Jan Bratt, a member of the Lakes Entrance Family History Resource Centre, has been researching her Rigby family history, and has come across a very interesting character in her great, great grandfather’s half-brother.
William Frederick Littlewood Rigby was born in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in 1833. At the tender age of 19, in July 1852 he married for the first time. William and his bride, Mary, arrived in USA on June 7, 1853, and by October 1853 they had settled in Utah.
William was an energetic worker, regardless of how daunting the task may be, and his list of accomplishments are impressive. He assisted in establishing over 44 communities in Utah and Idaho. He built up ranches, nurseries, sawmills, waterways and households. Rigby, in Idaho, was named in his honour.
William was also a man of God, a minister of religion and was ordained a Bishop in 1867. For seventeen years he was the Bishop in Newton, Utah. William was a missionary to Great Britain from 1887 to 1889 making several journeys by sea, to preach the good news. In 1890 he was called to preside over the Church in Teton Valley Utah.
But, William was a man of contrasts.
William found comfort in the arms of women, many women. William was husband to seven women between the years 1852 and 1876. Three of his wives were sisters. In those 24 years he fathered 39 children, 22 sons and 17 daughters.
After one of William’s missions to England, on returning to USA, he was arrested and spent time in the penitentiary for his polygamy practices.
On March 1, 1901, William died and is buried in the Newton Cemetery Utah.
“If you want to explore your family history join us every Monday and Saturday 1pm to 4.30pm, in our room behind the Information Centre. We’ll make you very welcome,” Jan said.
Contact details are available from Lakes Post.
IMAGE: Jan Bratt has found some interesting history of her family while researching at the Lakes Entrance Family History Resource Centre.
