Esther B. Fletcher

Steven Lloyd Fletcher--Robert Wilbur Fletcher--Elmo Eugene Fletcher--Ira Camille Fletcher--Willard Thomas Fletcher--Esther Bathsheba Wright

Sketch of the life of Esther B. Fletcher

Written by herself, Salt Lake City, October 3, 1892

Esther Bathsheba Wright, born Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, January 15, 1823.

Daughter of Asa and Bathsheba Dadman Wright

Married Francis Fletcher July 3, 1829, son of Thomas and Orpha F. Fletcher.

We had seven children by this marriage: six sons and one daughter.  The two youngest died young.  My husband died December 26, 1854 in Salt Lake City.

July 1857 was married to Royal Barney.  Had two children by this marriage: a son and daughter.  I have five sons and two daughters living.  All married and there are forty grandchildren living; eight died; ten great grandchildren.  We received the gospel July 1842 in Westford, Massachusetts.  Joined the Lowell Branch of the church.  We gathered with the saints while camping in Winter Quarters, Omaha, August 25, 1847.  We stopped in Harris Grove and Kanesville until the Spring of 1851 when we crossed the plains and arrived safe in Salt Lake City, September 29, 1851.  We received our endowments in endowments in the House of the Lord August 4, 1852.  Entered into the order of Celestial marriage [plural marriage] August 16, 1852, Heber C. Kimball officiating.  The lady’s name was Mary Ann Loring, niece of Samuel Brannon.  I commenced Relief Society work in the year 1856, was a teacher in block seven of the Eighth Ward.  Sister Everett was president.  I was appointed teacher on the same block at the reorganization, 1866, second counselor January 6, 1881.  The Relief Society was reorganized, and I was set apart as president as our beloved president, Sister Leaver and counselor Sister Neehun had passed away.  I am still holding that office at this date, 1892.

I was president of the Primary association from its first organization March 19, 1879 until 1886.  I was also teacher in Sunday School from 1879 to 1890.  I resigned these two offices on account of poor health, being unable to fulfill so many duties as they should be, and felt that the Primary should have live active workers to make a success with the little ones.  I feel it a great duty imposed upon the presidents of these societies and that the society needed a competent person to conduct it.  It was a sacrifice for me to give up the Primary for I dearly love to instruct children.  In the spring of 1868 I commenced to instruct a select school with good success and continued to teach until 1878.  I also taught in the Eighth Ward school for over one year.  I have tried to do my duty when called upon and have been blessed in so doing.  I feel to bear my testimony to this work.  I have had many things made manifest to me through the Spirit of God and have been healed by the administration of his servants.

Soon after I joined the church in 1842, I was afflicted with some disease of the head, which I suffered much.  I was at my Father’s one day and he said I must get advice and be treated by some doctor that understood the disease.  I said, “Father, I believe I have faith to be healed if there be any Elders here”.

He said, “You can have the horse and buggy and your brother can drive for you, and if you are healed, I shall think it a miracle”.

It was eight miles to the branch we belonged – a Sabbath Day’s journey.

Sunday came and the rain was pouring.  My brother came to see what I would do.  I said, “Have you the team?”

He said, “No, Father says it is too stormy for you to go as poorly as you are.”

“I said, “This [is] the power of the evil one.  I must go.  Tell Father I will wrap up warm and will take no harm.”

 My brother said, “If I was determined to go, he would take me.”

[S]o he came and we started.  In a short time it cleared and the sun shone brightly as we neared the Hall where we held our meetings.  I found Brother Nickerson and Brother Jesse W. Crosby on the stand.  Brother Crosby came by to see me and said, “Are you sick?”

I told him I had come to be administered to and he said when they were done speaking, they would attend to it.  They called on the saints there to unite their faith and prayers with them, and was instantly healed and went from the house rejoicing and have never been afflicted with any disease of the kind since, for which I often thank my Heavenly Father.  In the morning, I went to let my Father know that I was healed.  He came and looked at my head and said, “What is this on your hair?” 

I said, “ It is oil, you know the elders anoint with oil and lay on hands for the healing of the sick”.

He said it was the oil they used that healed.

Re-typed by Jean Fletcher 24 March 2009.  Punctuation corrected.

Information from the family record of Wendell J Mellor, son of Effie Mellor, who is daughter of Sadie Howe, who is daughter of Royal Barney and Esther Bathsheba Wright

Hymn sung at the wedding of Francis Fletcher and Esther B. Wright

3 July 1839

Since Jesus freely did appear to grace a marriage feast

We will invite his presence here to be a wedding guest.

      Upon this bridal pair look down, who now have plighted hands

       Their union with thy favor crown and bless the nuptial bonds

So let this married couple live and die in friendship joined.

Francis Fletcher, baptized into the church in 1842 and united with the Lowell Branch of the church at Westford, Massachusetts; married Esther Bathsheba Wright 3 July1839.  The two oldest sons, Edwin Francis and Charles Eugene, were blessed by Aaron York and Joseph Stratton in 1843.  Daughter Esther Jane, was blessed by Leonard Hardy in 1845, joined L.D.S. Church , 1842.  They emigrated to the west, leaving 8 April 1847 and arriving in Salt Lake City 4 August 1851.  They stopped at Boston and formed their company.  Elder Forham was president of the company.  They arrived in St. Louis 1 May 1847 and remained there until August 8.

They built a house at Winter Quarters.  Their third son was, Kendall Asa, was born here [23 March 1848].  From May until September 1847, they stopped at Harris Grove, then removed to Kanesville, Iowa, where fourth son, Willard Thomas, was born [12 December 1849].  Left 22 June 1851.

Francis Fletcher and Esther Bathsheba Wright were re-baptized after reaching Utah on 17 July 1852 and were endowed 4 August 1853. [Esther’s personal history says they were endowed 4 August 1852.]  They were present at the laying of the cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple.  Francis Fletcher and Solomon Angel opened the first granite ledge of which the Temple is built in Cottonwood Canyon.  Also the granite table around the Bee Hive House.

Edwin Francis Fletcher married Eliza Duncomb January 1867-68

        

Charles Eugene Fletcher married Elizabeth Miller of Provo October 1873

          

These two sons [Edwin and Charles] and Willard Thomas were married in the Endowment House.

Kendall Asa Fletcher and Emma Asay were married January 1867, Salt Lake, Utah.  Lived in Salt Lake and Cannonville, Garfield, Utah.

Frank Beswick Jackson married Esther Jane Fletcher 2 July 1874, Salt Lake City.

Willard Thomas Fletcher married (1) Mary Woolley 17 April 1775 [Willard’s

personal history gives the marriage date as 14 April 1875.]; lived in Salt   Lake and Magrath, Canada.

Francis E. Fletcher and Esther Bathsheba Wright were re-baptized by Elijah F.   Sheets, 1852.

Willard Thomas Fletcher was baptized by Robert Daft.  He was blessed by Patriarch John Smith 25 November 1851.

John William Fletcher was blessed 1853 by his father, Francis Fletcher.

Francis Fletcher was blessed by Bishop Addison Everett 8 March 1856.

Before joining the church, Francis Fletcher was a member of the Orthodox Church in Westford.  He was Sunday School teacher for a number of years and assisted in the choir.

Re-typed by Jean Fletcher 24 March 2009.  Corrections added.