Leah Lewis

Notes:

Allegedly she and her daughter Sarah Thompson were founding members of the Relief Society when it was organized on 17 Mar 1842, but neither of them is mentioned in Wikipedia's coverage of that first meeting.

Obituary, from the Nauvoo Neighbor, 15 Nov 1843:

Died on the 3rd inst. in this city, Mrs. Leah Chiles [Childs], of cancer and rheumatism, in the 57th year of her age.

Sister Childs was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as they have been revealed in the last days to man through the medium of revelation.

She shared all the persecutions heaped upon the saints -- was driven with them from the state of Missouri, and suffered much from exposure and fatigue. Never was the name of a more generous, benevolent and sympathetic woman enrolled upon the records of the Church. She was truly a "mother in Israel." She possessed great faith, which seemed, for a long time, to baffle the destroyer, death; but it was the will of her Heavenly Father to take her to himself, that her soul might be emancipated. She [was] released from the vicissitudes of this troublesome world. She had been afflicted for more that a year, and suffered the most excruciating pain, but she was perfectly resigned to the will of heaven and when the period of her desolution arrived she fell asleep, as calm as the sleep of infancy, with the unwavering hope of participating in the first resurrection, when she should awake to everlasting youth, immortality and eternal life.

Family/Spouse: Samuel Simmons. Samuel was born on 2 Dec 1780; died in Feb 1809. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Nathaniel Childs. Nathaniel was born on 16 Jun 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Leah married David John Thompson about 1812. David was born about 1771 in Pelham, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died in Aug 1823 in Fredonia, Chautauqua, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah Thompson was born on 20 Mar 1820 in Pomfret, Chautauqua, New York; died on 31 Jan 1896 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 15 Dec 1749, Lanesborough, Berkshire, Massachusetts
• Alternate death: 3 May 1810, New Ashford, Berkshire, Massachusetts

Notes:

He was a miller.

Gideon married Sarah Card. Sarah was born about 1754 in New Ashford, Berkshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to have been a daughter of John Card and Dorcas Potter, and a granddaughter of Job Card and Judith Greenman.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1688, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island
• Alternate death: May 1752, Richmond, Washington, Rhode Island

Notes:

He was a cooper. He married his first wife Abigail, whose origins are unknown, about 1708 in Washington County, Rhode Island.

All of his children and all of his Fordice stepchildren are mentioned in his will.

James married Susanna Petty in 1747. Susanna (daughter of William Petty and Mary) was born on 6 Jul 1716 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to Robert Joseph Curfman (citation details below), while her birth was recorded at Charlestown, Rhode Island, she was probably born at Westerly.

Her first husband was John Fordis or Fordice, whom she married in Westerly on 27 Dec 1733.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 6 Sep 1745, Exeter, Washington, Rhode Island

James married Sarah Babcock in 1687 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island. Sarah (daughter of James Babcock and Jane Brown) was born about 1669 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island; died in 1740 in Exeter, Washington, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1666

Notes:

His will bequeaths 5s to "Daughter Susanna Lewis," saying "she hath already had her portion".

At Westerly on 1 May 1716 he was charged with having "Illegally come into Town," but the matter was dropped. He was a freeman of Westerly 5 Mar 1735.

William married Mary. Mary died before 7 Nov 1748 in Richmond, Washington, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said by some to have been Mary Winter, daughter of John Winter and Abigail Smith.