Richard Litson Jr.

Glade Family Line

Richard Litson, Jr., was born on August 24, 1851, in Whitchurch, Glamorganshire, Wales, now a suburb of Cardiff. He was christened several weeks later. Richard was just a year old when his parents were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October 1852, first his mother, Frances Ann Mathews Litson, then his father Richard Litson two weeks later. Richard's older sister, Eliza Mary Litson Glade, is our ancestor.

In 1861, the family lived in Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, South Wales.

St. Gwynno's Church, Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, Wales. Picture from Wikipedia.

Here is the census record showing the father working as a railway laborer and the children attending school. Most of their neighbors were coal miners.

1861 Wales Census, Haffoddroening [?], Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, Wales.

The family emigrated to the United States in 1866 with the assistance of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company. Here is their record in the PEF book:

1866 Perpetual Emigrating Fund record for Litson family. From Mormon Migration.

And a close-up:

1866 Perpetual Emigrating Fund record for Litson family. From Mormon Migration.

Richard Litson, Jr., left a charming record of the trip across the ocean and plains. I just got a copy and will transcribe it and add links into this post. It has very unfortunately been edited, but I suppose an edited diary is better than one which has been lost to time.

Book of Account of Voyage and Training and Overland Travels (Part 1—Part 2—Part 3—Part 4—Part 5—Part 6—Part 7)

In 1870, the family lived in Union Fort in Salt Lake County (South Cottonwood Ward, now Murray) which is (incidentally) the historical home for the black population of Salt Lake County.

1870 United States Census, Union, Salt Lake, Utah Territory.

Richard Litson, Sr., died in 1872 at the age of 53. He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Six years later, Richard Litson Jr. died by suicide on August 28, 1878.

"Local and Other Matters." Deseret News, September 4, 1878, 1.

The Deseret News noted that he was "an exemplary young man, and bore a good reputation among his friends. He took his own life while in a state of insanity, caused by a long and severe illness."

Richard Litson, Jr., is buried in the South Cottonwood Cemetery, now called the Murray Cemetery.

Forget-me-not from lo4u at Flickr.