This week at the family history center I worked on trying to figure out just what happened to Edwin Williams (christened 22 September 1833) - the younger brother of George Williams (my great great grandfather).
Edwin joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the same year that his parents (Robert and Jane Williams) did in Calne, Wiltshire, England. His brother George and George's wife Harriet also joined the Church in 1849. Edwin came to the United States (landed in Philadelphia) in 1855 on the Ship Siddons. He is listed in the Mormon Migration database as a mason from Calne (so, that's him). We're not sure when he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. There is an E. Williams listed in the list of those that came in the John Hindley Company of 1855 - so that could be him. But after that, I don't find Edwin anywhere in Utah.
Here's where I have found an Edwin that's sure looks like him... There's an Edwin Williams marrying a Minerva Inman in Perry County, Indiana (I know, nowhere close to Utah)... and this same Edwin is in census records in Indiana and in Iowa. In the 1900 Census he's listed as a widower, born 5 Aug 1833 (great birthdate since it's about a month before the known christening date that I have), came to the United States in 1855. Still much to do to try and figure out if this is the same Edwin... but if it is... then there's the rest of the story. Why didn't he stay in Salt Lake? or did he ever make it there in the first place?
Ah... the more I start to look, the more questions I end up having...
