I wonder if William is happy to be buried under beautiful trees next to his children. I hope they were happy when I came to visit them last fall. They were a "must see" on my pilgrimage.
As a young boy, William was a strapping sort- 200 pounds, broad shoulders. He was of great help to his father on the farm. Raised as a methodist, William was diligent in keeping the sabbath day holy-- until he went fishing.
Their children were raised strictly in the Methodist faith. Their son, William, didn't always do as he was told. One Sunday, he went fishing with his friends and soon had a nice catch of 6 fish. When getting ready to go home, he realized his father would not be pleased for he would know that William had been fishing on Sunday. So he dug a hole in the sand near the stream, wrapped his fish in leaves and buried them. When he reached home, he asked his father if he could go fishing early the next morning. The next morning he retrieved his fish and returned home with them. His family was so pleased that he had gotten such a nice catch in such a short time. They all praised him for being such a good fisherman. It wasn't until years later that the truth came out. (family search submitted by James Lawerence Myers.
William was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder WIlliam Hyde in New York. After baptism he was a branch president until he headed to Zion. He 1848 he drove a team of Hyrum Smith's Widow, Mary Fielding Smith across the plains. Then at the request at President Brigham Young, William along with Elder Geo. Terry was sent to help other emigrants who were yet crossing the plains.
The first documented Flint family member to have been born and to have died in the in the new world was Joseph Flint (June 25, 1662- February 5, 1710, Salem Massachustest) son of Thomas and Ann (Woods) and husband to Alice. He was present at the Salem Witch Trials as a witness.
( Joseph Flint v. George Jacobs, Sr. )
The deposicon of Joseph Flintt aged 30 yeares Saith that being at the house of Mr Thomas Beadles on the 11th of May 1692, when the Magistrates were Examining George Jacobs his Grandaughter and understanding that she had confessed I this deponent went into the other room where George Jacobs was and Told him that his Grandaughter had confessed he asked me what she had confessed I told him that she had confest she was a witch or that she had Set her hand to the Devil's booke
Whereupon s'd Jacobs said that She was charged not to confess and then I asked him who charged her not to confess, he then made & stop and at last said that if she were Innocent and yet Confest she would be accessary to her owne death
marke Joseph Flint
Jurat in Curia
(Reverse) Joseph Flint ags't Geo. Jacobs Sen'r.
( Essex County Archives, Salem -- Witchcraft Vol. 1 Page 90 ) Jurat in Curia
(Reverse) Joseph Flint ags't Geo. Jacobs Sen'r.
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| Son of WIlliam Flint, husband of Lucinda E. Flint and father of Lucinda |
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| daughter of Lucinda and Abel Josiah Flint |
This document cites William Flint (1603-1672) as a fornicator. From his relationship with Alice Bosworth resulted one son, William- the story is somewhat reminiscent of Hawthrone's Scartlet Letter. |
| John was married to Elvera. He was the son of Abel Josiah Flint son of William Flint |
So this week not only did I discover family ties to the Salem Witch Trials, but that my very own family has its own Scarlet Letter story complete with floggings in the town square.
To top it off, I discovered I am related to the man who invented the trolley car fender and that Elder M. Russell Ballard and I share a common ancestor, Thomas X.Smith. Thus, making he and my father both great grandsons to Thomas X ( of course we descend from different polygamous wives). Now, who thinks family history is boring?
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