Martha Annie Turpin Smith (1876-1915)

William & Martha Smith w/child

Martha Annie Turpin was born on 8 July 1876, in Blackfriars, Surrey, England [1] to Herbert Turpin and Elizabeth Purver. She was baptized on 5 Feb 1878 in the Parish of All Hallows Southwark in the County of Surrey in England at the age of 1 year 8 months 28 days. Her father's occupation shows something to do with boots. [2]

In the 1891 England census, she is age 14 and living in Bethal Green, London.

Martha married William Robert Smith on August 6, 1899, in St. James the Less, Parish of Bethnal Green, in the county of London, England. She was 23 years old and William was 21. William was a Grocer's Assistant and Martha, a Portmauteau maker, which is a large trunk or suitcase. Witnesses to the marriage were Herbert Turpin (Innkeeper) and Catherine Elizabeth Turpin (Bootmaker).[3]

In 1901, Mattie A. Smith was 24 years old, living in London, England with her husband, William, and son, William Herbert Smith.[4]  

Eventually William and Martha had six children in 13 years. The 1910, the family immigrated to the United States, coming from Gravesend, England, bringing with them 4 of their children, William Herbert Smith, Edward Robert Smith, Lillian Martha Smith and Joseph Thomas Smith. Their daughter Annie Elizabeth Smith had been born and died in 1902 in England. They sailed from Liverpool on 18 June 1910 on the ship, Dominion, landing in Quebec, Canada. Their last residence in England is shown as Gravesend and their destination is Preston. William is 32 years of age; Martha, 33; William Herbert, 10; Edward Robert, 7; Lillian Martha, 5; and Joseph Thomas, 1.

Their last child, Harold Turpin Smith was born on 14 October 1912 in Preston, Oneida Co., Idaho.  He died a few months later on 20 Jane 1913. 

In January of 1915, Martha traveled on the Oregon Short Line railroad enroute to the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake for medical treatment. It was a Wednesday and she died in transit on the train. Her death certificate shows the place of death as Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah, but family group records show the place of death as Woods Cross, Davis Co., Utah. Her death certificate also states that she died 'near North Salt Lake'. Woods Cross is just north of that, which could very well be where the train was when she died. Martha was 38 years 6 months 12 days and she died on 20 Jan 1915. Cause of death was a pelvic absess, contributed by chronic appendicitis.

William Robert Smith was the informant at the time of her death and he resided in Preston, Idaho. Martha was buried in the Preston Cemetery. On her death certificate, the date of burial, 25 Jan 1915 is crossed out and it shows she will be buried upon 'arrival'. [5] 

At the time of Martha's death, World War I was brewing and on Jan 19-20th, the first Zeppelin raid took place on Great Britain. Germany had employed three zeppelins in a two-day bombing mission against Britain. One encountered mechanical problems, but the other two zeppelins succeeded in dropping their bombs on English coastal towns.

SOURCES
[1] 1901 England Census shows her birthplace as B'friers, London, England
[2] London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

[3] London, England, Marriages and Banns 1754-1921

[4] 1901 England Census

[5] Death certificate for Martha Annie Smith
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