Joseph Simon Sermon, born about 1802, Greater London, England, to James Sermon and Mary Beker, Baptised 13 Jun 1802, St. Mary at Lambeth, Greater London, England. James resided in Battersea, Greater London, England with a residence at Nine Elms Lane near Vauxhall. He married on October 23, 1825, at St. Mary, Newington, Greater London, England, Mary Ann Jones. They had six children. He married second, Elizabeth Whitear, on September 11, 1844 at St. Mary, Newington, Greater London. They had at least five and possibly six children.
Joseph and Elizabeth, with their children emigrated to the U.S.A. on the ship Caravan and after an unnecessarily delayed start as members of the Martin Handcart company, made the trek westward toward Utah, leaving Florence, Nebraska in August 1856. Having encountered deep snowstorms and brutal cold on the plains of Wyoming, many members of this group, including Joseph Simon Sermon died on the plains. His wife Elizabeth, and his children, several of whom suffered from severe frostbite, survived the Journey and made the trek to Utah.
Joseph Simon Sermon's death location, listed by many as having taken place at Devil's Gate, Wyoming on November 10, 1856 is highly unlikely. Far more likely is a revised location and date relating to the death of Joseph Simon Sermon, Red Bluffs, located in what is now Natrona County, Wyoming just north and west of the Platte River, on October 28, 1856. This revised place and date are based on the autobiographical history written by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon which seems to describe her husband Joseph as having died on the day that "Joseph A. Young and Brother Little" arrived at the Martin party camp with some additional food. She said that after Joseph had eaten some of the emergency provisions brought by Young and Little, he had revived and indicated that he would "hold out now and get to the wagons". Her account indicates that after consuming the emergency provisions, the family had to go back to 1/4 pound of flour per day and he "failed fast under this short ration". She continued that he "went to bed at 3 o'clock, put his arm around me and said, "I am done" and breathed his last". Elizabeth states that he was buried in a grave with eight other men early the next morning. There do not seem to be any reports that indicate the burial of eight men in other camps in the next three days, however, due to the dire circumstances under which the group was enduring, few records were taken during these days of survival and despair.
Elizabeth's brother, Eli Whitear, states in his letter to Rachel Edwards Smith dated December 10, 1907, that "Joseph Sermon died in the plains some time about October at about a place called Grease(wood) Creek on the Platte River on Red Buttes". The Grease(wood) creek location is not possible as Elizabeth's account clearly states that Joseph had died before the Martin company arrived, on October 31, at the location of the relief wagons, which was at Greaswood Creek. It is therefore likely, that Joseph died at Red Bluffs, just west of the North Platte River, where the most emigrants of the Martin Handcart Company had died during their nine day encampment, fifty-six people in all. It is conceivable that Joseph died after the party left Red Bluffs, on their way toward the wagon provisions at Greaswood Creek since Elizabeth Sermon's account does not provide great detail of the three days between the arrival of Young and Little and the group's arrival at the wagon rescue team, however it seems likely that he died before the group began their movement toward the rescue wagon train.
(Postulated by Wallace A. Wright, III, March 26, 2012, based on information from "Emigrating Journals of The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and The Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains by Lynne Slater Turner, also, an Autobiographical Sketch in the form of a letter to her children by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon, dated March 16, 1892 and Record of Sermon Family by Eli Whitear dated December 10, 1907 and information from Wikipedia, Mormon handcart pioneers and http:www.independencerock.org/altphotos.html).
Joseph and Elizabeth, with their children emigrated to the U.S.A. on the ship Caravan and after an unnecessarily delayed start as members of the Martin Handcart company, made the trek westward toward Utah, leaving Florence, Nebraska in August 1856. Having encountered deep snowstorms and brutal cold on the plains of Wyoming, many members of this group, including Joseph Simon Sermon died on the plains. His wife Elizabeth, and his children, several of whom suffered from severe frostbite, survived the Journey and made the trek to Utah.
Joseph Simon Sermon's death location, listed by many as having taken place at Devil's Gate, Wyoming on November 10, 1856 is highly unlikely. Far more likely is a revised location and date relating to the death of Joseph Simon Sermon, Red Bluffs, located in what is now Natrona County, Wyoming just north and west of the Platte River, on October 28, 1856. This revised place and date are based on the autobiographical history written by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon which seems to describe her husband Joseph as having died on the day that "Joseph A. Young and Brother Little" arrived at the Martin party camp with some additional food. She said that after Joseph had eaten some of the emergency provisions brought by Young and Little, he had revived and indicated that he would "hold out now and get to the wagons". Her account indicates that after consuming the emergency provisions, the family had to go back to 1/4 pound of flour per day and he "failed fast under this short ration". She continued that he "went to bed at 3 o'clock, put his arm around me and said, "I am done" and breathed his last". Elizabeth states that he was buried in a grave with eight other men early the next morning. There do not seem to be any reports that indicate the burial of eight men in other camps in the next three days, however, due to the dire circumstances under which the group was enduring, few records were taken during these days of survival and despair.
Elizabeth's brother, Eli Whitear, states in his letter to Rachel Edwards Smith dated December 10, 1907, that "Joseph Sermon died in the plains some time about October at about a place called Grease(wood) Creek on the Platte River on Red Buttes". The Grease(wood) creek location is not possible as Elizabeth's account clearly states that Joseph had died before the Martin company arrived, on October 31, at the location of the relief wagons, which was at Greaswood Creek. It is therefore likely, that Joseph died at Red Bluffs, just west of the North Platte River, where the most emigrants of the Martin Handcart Company had died during their nine day encampment, fifty-six people in all. It is conceivable that Joseph died after the party left Red Bluffs, on their way toward the wagon provisions at Greaswood Creek since Elizabeth Sermon's account does not provide great detail of the three days between the arrival of Young and Little and the group's arrival at the wagon rescue team, however it seems likely that he died before the group began their movement toward the rescue wagon train.
(Postulated by Wallace A. Wright, III, March 26, 2012, based on information from "Emigrating Journals of The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and The Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains by Lynne Slater Turner, also, an Autobiographical Sketch in the form of a letter to her children by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon, dated March 16, 1892 and Record of Sermon Family by Eli Whitear dated December 10, 1907 and information from Wikipedia, Mormon handcart pioneers and http:www.independencerock.org/altphotos.html).
Joseph Simon Sermon, born about 1802, Greater London, England, to James Sermon and Mary Beker, Baptised 13 Jun 1802, St. Mary at Lambeth, Greater London, England. James resided in Battersea, Greater London, England with a residence at Nine Elms Lane near Vauxhall. He married on October 23, 1825, at St. Mary, Newington, Greater London, England, Mary Ann Jones. They had six children. He married second, Elizabeth Whitear, on September 11, 1844 at St. Mary, Newington, Greater London. They had at least five and possibly six children.
Joseph and Elizabeth, with their children emigrated to the U.S.A. on the ship Caravan and after an unnecessarily delayed start as members of the Martin Handcart company, made the trek westward toward Utah, leaving Florence, Nebraska in August 1856. Having encountered deep snowstorms and brutal cold on the plains of Wyoming, many members of this group, including Joseph Simon Sermon died on the plains. His wife Elizabeth, and his children, several of whom suffered from severe frostbite, survived the Journey and made the trek to Utah.
Joseph Simon Sermon's death location, listed by many as having taken place at Devil's Gate, Wyoming on November 10, 1856 is highly unlikely. Far more likely is a revised location and date relating to the death of Joseph Simon Sermon, Red Bluffs, located in what is now Natrona County, Wyoming just north and west of the Platte River, on October 28, 1856. This revised place and date are based on the autobiographical history written by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon which seems to describe her husband Joseph as having died on the day that "Joseph A. Young and Brother Little" arrived at the Martin party camp with some additional food. She said that after Joseph had eaten some of the emergency provisions brought by Young and Little, he had revived and indicated that he would "hold out now and get to the wagons". Her account indicates that after consuming the emergency provisions, the family had to go back to 1/4 pound of flour per day and he "failed fast under this short ration". She continued that he "went to bed at 3 o'clock, put his arm around me and said, "I am done" and breathed his last". Elizabeth states that he was buried in a grave with eight other men early the next morning. There do not seem to be any reports that indicate the burial of eight men in other camps in the next three days, however, due to the dire circumstances under which the group was enduring, few records were taken during these days of survival and despair.
Elizabeth's brother, Eli Whitear, states in his letter to Rachel Edwards Smith dated December 10, 1907, that "Joseph Sermon died in the plains some time about October at about a place called Grease(wood) Creek on the Platte River on Red Buttes". The Grease(wood) creek location is not possible as Elizabeth's account clearly states that Joseph had died before the Martin company arrived, on October 31, at the location of the relief wagons, which was at Greaswood Creek. It is therefore likely, that Joseph died at Red Bluffs, just west of the North Platte River, where the most emigrants of the Martin Handcart Company had died during their nine day encampment, fifty-six people in all. It is conceivable that Joseph died after the party left Red Bluffs, on their way toward the wagon provisions at Greaswood Creek since Elizabeth Sermon's account does not provide great detail of the three days between the arrival of Young and Little and the group's arrival at the wagon rescue team, however it seems likely that he died before the group began their movement toward the rescue wagon train.
(Postulated by Wallace A. Wright, III, March 26, 2012, based on information from "Emigrating Journals of The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and The Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains by Lynne Slater Turner, also, an Autobiographical Sketch in the form of a letter to her children by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon, dated March 16, 1892 and Record of Sermon Family by Eli Whitear dated December 10, 1907 and information from Wikipedia, Mormon handcart pioneers and http:www.independencerock.org/altphotos.html).
Joseph and Elizabeth, with their children emigrated to the U.S.A. on the ship Caravan and after an unnecessarily delayed start as members of the Martin Handcart company, made the trek westward toward Utah, leaving Florence, Nebraska in August 1856. Having encountered deep snowstorms and brutal cold on the plains of Wyoming, many members of this group, including Joseph Simon Sermon died on the plains. His wife Elizabeth, and his children, several of whom suffered from severe frostbite, survived the Journey and made the trek to Utah.
Joseph Simon Sermon's death location, listed by many as having taken place at Devil's Gate, Wyoming on November 10, 1856 is highly unlikely. Far more likely is a revised location and date relating to the death of Joseph Simon Sermon, Red Bluffs, located in what is now Natrona County, Wyoming just north and west of the Platte River, on October 28, 1856. This revised place and date are based on the autobiographical history written by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon which seems to describe her husband Joseph as having died on the day that "Joseph A. Young and Brother Little" arrived at the Martin party camp with some additional food. She said that after Joseph had eaten some of the emergency provisions brought by Young and Little, he had revived and indicated that he would "hold out now and get to the wagons". Her account indicates that after consuming the emergency provisions, the family had to go back to 1/4 pound of flour per day and he "failed fast under this short ration". She continued that he "went to bed at 3 o'clock, put his arm around me and said, "I am done" and breathed his last". Elizabeth states that he was buried in a grave with eight other men early the next morning. There do not seem to be any reports that indicate the burial of eight men in other camps in the next three days, however, due to the dire circumstances under which the group was enduring, few records were taken during these days of survival and despair.
Elizabeth's brother, Eli Whitear, states in his letter to Rachel Edwards Smith dated December 10, 1907, that "Joseph Sermon died in the plains some time about October at about a place called Grease(wood) Creek on the Platte River on Red Buttes". The Grease(wood) creek location is not possible as Elizabeth's account clearly states that Joseph had died before the Martin company arrived, on October 31, at the location of the relief wagons, which was at Greaswood Creek. It is therefore likely, that Joseph died at Red Bluffs, just west of the North Platte River, where the most emigrants of the Martin Handcart Company had died during their nine day encampment, fifty-six people in all. It is conceivable that Joseph died after the party left Red Bluffs, on their way toward the wagon provisions at Greaswood Creek since Elizabeth Sermon's account does not provide great detail of the three days between the arrival of Young and Little and the group's arrival at the wagon rescue team, however it seems likely that he died before the group began their movement toward the rescue wagon train.
(Postulated by Wallace A. Wright, III, March 26, 2012, based on information from "Emigrating Journals of The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and The Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains by Lynne Slater Turner, also, an Autobiographical Sketch in the form of a letter to her children by Elizabeth Whitear Sermon, dated March 16, 1892 and Record of Sermon Family by Eli Whitear dated December 10, 1907 and information from Wikipedia, Mormon handcart pioneers and http:www.independencerock.org/altphotos.html).
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