the care of the church at Dunsclose;".

Also on June 21, John Gaily, priest of the Hopes Rough branch, baptizes Mary Badham, wife of Samuel.

Wilford's diary records the actions from the Sept 20, 1840 Froms Hill Conference held at Standley Hill. Here Samuel Badham is sustained to be ordained an Elder. Samuel reports his branch at Dunclose has 24 members. The Hopes Rough branch has 18 members.

Wilford's diary also mentions possible other members of the Badham and Bishop families living in the area that he baptised into the Mormon church.

Migration to America
Vision of Youth - (See Google Books) Book with story (Pg 167-188) about JR Badham, son of Samuel Badham. - Published in 1888 for the youth of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The emphasis of the book is several visions the JR had that led him from the Cutlerites to the RLDS church in 1867. Makes mention of their immigration to America, death of his mother, Samuel's service in the Mormon Battalion and their farm settlement in Mills Co Iowa.

"My father, Samuel Badham, united with the church in 1840, and my mother, the following year, only one month before my birth. In January, 1844, we set sail from Liverpool, England, bound for America - the land of promise, coming via New Orleans, and being upon the water until about the 1st of April, same year, when we landed at the city of the Saints, Nauvoo. On the 9th day of June my mother suddenly passed away to the other side, and I was left, not only without a mother's loving care, but also without brother or sister to share my joys or griefs."

Nauvoo Period
Samuel married a second time to Mary Daggett Richards in 1845, either in Iowa or Illinois. Samuel also served in the Mormon Battalion (1846-1847).

Children of Samuel Badham and Mary Bishop

 * 1) Charlotte Badham (1840-1841) - died young
 * 2) James Richison Badham (1841-1888) - m. Eliza Fisher
 * 3) Robert Badham (1844-1844) - died young