Life Summary
Lucy Wilkinson Norton and Allen Norton Lucy Wilkinson Norton was born and raised in Chatham, Middlesex County, Connecticut, on March 3, 1789. Her parents were Thomas Wilkinson and Sarah Hall Wilkinson. She was the youngest of seven children. Their names were Sarah, Thomas, David, Susannah, Ascha, Alann, and Lucy. When Lucy was 20 years old, she married Allen Norton at Granville, Washington County, New
York, on December 31, 1809. He was the son of Margaret Bennett Norton and Josiah Norton and was born February 11, 1787 in Granville, New York. Family tradition says that he and a number of his brothers were in the War of 1812.
The young couple had their first child, Alanson Norton, after they had been married five years.
He was born March 26, 1814. On December 10, 1816, their first daughter, Betsy Susannah, was born. Their next two children were born after the family moved from Granville to Warsaw, New York. Charles was born August 29, 1817, and Delinda Amalia, April 27, 1822. Lucy and Allen raised their family in a one-room cabin. It had a ladder going up to a loft where they could play games and sleep. They learned to read using the Bible and Poor Richard's Almanac. They entertained themselves having contests in reading, arithmetic, and spelling.
The oldest son, Alanson, married Sally (Sarah) Maria Freeman in 1836 at Clymer, New York. Allen died March 11, 1842, leaving his family to be raised by Lucy. After the death of his father, Alanson immediately took the responsibility of caring for his mother, his three siblings, and his growing family. They all continued to live together as one family. The Nortons were active members of the Methodist Church until January of 1843. At that time, Luman Heath and his wife, Louisa Heath, a niece of Brigham Young, arrived in the area and began preaching the LDS religion. Alanson invited them to hold meetings in his home. The Norton family was impressed with the teachings and the adults and older children were baptized on February 10, 1843.
Alanson was a weaver by trade. He had his own looms and carders. Lucy joined him in his work. She spun fine yarn and thread of flax and wool, and she knew how to weave it into cloth. Not only did Lucy help him in his business, but she provided good clothing for all the children and
grandchildren. The Nortons had a strong desire to move to Nauvoo so they could be with others of their faith. They left in October of 1845, and arrived in Nauvoo November 18, 1845. Sadly, little two-year-old Mary Eliza, daughter of Alanson and Sally, died before they left and was buried at Prattsburgh, New York.
div>Charles, Lucy's second son, married Fanny Elizabeth Hiscock on May 20, 1845. Their first child, Ethan Allen, was born March 29, 1846. The three Norton families did not stay long in Nauvoo because of the violence of the mobs. As they prepared to travel west, tragedy struck once again with the death of Emma Louise, the daughter of Alanson and Sally. Delinda, Lucy's youngest daughter, married Robert Robinson, but she had only been a bride a short time when she became ill and died. Betsy mourned the death of her sister. She could not eat and was so devastated that she died six weeks later. It was hard to leave these loved ones behind in the Nauvoo Cemetery, but they departed in April of 1846 and started west.
In August the families moved to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. The families lived in temporary settlements for four years. On May 1, 1851, the Nortons left with the John G. Smith Company of 150 wagons. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 17, 1851, tired but happy to have finished the journey. Their next move was to Provo, Utah. Just four months after reaching the valley, Sally and Alanson had their seventh child on January 16, 1852, but because of complications from childbirth, Sally died January 22, 1852 leaving five children, the youngest only six days old.
“Grandmother” Lucy was now 63 years old. With her son Alanson away from home so much, being involved in church and community affairs, Lucy had the entire responsibility of caring for the children who were still living at home. Even with all these tragedies, she was steadfast in her testimony of the gospel, which gave her courage to take care of the family that included Sally's new infant. Four years later, Brigham Young asked Alanson to leave his home and family in Provo and go to Sugar House to set up a wool carding machine and mill. There he met and married Julia Ann Williams, in 1856.
His family moved to Salt Lake City until Johnston's Army was reported on its way to Utah. Then they returned to Provo. Finally, they moved back to Sugar House, and then to Parley's Canyon. Alanson set up his carding machine wherever they lived, providing a good living for his family. Lucy helped by spinning yarn and thread, knitting stockings, weaving carpets, and at the same time, helping raise Sally's children. Charles and his family moved to Coalville, Utah where he was a farmer. In 1864 he became ill and went to Parley's Canyon to get help from his brother and mother. A few weeks later, he passed away and was buried in a cemetery in Salt Lake City.
Since Charles left his land to his brother Alanson, the Norton family moved to Coalville. Several children were born to Alanson and Julia in Coalville. Lucy continued to live with the family and helped care for 12 of Alanson's children. Lucy Wilkinson Norton passed away on September of 1864 and was buried in Coalville, Utah. She was 77 years old.
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