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| Sketch of the life of Betsy Ann Kay Goddard |
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Betsy Ann Kay was born 14 Feb. 1863, the daughter of John Kay and Esther Howarth. She was born in the small town of Darwin, Lancashire, England. Her parents accepted the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in the year 1868, so as a small child, she was taught the principles of Mormonism. The missionaries were always welcome in their home. At that time everyone was compelled to go to the Church of England so part of her religious training was through this source. She had to learn chapter after chapter of the Bible and repeat them from memory, also the catechisms of the Church of England. At home she learned L.D.S. doctrine. She was baptized when she was eight years old in the year 1871 (Feb. 25) by John Holden. Betsy Ann was the second child born to her parents. William was the first child, born in 1862, but died the same year. The other children were: Jane, born 6 June 1865; John Thomas, born 1 Jan. 1868; and Kitty, born 23 Nov. 1870. Each was baptized at the age of eight years. They were the only ones of their families to belong to the Church at that time and the only family in that vicinity, so they were looked down upon as Mormons by the people of the community. They had to walk many miles to attend meetings as the nearest branch was at Manchester, six miles away. They would get up early Sunday morning, walk there to Sunday School and stay all day for the other meetings. They enjoyed the day with the members very much. Manchester was the first branch of the Church organized in England. Darwin was a manufacturing town. Many large factories were there and since most of the people were poor, all members of the families had to work, women and children as well as the men. As soon as Betsy Ann was old enough - six or seven - she was sent to the factory to work at the looms weaving cloth. She told me many times how her father would carry her to work while she slept, as they had to be to work very early. Wages were very low, so everyone in the family who possibly could, had to work to have enough to live on. Her father, John Kay, also had the job of night watchman while others worked at the looms. When Mother got older she was considered one of the best weavers, operating two looms at once. Although they weren't well off, they always had enough to share with the Elders. At one time a missionary was there and as was the custom, he placed his shoes outside his bedroom door. The good lady of the house would clean and polish them. When Betsy's mother saw the condition of this elder's shoes, all worn out without much sole left, she called her children together. Each was allowed to keep a small portion of their wages for their personal use. By combining money from the parents and children they had enough to buy a new pair of shoes for the elder. The next morning he was very surprised and happy to find a new pair of shoes by his door. He was very thankful for their kindness to him. Although working, the children had to spend part of each day in school until they reached a certain age, so they did get a good education. I remember her telling about a beautiful paper dress she had to make, all by hand. She had to be bery careful so as not to tear it. She made it so nicely that she won the prize. Although she had to work hard, there was still time to play and the children made the most of it, playing ball and other games. She often told about her doll getting drowned. At one time a big flood came. It filled the rooms and they had to climb to the attic of their home. They watched as the water got higher and higher, fearing that it would reach them. It stopped before it reached the attic, but everything in the lower rooms was soaked or ruined altogether. Mother's beautiful wax doll was in the top drawer of a chest, but when the water went down they found the doll ruined, which was a real tragedy for Mother. Another interesting story she told was about a big strike at the factory. Her father was wise enough to realize a strike was inevitable and knew it would mean much suffering, hunger, etc. for his family and the rest of the workers. He bought all the food he could while his money lasted, so they didn't suffer too much. They were also able to help others, but many did suffer greatly before the strike was settled. Betsy Ann's father had a large dog that would go with him on the rounds as night watchman. One night in making his rounds, the dog was locked in one of the rooms by mistake. As soon as Grandfather missed him, he went to find him. As he opened the door the dog sprang at him and he had quite a time saving his life. Although the family all loved the dog very much, Grandfather had him killed as he said he couldn't trust a dog that would jump and try to kill his own master. At one time, when they were first married Grandfather (John Kay) was head gardner at a large estate of one of the nobility and lived in a cottage on the grounds of the estate. Grandmother (Esther) used to tell about the servants from the Big House coming to visit her. When they would see her peeling potatoes they'd say, "My, my woman, you'll be the ruin of your husband. You mustn't peel them so thick. Let me show you how we have to do it at the Big House." Then she'd barely take the skin off. Plum puddings had to be made months before they were to be used so the people living in the Big House could digest them. They did no work at all, so all they ate had to be watched carefully. You see, it is a blessing to work, after all, so we can enjoy our food and be healthy. As stated before, many missionaries were welcome guests in their home. John Tanner and William Smith Tanner were two of them who came quite often. They used to laugh at Jane who would call, "Mother, Mother, come quick. Here comes Brother Tanner's brother". Spoken in the English brogue, it sounded quite funny to the Americans. William Smith Tanner became very friendly with the family, so when he was released Betsy Ann and her girl friend a Miss Kirkman decided to come to Utah. As Elder Tanner was well to do, he loaned money to people so they could emigrate to Utah, and he said he'd be glad to help them. Their friends all tried to persuade them not to go, telling them all kinks of untrue stories of Utah and the Mormons. They said there was a big wall around Utah and once you were in, they would never let you out. Betsy's boss at the factory said he'd give her another big loom, and that was quite an honor in that manufacturing district. His son also asked her to stay in England and marry him, but she told them all she was coming to Utah. In the year 1884, when she was twenty one years old and Elder Tanner was released, she and her friend came to Utah with him. She made her home with the Tanner family in Payson, working out when she could find work to do so she could pay back the money she'd borrowed from Brother Tanner. Many a week she would work for $1.50. Mrs. Tanner was very kind and seemed like a mother to her. The Tanner boys, Delos, Fred, and Leone, were like brothers to her. She also worked in Provo. The Farrer family were good friends and their home was always open to her. They treated her like a daughter, and she always said she had two mothers in Utah, Sister Tanner and Sister Farrer. When she first came to Utah Ezra Lyle was the baby of the Tanner family having been but two weeks old when his father left for England on his mission for the Church. She used to tend and play with the little boy and the other children. She little realized that this boy would some years later be her son-in-law. He married her oldest daughter, Esther Jeanette (Etta). While working in Provo at the home of Chris and Annie Johnson, she met Henry John William Goddard. It wasn't many months before they were married at the Tanner home in Paylon, Utah on 17 Dec. 1886. Bishop Joseph Tanner married them. Her husband paid the rest of the money she owed for her passage to Utah and they went to Provo to live. They were later married in the Salt Lake Temple on 10 April, 1895. Six children were born to them: Ernest Henry, 18 Sept. 1887; Esther Jeanette (Etta), 15 July 1889; John William, 12 Nov. 1891; Elvin Kay, 9 March, 1898; Hugh Kay, 12 March 1901; and Estella Jane, 14 Oct. 1903. Ernest Henry and Elvin Kay passed away while still small children. Ernest swallowed a bean which lodged in his throat and choked him to death a few days later. Elvin had diphtheria, a dreaded disease in those days. The others all grew to adulthood and all but Hugh raised families of their own. Esther Jeanette passed away at her home in Payson 9 June 1936. She, Ezra and their family lived in the old William Smith Tanner home all their married life. In July 1890 Betsy's Parents, sister Jane and brother John Thomas came to Utah. Kitty, her other sister had died 13 Nov. 1889, just seven months before. She was nineteen years old. John Thomas died of typhoid fever 5 Oct. 1890 just three months after their arrival in Utah. Their sorrow was almost more than they could bear, losing both of them within a year. John Thomas was twenty two years old. In spite of their grief, they were happy that they were at last in Utah and their faith in the gospel never faltered. It was the second time Grandfather had made the trip from England, as he had come over a few years before and went back for the rest of his family to prove to relatives and others that you could get out ot Utah and had all the freedom you wanted. He had liked Utah very much the first time and was happy to have his whole family together in Zion. John Kay got work at the Woolen Mills in Provo and they bought a lot south of the railroad tracks on University Avenue and built a home. Jane soon married Hugh Clayton and they built a house on the same lot. On the 11 Jan. 1896 Betsy's father passed away at Betsy's home. Her mother never got over her grief and in 1898 she also passed away. They were both buried in the provo City Cemetary, as was John Thomas. They had been faithful members of the Church to the last. There were just Jane and Betsy left of the family. Jane had one child, Eilliam Kay Clayton. Jane died 15 June 1907 and her son was raised by Grandma Alice Clayton. Now Betsy was the only one of her family who was left. Betsy Ann was always a faithful worker in the Church. She was a teacher in Relief Society for many years, especially working among the sick and needy. Many blessed her for her kindness to them. She was called into the presidency as a counselor to Sister Paxman. She filled the position very well and faithfully did much good. When Sister Paxman resigned the new president wanted her to continue on with her, but due to ill health she declined, but she coninued to work as a block teacher. She also helped for years on the Old Folks Committee in the Provo Sixth Ward. Mother and Father both did all they could for their children and urged them to get a good education. They always taught us to be faithful in our duties to the Church and to keep the commandments of God. Three of the children attended the BYU. Besty Ann Passed away at the age of fifty eight the 27 March 1921 in Provo City after several months of ill health and finally contracting pneumonia.
Esther Jeanette had five children:
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