M is for Margaretta

 

Margaretta Unwin CLARK is my 3^rd Great Aunt. 

Margaretta Call née Clark

My Gt Gt grandfather William CLARK was her older brother.  There were nine children in the family of John CLARK and Mary UNWIN. William was the firstborn, and Margaretta Unwin the seventh. She was born on 26 May 1828 in St Marys Parish, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. Her other siblings were John (died 2yo), Ann, John (died 1yo), Eliza, James, Mary Ann, and Matilda (died 1yo). Sadly, three of her siblings died as littlies.

 

Margaretta Unwin was christened at St Mary the Virgin Church of England, on 07 Jul 1828 in Nottingham. As a little girl she would never have dreamt how her life would change and the adventures she would survive.

St Mary the Virgin Church, Nottingham

The Clark family lived at 5 Kelley Street in St Marys parish. Margaretta worked as a Cotton Doubler in the local lace factory, along with other members of her family. 

Female workers in Lace factory, Nottingham.
Ref: https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/work/england/nottingham/

Margaretta was converted to the Latter-Day Saints religion when she heard visiting speakers. This influenced her to immigrate to Utah, United States of America on 30 Nov 1856. (Below, you will find a short version of the wonderful story of her travels and life, written by her loving son Willard. I do have a copy of the longer version also.)

 

When she was 28, she married Anson CALL, 46 yo son of Cyril CALL and Sally TIFFANY, on 02 Feb 1857 in Salt Lake City. Margaretta was the third wife, following on from Mary Flint and Ann Mariah Bowen. Then Emma Summers, and later Henrietta Caroline Williams in 1861 and his last wife Ann Clark in 1870 when Anson was 59yo. Ann was Margaretta’s sister and 11 years older. She travelled over to America after her first husband died in England. Henrietta was his brother Josiah's widow, who had been killed by Indians.

Anson Call

Anson and Margaretta had four girls then two boys:

 

Four of the CALL wives - Mary, Margaretta, Ann & Emma, and children.

 1. Mary was born 24 May 1858 in Provo, Utah Co. and died 04 Dec 1915 in Bountiful.

 2. Cylista was born on 09 Apr 1860 and died on 03 Jul 1907 in Bountiful.

 3. Samantha Evoline born on 28 Nov 1861, Bountiful, died 28 Apr 1948, Salt Lake City.

 4. Cynthia was born on 20 Feb 1864 and died on 17 Jan 1946 in Bountiful.

 5. Willard White was born on 25 Apr 1866 and died on 18 Jun 1945 in Bountiful.

 6. Aaron born 03 Jul 1868 in Bountiful, died 29 Oct 1954, Ogden, Weber County, Utah.

 

Margaretta settled with Anson and the family and for the remainder of her life lived in Bountiful, Davis, Utah. 

She died at 80 years of age, after only a month’s illness, on 27 Dec 1908 at the home of her daughter, Mary, Mrs Thomas Waddoups, and was buried two days later in Bountiful Memorial Park. 

Death Certificate for Margaretta Unwin Call née Clark

Margaretta's grave

 

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Questions for the readers:

I can't help wondering how all the wives managed, and the rest of the family for that matter. 

Did they get jealous? Did the children all play together? Were they like sisters and brothers to each other? Did the wives meet for the equivalent of coffee and a natter? It was such a hard life then, did it make it easier that you weren't always the one that said 'Yes' that night; instead you could sleep soundly. Was there a hierarchical order, a hen pecking order? Did he love them all equally or did he have favourites for different chores/needs?  What do you think??

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