Stephen Peabody MEACHAM

                   Line 2611 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
    SLGC 25 JAN'67
                  

                   NAME:
    MEACHAM aka MECHAM

SHORT HISTORY OF SYLVIA AMERET MEACHAM (MECHAM):
       Sylvia has many name variations. Frequent spellings of her 2nd name are: Ameret, Amaret, Amaretta, Ameretta. These can be found within the same document. Meacham also has many spellings, but the most used are Meacham and Mecham. Sometimes both spellings are found in the same family. For example, when J. Leo Meacham died in 1998 his casket-bearing brothers' surnames were Mecham. Both spellings are pronounced the same. This genealogical record has stuck with the older spelling; viz. Meacham.
       The Meachams were some of the first settlers in America, with Jeremiah (b1613) arriving from Somersetshire, England before 1640. Sylvia's ancestors settled in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts and lived there until about 1705 when Jeremiah (a son b1644) moved to Windham, Connecticut. Sometime before 1735 Samuel (a son b1712) moved to Norwich, Conn. His son, also named Samuel (b 1739) moved to Canaan, New Hampshire before his first child was born in 1763. The grandfather of Sylvia, and son of Samuel, Dr. Thomas (b1771), moved to Fletcher, Vermont. Sylvia's father, Steven Peabody (b1797) moved to Hopkinton, New York. This is where Sylvia was born in 1820, and where she was living when her family was converted to Mornomism (LDS Church) by an Uncle Joseph Meacham about 1836-9. They moved to Springfield, Missouri, where she met and married Dominicus Carter in 1839. Sylvia's mother, Dorothy Ransom, also had a long line of progenitors who came to America from England early in the 17th century and lived in Vermont and Connecticut.
       Sylvia's story becomes woven into that of Dominicus; John Snyder, her second husband; and Erastus, her first child, so a more full account is found in their histories. This period of time must have been horrible for Sylvia. She was 19 when she became the 3rd wife of Dominicus. His second wife was only 16 or 17 and was struggling with the care for the 5 living children of Dominicus's first wife, Lydia, who died in Missouri when the saints were driven out. There could have been only a few good years before they were again forced to leave Nauvoo for Winter Quarters. But, before leaving Sylvia gave birth to Erastus Francis in 1843 and Isaac Morley in 1845. Isaac died in infancy. In 1844 Dominicus took a 4th wife, 14 year old Mary Durfee. Can you imagine the weight of all the commotion and responsibility on Sylvia? In addition Dominicus was very busy taking care of others and making wagons for the treck west. Sophronia, Dominicus's second wife, died near Winter Quarters giving birth to their first child that also died. Further, Dominicus's 65 year old mother was living with them and joined them on the treck west. Dominicus's younger brother, Richard, who joined the Mormon Battalion, left a wife and two children to be helped. He died in 1846 and his wife also died of Smallpox in 1852 before leaving Winter Quarters.
       It does not seem unreasonable or a sign of weakness for Sylvia to elect to stay in Salt Lake City with Erastus and not follow Dominicus to Provo. Dominicus built her a house and there has not been anything written to indicate bitterness in the separation. Dominicus was a mild and caring man and if there were neglect it was because he was trying to do too much for others. He practiced pologomy because he thought it was the right thing to do.
       John Snyder came on the scene in 1854-5 as a 4-year widower after 30 years of marriage. He had been faithful in the church - he was baptized in 1836 by Parley P. Pratt while in Canada where John Taylor lived. He suffered all of the trials associated with the Church's early beginnings and treck west. He was a brick mason and house builder and could furnish a good home for Erastus who was about 12 years old. Sylvia was 35 years old and John was 56. They married in 1855 and were sealed in the EHOUS in 1867. Sylvia gave birth to 2 more children, Martin Henry in 1959 and John Hyrum in 1960. John, Sr. was a good father to Erastus and taught him his trade of building houses. There has been no record found to indicate that Erastus was adopted by John, but they were sealed together in 1978. If this troubles those who want their sealed line to follow biologically know that Erastus has been sealed to Dominicus at least 8 times.
       After John, Sr. died in 1875 he was buried in the family plot in Salt Lake City. Sylvia lived alone as a widow in SLC for about 15 years before she moved to Park Valley, Utah, to be with her son Erastus. She died there in 1894. Her body was buried in the Snyder plot in SLC beside her husband John.
       The Meachams and the Carters have been friends since the Church brought them together in its early history. When Erastus Carter and Alice Green moved to Park Valley Erastus Darwin Mecham, Sylvia's brother, was bishop (1879-92). They lived just east of them. The next bishop was William Henry Mecham, a son of Erastus Mecham, who served until 1899. John (or Jack) Hyrum Mecham, another son of Erastus, and his wife Annie Miller continued to live in Park Valley for many years and are buried there. There children; J. Leo, Bill, May, Rich, Don and Chester are remembered by the Carters who grew up in Park Valley during the 1925-50 period. Many of the Meacham children worked for John Carter. They related well with other people.       SCJ

RECORD:

1. Salt Lake City Cemetary Sexton Records, Interment #7097.

2. Hyrum Smith, Patriarchal Blessing of Sylvis Ameret Meacham, Alfa Jean Carter, Centerville, UT.

3. Endowment House Records, Birth, endowment, marriage, Family History Library-SLC, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.
                  

                   Line 2623 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
    BAPL 10 APR 1917 1936

Line 2624 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
    ENDL 11 APR 1917 6 FEB 1946
                  

                   Line 2679 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
    BAPL 25 MAY 1920 21 MAR 1931