Lydia Goldthwaite
Born: 9 Jun 1812 to Jesse G. Goldthwait and Sally Burt in Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Died: 3 Apr 1884 St. George, Washington, Utah. Married Calvin Bailey 1828; Had 2 children: Rosanna, Edwin. Married Newel Knight 23 Nov 1835 Kirtland, Ohio; Had 7 children: Sally, James Philander, Joseph, Newel, Lydia, Jesse, Hyrum Helaman. Married John Dalton 1851; Had 1 child, Artimesia. Married James McLellan 1864. THE EARLY LIFE OF LYDIA GOLDTHWAITE Paraphrased from the 1940 book "The Jesse Knight Family" by J. William Knight Lydia Goldthwaite had five sisters and six brothers. She was born June 9, 1812, in Sutton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. She was an industrious child and received the reputation of never quitting anything she set her mind to "until the last lock" was pulled, from the fact that when given a sheep skin from which to remove the wool, she would not go with the children to play until the last lock was pulled. When about fifteen years of age, she was sent to a boarding school. Among Lydia's acquaintances in the town where she attended school was a young man named Calvin Bailey, whom she married in the Fall of 1828, when she was a little more than sixteen years of age. In 1830 a daughter, Rosanna was born to them, greatly to the joy of this young mother. A son, Edwin was born to her in February, 1832, but died almost at its birth. Her husband proved to be unworthy of her because he sold their personal property for drink and ultimately deserted, leaving her in poverty. She, with her daughter, returned to her parents home. |
The following January, 1833, her daughter died, leaving Lydia broken hearted. Shortly after this a friend of the family, Mr. Freeman Nickerson, came to visit the Goldthwaites and seeing how sad and lonely Lydia was, he prevailed upon her parents to allow her to go to Mount Pleasant in Canada and stay with his family. They made the journey in a sleigh, crossing Lake Erie on the ice. Mrs. Nickerson was very kind to the lonely woman, and they all became great friends.
It was during her stay in Mount Pleasant that Lydia first met the Prophet Joseph Smith, and Sidney Rigdon. Meetings were held at the Nickerson home and Lydia accepted the Gospel and was baptized in October 1833. Lydia remained at Mount Pleasant until the summer of 1834 and then went to St. Catherine, about eighty miles from her father's home, where she remained two months. Then she went to her father's home. Her father and mother were very much disturbed on learning of her having joined the Mormons and they would not be persuaded by any of her testimonies concerning the truth of the Gospel. Finally Lydia wanted very much to join the Saints at Kirtland in order to be with them. Her father and mother gave her ample means to go to her destination and be comfortable and respectable. She left in the Spring of 1835. On reaching Kirtland, the family with whom Lydia had traveled, set at once to make arrangements to settle down. Leaving his wife and Lydia at the hotel, Mr. Knight, for that was the gentleman's name, went out, soon returning with his brother, Vincent Knight, who was a resident of Kirtland but not connected with the Newel Knight family. On being introduced to Lydia, Vincent Knight said, "Sister, the Prophet is in bondage and has been brought into distress by the persecution of the wicked, and if you have any means to give, it will be a benefit to him." "Oh yes, sir," she replied, "Here is all I have. I only wish it were more," emptying her purse containing perhaps fifty dollars, in his hand as she spoke. He counted it and fervently exclaimed, "Thank God, this will release and set the Prophet free." |
As evening drew on Vincent Knight returned and brought the welcome news that Joseph was at liberty, and Lydia's joy to think that she had been the humble means of helping the Prophet, was unbounded. The Prophet returned to Lydia about double the sum advanced him, just prior to the
departure of Newel and Lydia for their western home in Clay County, Missouri. Vincent Knight then offered her a home with his family which she accepted, and remained with them for six or eight months. In the Fall of 1835 Hyrum Smith requested Lydia to come to his home and assist his wife. He promised her she should receive all the care and thought that could be given to her if she were at her own home. She complied with the request, and while living with the Smiths became acquainted with Newel Knight, who was working on the Kirtland temple, and who later became her husband. The children of Newel and Lydia G. Knight are: Sally, born Dec. 1, 1836, in Clay Co., Mo.; James Philander, born April 29, 1838, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Mo.; Joseph, born Oct. 18, 1840, at Nauvoo, Ill.; Newel, born Oct. 14, 1842, at Nauvoo, Ill.; Lydia, born June 6, 1844, at Nauvoo, Ill.; Hyrum, born Aug. 16, 1847, at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Lydia married John Dalton in 1851 and a daughter, Artimesia, was born to them in Dec., 1852, at Salt Lake Co., Utah. Note: Brigham Young granted Lydia a divorce from Dalton, and in 1864 Lydia married the widower James McClellan, a hardworking blacksmith who had two young teenage daughters still at home. They soon removed to Santa Clara where happy and peaceful years followed until James died in February 1881. Later, Lydia moved to St. George where she could walk daily to the temple and there find much joy that had escaped her earlier life. She died and was buried in close view of the temple the first week of April, 1884. |
Timeline
Family Group Record
Children of Lydia Goldthwaite
Lydia's Memorial
The Lydia Goldthwait Memorial in the Saint George Cemetery
March 2011 photo by James N. Knight AIA
The Goldthwait surname, in Lydia's day, was spelled without an "e" on the end but today most folks render it "Goldthwaite." The photo on the right was taken by the contemporary architect James N. Knight AIA and distributed via email to some family members on 2 May 2011. This photo captures Lydia's memorial in its most recent condition. The newly restored memorial was completed at the end of 2010 with the help of many descendants who contributed time and resources to it's renewal. The monument was rededicated at the Knight Family Reunion held in St. George on June 8 and 9, 2012. It is said that the original memorial was provided by Lydia's son Jesse who did so much to memorialize his parents.
For historic perspective on spelling of the surname please check out "The Family Record of Lydia Goldthwait Knight 1812-1884" available below.
Timely References on Lydia's Memorial:
A SPECIAL PROJECT -- THE THREE LYDIA'S - The Story of our three Pioneer Woman named Lydia. VISIT A SPECIAL WEBSITE TO VIEW THEIR STORIES IN SLIDE FORMAT and to obtain a PDF version of this popular work. CLICK HERE
PDF Documents on Lydia Goldthwaite and Newel Knight
Click on the titles below to access and/or download some valuable pieces on the lives of Lydia and Newel Knight:
Written History of her life... "Lydia Knight's History" by Susa Young Gates
The Family Record of Lydia Goldthwait Knight 1812-1884...
An Unpublished letter from the Prophet Joseph Smith to his brother Patriarch Hyrum Smith by Susa Young Gates...
Several summaries and publications on "The History of Lydia and Newel Knight" in one PDF...
Patriarchal Blessing
Please click on image to enlarge
Lydia received her patriarchal blessing a little over four months after she married Newel Knight. Their first child, Sally was born 8 months later after they had moved to Clay County, Missouri. It is an interesting blessing wherein the Patriarch, Joseph Smith Sr. perceived the "Land of Zion" as being on the rich soils of the State of Missouri. Click here to download a PDF copy of the blessing.