Sarah Bleeks Burwell Morse
Written by Kitty Bryan Matter, Sarah's great-great-great granddaughter
Sarah was born in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1802. She was the oldest daughter of John Bleeks Sr. and Rebecca Burgan.
Sarah lived in Rostraver Township until her early teens. While there her father worked as a carpenter and served in the War of 1812. Her family lived near other members of the Bleeks and the Burgan families. By 1820 Sarah and her family have settled in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. These early pioneers had hard times owing to the sparseness of the settlers and the newness of the country. The land was wilderness, overgrown with timber. There was great abundance of game of every kind, the forests abounded with large quantities of wild honey, which were easily obtained. Indians still roamed the land.
On Monday, September 4, 1820 Sarah married Joseph Burwell in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The marriage was officiated by George Boydston, Justice of the Peace.
Joseph was the son of Phineas Burwell and Margaret Burgan. Sarah's mother Rebecca Burgan, and Joseph's mother Margaret Burgan were sisters. Sarah and Joseph lived near Joseph's parents home in Wayne County, Ohio. While living there Sarah gave birth to six daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca, Martha and Sarah Jane.
The year 1833 was very difficult for Sarah. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in January. In May, her father died in a drowning in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio. Sarah and Joseph moved to Milton Township, Franklin County, Ohio and there her beloved husband Joseph died on September 6th at the young age of thirty-six. Sarah was left a widow with six young girls to care for. It must have been great comfort to have her brother-in-law, Samuel Burwell and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Burwell Robbins living nearby.
On Sunday, August 21, 1842 Sarah married William Amos Morse, a physician, in Franklin County, Ohio. The next year Sarah & William were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William was baptized on Wednesday, May 24th and Sarah was baptized one week later on Thursday, June 1st.
Sarah & William heeding the council of the Church leaders, sold their property and began the exodus from their comforts of life in Ohio with Sarah's two youngest daughters Martha and Sarah Jane & William's children, Gilbert & Theresa. Sarah & her family endured many hardships along the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Leaving from Winter Quarters, Nebraska on June 6th 1848 in Brigham Young's 1st Division, William Morse a Captain of Ten, their trek began. They arrived in the magnificent Great Salt Lake Valley on September 20th 1848.
While in the Great Salt Lake City in April of 1849, Dr. William A. Morse was delegated by Brigham Young to explore the large island in the Great Salt Lake for the purpose of learning the botanical, mineralogical, & geological character of the island. And in June 1849 William was sent to the "south pass" to explore for gold.
Sarah & William accepted a call in December 1850 to colonize Little Salt Lake in the newly organized Iron County Mission. This meant that Sarah would have to leave her newly established home in the Great Salt Lake and again start over in another strange and uninviting area. She knew that she would be engaged in building the kingdom and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to accomplish this goal.
On 16 May 1851, President Brigham Young recommended the brethren to be united in their selection of public officers of Parowan City. William was nominated as a councilor of the city. He later was elected the president of the Board of Health in Iron County.
Sarah endured many hardships as she helped to establish her new home. She supported her husband in his callings and was a woman of great strength. Sarah and William were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, October 13, 1852. Temple records state it was a clear cool day.
In early November of 1852, Sarah & William returned home from Salt Lake after being sealed. William was unhitching the oxen from his wagon. Several Indians, who had been the happy recipients of the doctor's skill and kindness in administrated to their sick, came to welcome William home. The Indians unknowingly frightened the oxen, which knocked William down and trampled upon his head and body so severely that he was not expected to recover.
Sarah cared for William until his death on 23 January 1953, aged 66. J.C.L. Smith stated in the LDS Church Journal History "We have to lament the death of our Beloved Brother Dr. William A. Morse… He left his widow pretty comfortably situated in Parowan among those who hold and have held her and her husband in high estimation".
Sarah left her mortal existence one year after her beloved husband death in the spring of 1854. She and William are buried in Parowan City Cemetery next to a number of Sarah's grandchildren. Sarah was blessed with the knowledge & testimony of the restored gospel and has blessed her descendants through the sacrifices she made as a pioneer in the building of Zion.
Written by Kitty Bryan Matter, Sarah's great-great-great granddaughter
Sarah was born in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1802. She was the oldest daughter of John Bleeks Sr. and Rebecca Burgan.
Sarah lived in Rostraver Township until her early teens. While there her father worked as a carpenter and served in the War of 1812. Her family lived near other members of the Bleeks and the Burgan families. By 1820 Sarah and her family have settled in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. These early pioneers had hard times owing to the sparseness of the settlers and the newness of the country. The land was wilderness, overgrown with timber. There was great abundance of game of every kind, the forests abounded with large quantities of wild honey, which were easily obtained. Indians still roamed the land.
On Monday, September 4, 1820 Sarah married Joseph Burwell in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The marriage was officiated by George Boydston, Justice of the Peace.
Joseph was the son of Phineas Burwell and Margaret Burgan. Sarah's mother Rebecca Burgan, and Joseph's mother Margaret Burgan were sisters. Sarah and Joseph lived near Joseph's parents home in Wayne County, Ohio. While living there Sarah gave birth to six daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca, Martha and Sarah Jane.
The year 1833 was very difficult for Sarah. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in January. In May, her father died in a drowning in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio. Sarah and Joseph moved to Milton Township, Franklin County, Ohio and there her beloved husband Joseph died on September 6th at the young age of thirty-six. Sarah was left a widow with six young girls to care for. It must have been great comfort to have her brother-in-law, Samuel Burwell and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Burwell Robbins living nearby.
On Sunday, August 21, 1842 Sarah married William Amos Morse, a physician, in Franklin County, Ohio. The next year Sarah & William were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William was baptized on Wednesday, May 24th and Sarah was baptized one week later on Thursday, June 1st.
Sarah & William heeding the council of the Church leaders, sold their property and began the exodus from their comforts of life in Ohio with Sarah's two youngest daughters Martha and Sarah Jane & William's children, Gilbert & Theresa. Sarah & her family endured many hardships along the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Leaving from Winter Quarters, Nebraska on June 6th 1848 in Brigham Young's 1st Division, William Morse a Captain of Ten, their trek began. They arrived in the magnificent Great Salt Lake Valley on September 20th 1848.
While in the Great Salt Lake City in April of 1849, Dr. William A. Morse was delegated by Brigham Young to explore the large island in the Great Salt Lake for the purpose of learning the botanical, mineralogical, & geological character of the island. And in June 1849 William was sent to the "south pass" to explore for gold.
Sarah & William accepted a call in December 1850 to colonize Little Salt Lake in the newly organized Iron County Mission. This meant that Sarah would have to leave her newly established home in the Great Salt Lake and again start over in another strange and uninviting area. She knew that she would be engaged in building the kingdom and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to accomplish this goal.
On 16 May 1851, President Brigham Young recommended the brethren to be united in their selection of public officers of Parowan City. William was nominated as a councilor of the city. He later was elected the president of the Board of Health in Iron County.
Sarah endured many hardships as she helped to establish her new home. She supported her husband in his callings and was a woman of great strength. Sarah and William were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, October 13, 1852. Temple records state it was a clear cool day.
In early November of 1852, Sarah & William returned home from Salt Lake after being sealed. William was unhitching the oxen from his wagon. Several Indians, who had been the happy recipients of the doctor's skill and kindness in administrated to their sick, came to welcome William home. The Indians unknowingly frightened the oxen, which knocked William down and trampled upon his head and body so severely that he was not expected to recover.
Sarah cared for William until his death on 23 January 1953, aged 66. J.C.L. Smith stated in the LDS Church Journal History "We have to lament the death of our Beloved Brother Dr. William A. Morse… He left his widow pretty comfortably situated in Parowan among those who hold and have held her and her husband in high estimation".
Sarah left her mortal existence one year after her beloved husband death in the spring of 1854. She and William are buried in Parowan City Cemetery next to a number of Sarah's grandchildren. Sarah was blessed with the knowledge & testimony of the restored gospel and has blessed her descendants through the sacrifices she made as a pioneer in the building of Zion.
Sarah Bleeks Burwell Morse
Written by Kitty Bryan Matter, Sarah's great-great-great granddaughter
Sarah was born in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1802. She was the oldest daughter of John Bleeks Sr. and Rebecca Burgan.
Sarah lived in Rostraver Township until her early teens. While there her father worked as a carpenter and served in the War of 1812. Her family lived near other members of the Bleeks and the Burgan families. By 1820 Sarah and her family have settled in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. These early pioneers had hard times owing to the sparseness of the settlers and the newness of the country. The land was wilderness, overgrown with timber. There was great abundance of game of every kind, the forests abounded with large quantities of wild honey, which were easily obtained. Indians still roamed the land.
On Monday, September 4, 1820 Sarah married Joseph Burwell in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The marriage was officiated by George Boydston, Justice of the Peace.
Joseph was the son of Phineas Burwell and Margaret Burgan. Sarah's mother Rebecca Burgan, and Joseph's mother Margaret Burgan were sisters. Sarah and Joseph lived near Joseph's parents home in Wayne County, Ohio. While living there Sarah gave birth to six daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca, Martha and Sarah Jane.
The year 1833 was very difficult for Sarah. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in January. In May, her father died in a drowning in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio. Sarah and Joseph moved to Milton Township, Franklin County, Ohio and there her beloved husband Joseph died on September 6th at the young age of thirty-six. Sarah was left a widow with six young girls to care for. It must have been great comfort to have her brother-in-law, Samuel Burwell and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Burwell Robbins living nearby.
On Sunday, August 21, 1842 Sarah married William Amos Morse, a physician, in Franklin County, Ohio. The next year Sarah & William were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William was baptized on Wednesday, May 24th and Sarah was baptized one week later on Thursday, June 1st.
Sarah & William heeding the council of the Church leaders, sold their property and began the exodus from their comforts of life in Ohio with Sarah's two youngest daughters Martha and Sarah Jane & William's children, Gilbert & Theresa. Sarah & her family endured many hardships along the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Leaving from Winter Quarters, Nebraska on June 6th 1848 in Brigham Young's 1st Division, William Morse a Captain of Ten, their trek began. They arrived in the magnificent Great Salt Lake Valley on September 20th 1848.
While in the Great Salt Lake City in April of 1849, Dr. William A. Morse was delegated by Brigham Young to explore the large island in the Great Salt Lake for the purpose of learning the botanical, mineralogical, & geological character of the island. And in June 1849 William was sent to the "south pass" to explore for gold.
Sarah & William accepted a call in December 1850 to colonize Little Salt Lake in the newly organized Iron County Mission. This meant that Sarah would have to leave her newly established home in the Great Salt Lake and again start over in another strange and uninviting area. She knew that she would be engaged in building the kingdom and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to accomplish this goal.
On 16 May 1851, President Brigham Young recommended the brethren to be united in their selection of public officers of Parowan City. William was nominated as a councilor of the city. He later was elected the president of the Board of Health in Iron County.
Sarah endured many hardships as she helped to establish her new home. She supported her husband in his callings and was a woman of great strength. Sarah and William were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, October 13, 1852. Temple records state it was a clear cool day.
In early November of 1852, Sarah & William returned home from Salt Lake after being sealed. William was unhitching the oxen from his wagon. Several Indians, who had been the happy recipients of the doctor's skill and kindness in administrated to their sick, came to welcome William home. The Indians unknowingly frightened the oxen, which knocked William down and trampled upon his head and body so severely that he was not expected to recover.
Sarah cared for William until his death on 23 January 1953, aged 66. J.C.L. Smith stated in the LDS Church Journal History "We have to lament the death of our Beloved Brother Dr. William A. Morse… He left his widow pretty comfortably situated in Parowan among those who hold and have held her and her husband in high estimation".
Sarah left her mortal existence one year after her beloved husband death in the spring of 1854. She and William are buried in Parowan City Cemetery next to a number of Sarah's grandchildren. Sarah was blessed with the knowledge & testimony of the restored gospel and has blessed her descendants through the sacrifices she made as a pioneer in the building of Zion.
Written by Kitty Bryan Matter, Sarah's great-great-great granddaughter
Sarah was born in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1802. She was the oldest daughter of John Bleeks Sr. and Rebecca Burgan.
Sarah lived in Rostraver Township until her early teens. While there her father worked as a carpenter and served in the War of 1812. Her family lived near other members of the Bleeks and the Burgan families. By 1820 Sarah and her family have settled in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. These early pioneers had hard times owing to the sparseness of the settlers and the newness of the country. The land was wilderness, overgrown with timber. There was great abundance of game of every kind, the forests abounded with large quantities of wild honey, which were easily obtained. Indians still roamed the land.
On Monday, September 4, 1820 Sarah married Joseph Burwell in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The marriage was officiated by George Boydston, Justice of the Peace.
Joseph was the son of Phineas Burwell and Margaret Burgan. Sarah's mother Rebecca Burgan, and Joseph's mother Margaret Burgan were sisters. Sarah and Joseph lived near Joseph's parents home in Wayne County, Ohio. While living there Sarah gave birth to six daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca, Martha and Sarah Jane.
The year 1833 was very difficult for Sarah. She gave birth to her youngest daughter in January. In May, her father died in a drowning in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio. Sarah and Joseph moved to Milton Township, Franklin County, Ohio and there her beloved husband Joseph died on September 6th at the young age of thirty-six. Sarah was left a widow with six young girls to care for. It must have been great comfort to have her brother-in-law, Samuel Burwell and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Burwell Robbins living nearby.
On Sunday, August 21, 1842 Sarah married William Amos Morse, a physician, in Franklin County, Ohio. The next year Sarah & William were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. William was baptized on Wednesday, May 24th and Sarah was baptized one week later on Thursday, June 1st.
Sarah & William heeding the council of the Church leaders, sold their property and began the exodus from their comforts of life in Ohio with Sarah's two youngest daughters Martha and Sarah Jane & William's children, Gilbert & Theresa. Sarah & her family endured many hardships along the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Leaving from Winter Quarters, Nebraska on June 6th 1848 in Brigham Young's 1st Division, William Morse a Captain of Ten, their trek began. They arrived in the magnificent Great Salt Lake Valley on September 20th 1848.
While in the Great Salt Lake City in April of 1849, Dr. William A. Morse was delegated by Brigham Young to explore the large island in the Great Salt Lake for the purpose of learning the botanical, mineralogical, & geological character of the island. And in June 1849 William was sent to the "south pass" to explore for gold.
Sarah & William accepted a call in December 1850 to colonize Little Salt Lake in the newly organized Iron County Mission. This meant that Sarah would have to leave her newly established home in the Great Salt Lake and again start over in another strange and uninviting area. She knew that she would be engaged in building the kingdom and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to accomplish this goal.
On 16 May 1851, President Brigham Young recommended the brethren to be united in their selection of public officers of Parowan City. William was nominated as a councilor of the city. He later was elected the president of the Board of Health in Iron County.
Sarah endured many hardships as she helped to establish her new home. She supported her husband in his callings and was a woman of great strength. Sarah and William were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, October 13, 1852. Temple records state it was a clear cool day.
In early November of 1852, Sarah & William returned home from Salt Lake after being sealed. William was unhitching the oxen from his wagon. Several Indians, who had been the happy recipients of the doctor's skill and kindness in administrated to their sick, came to welcome William home. The Indians unknowingly frightened the oxen, which knocked William down and trampled upon his head and body so severely that he was not expected to recover.
Sarah cared for William until his death on 23 January 1953, aged 66. J.C.L. Smith stated in the LDS Church Journal History "We have to lament the death of our Beloved Brother Dr. William A. Morse… He left his widow pretty comfortably situated in Parowan among those who hold and have held her and her husband in high estimation".
Sarah left her mortal existence one year after her beloved husband death in the spring of 1854. She and William are buried in Parowan City Cemetery next to a number of Sarah's grandchildren. Sarah was blessed with the knowledge & testimony of the restored gospel and has blessed her descendants through the sacrifices she made as a pioneer in the building of Zion.
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