Sarah Stanley Bishop Compiled by Ivy Bishop Harvey, daughter of Amos Bishop Most of this material was obtained from Zina Bishop Herron, daughter of Willard Bishop

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Sarah Stanely Bishop

Sarah Stanley, daughter of Thomas and Mary Kempson Stanley, was born 16 February 1824, in Broadway, Worcester, England. Little is known of her childhood. Evidently, when old enough to work she went to Cheltenham, England, to work in a bake shop. Here she met James Bishop who was also employed in the same shop.

After a courtship that was carried on through a small window in the servants' quarters, she was married to James Bishop on 31 December 1848.

Sarah suffered with asthma the greater part of her life. It is said by her children that she was confined to her room for days and sometimes months when suffering from an attack. The climate of England was so damp that it greatly aggravated her condition. Because of her ill health, Alice, the eldest daughter, often took charge of the home and family. Even with this handicap Sarah helped in the bake shop, made the missionaries welcome at all times and was the mother of eleven children.

Sarah was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 25th of November 1851, three years after her marriage. On October 21, 1884, she, her husband, two sons and three daughters, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren sailed for America on the "Arizona". Three of her children had died previously: Heber at the age of 20, David - 4 yrs, and Alfred - 9 months. They arrived in New York November 1884 and came west by train to join 3 sons who came earlier. They lived with James and Emma Smith until a home for them could be found.

Sarah's husband, James, died October 21, 1886, exactly two years from the day they left England. He was 63 years of age. Sarah then lived with her sons Amos and Joe, in the family home on the corner of First East and First North in Kaysville. When Amos was married September 18, 1889, Sarah went to live with her daughter, Alice, who had a big house and plenty of room. The Bishop home consisted of two rooms, a pantry and a shanty. Clara also lived with Alice and later Joe had a room in their upstairs.

She was devout in her religion and was a quiet, sweet person who always did her very best to help Alice with her big family. Shelling peas, snipping green beans, knitting stockings, making beautiful pieced quilts and other odd jobs kept her busy. She would take the children for a walk and bring back her apron full of wood. Many bumps, cuts, scratches and insect bites were cured quite promptly by Sarah wetting her finger and rubbing the injury and assuring the patient it would be well in a minute or so. At the age of 83, she was still reading without glasses. Her son-in-law, Arthur, in whose home she lived, would never let the children treat her with disrespect. Alice used to say at times, "I think your father likes Mother better than he likes me."

Sarah was bedridden in her later years, but she never complained. She was always cheerful and made the best of it. She rang a little bell when she needed something. She passed away November 21, 1914, at the age of 90 years. Funeral services were held in the new Kaysville Tabernacle, Center Street and 2nd West, Tuesday, November 23, 1914. Burial was in the Kaysville City Cemetery.

From the "S.S. Arizona" ship record arriving at New York, November 11, 1884, the following is listed:

"S.S. Arizona" Ship Record

Bishop, James - 59, Farmer
   Sarah - 59, Wife
   Alice - 27, Spinster
   Ellen - 19, Spinster
   Joseph - 17, Farm Laborer
   Clara - 11, Child
   John - 33, Farmer
   Mary Ann Agnes Stone - 25, Wife
   Arthur J. - 6, Child
   Ethel - 4, Child
   Nellie - 2, Child