Sarah Williams Perkins

Born: May 23, 1860; Tonteg, Llantwit Vairdre,
Glamorganshire, South Wales
Father: Evan Williams
Mother: Mary Davies
Died: June 30, 1943; Monticello, Utah

History

The Early Years: Sarah was her mother’s little helper. When Sarah was a young girl, her father was sent to Russia to help with a mining project there, leaving Mary expecting again and with the care of several little ones already. Sarah became her mother’s right hand. Possibly because of this, Sarah grew up to be very logically and practically minded.

Religion: Sarah’s father had experimented with religion in his life, including a brief stint meeting with Dryads. When the Williams were introduced to Mormonism, they were all converted, all except for Sarah. She wanted the chance to discover for herself which religion she should join, and met with the Methodists for a time. When she left Wales to come to Utah, she was warned by her pastor that she should take care lest those Mormons ensnare her. She did not inform him that her entire family was comprised of Mormons.

Coming to Utah: Sarah thought of coming to Utah as a great adventure, but the language barrier was a concern for a time. She had a few embarrassing experiences as she became accustomed to life in the States, but she faced it with her typical practicality and determination.

The Trek: Sarah was more than happy to go along with Ben and Mary Ann as they embarked on their journey to the San Juan, but she thought her duties would be merely watching over the children. To her surprise, shortly into the drive the first day, Ben put her in charge of the second wagon. She had never driven a team in her life, but never one to shirk from a challenge, she took the reins and came to think of the team as her own.

Conversion: Sarah still considered herself a Methodist at the start of the journey, but as she traveled with the Saints, she became impressed by the faith they showed along the way. She also was touched deeply by the spirit of the hymns they sang at night around the campfires. By the time the group reached Bluff, she was ready to be baptized.

Adjustment to Polygamy: Hardly any time passed after Sarah’s baptism before Ben made her the proposal to become his second wife. She was unfamiliar still with much of the doctrine, and this teaching in particular was hard for her to understand. She met with Church leaders and explained it all to her. She returned to her parents’ home in Cedar City for a time to think things over, and one year later became Ben’s wife, sealed in the St. George temple.

Contention in the Family: This marriage caused a great deal of contention in Sarah’s family. They felt she had gone after her sister’s husband and would not allow Sarah into their home. This did nothing to soothe Mary Ann’s feelings, either. Sarah left Cedar City to return to Bluff, feeling the sting of her family’s rejection. They did soften their hearts after a time, and she was welcomed back in to the family fold.

Family Life: Sarah raised her children mostly on her own. In 1890, the Manifesto was issued and the law cracked down on polygamy more than ever before, and Ben was forced to move his wives from place to place for their own protection. The two sisters were rarely in the same town, but rather, Ben kept them apart and traveled back and forth to see them as often as he could. Sarah took in laundry to make ends meet, and was able to give her children a loving, happy environment in which to grow. After Mary Ann’s death, she came to live with Ben and he finished out his years with her.

The descendants of these good people now number in the thousands, and they all have stories to tell of the wonderful legacy left by these pioneers who truly loved the Lord, gave up much for their faith, and lived with determination every day. Truer words could not be spoken than these, as quoted from the hymn – they were “blessed, honored pioneers.”

Source:
Submitted by:
Tristi Norton Pinkston, great-great-granddaughter of
Benjamin and Sarah Perkins. For more information, see the book ‘Season of Sacrifice’ by Tristi Pinkston at http://www.tristipinkston.com/books.htm

Family Search:
Sarah Williams Perkins on FamilySearch