Hannah Astill
1823-1887
Radford, England was a busting place in 1841 with a growing population. This was good for Hannah. Her mother kept a grocery store and Hannah’s occupation was that of a milliner. In 1841 at 18 years of age Hannah had 15 girls working for her. They used to buy the tuskin braid, then sew it together, then block it into shape and press it. They had a large bleaching oven in which the hat shapes were bleached; then the hats were trimmed. She was also a fine dressmaker; her hand sewing was as fine as machine sewing and all the sewing was done by hand as there were no machines at that time.
Hannah Astill was the daughter of Joseph Astill and Harriet Wild.
Joseph and Harriet had 7 children but they did not all live to adulthood. The first two children, John and Selina grew up together. They then had a baby namedJoseph but he died, they named the next boy Joseph, he also died and a sister named Hannah also died.
The family finally had two more children. They again named the boy Joseph and the girl Hannah. This was our Hannah born June 20, 1823.
Hannah and Joseph were reared together and were best of friends. They were raised in a very religious home. A dance hall at that time was thought of as a devil's house, so she never entered one while young. Her father was an old soldier having fought in the war of 1815.
A great sorrow came into Hannah’s life when she was 16. with the death of her brother, Joseph, who died at the age of 18. One morning he went early to fish in the River Trent; an hour later he was brought home dead. In some way he had fallen into the river and was drowned. This affected Hannah very much as she was very near to him in age and they were great companions.
When she was twenty-four years old her father passed away. That same year she married Henry Goddard at the Registrar's Office, Toll House Hill, Nottingham, England, December 11, 1847. Henry, a very fine silk stocking maker wove a very beautiful pair of dainty, light pink silk hose, which he gave to Hannah just before she was married to him. She wore them at the wedding. Later her daughter was married in them as were several of the granddaughters.
They were very happy in their married life.
It was not long before they were both converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hannah said, “I first heard the gospel in 1849 and was baptized by Elder George Taylor, July 15, 1850 and confirmed by Elder Enock Stone. Hannah’s oldest brother 9 years older had been baptized in 1848 along with his wife who was baptized in 1849.
Elder James Works was one of the missionaries who brought them this glad message. Henry was baptized in Sept of 1850.
On January 28, 1853, about five years after their marriage, they were made very happy over the birth of their first child, a son; they named him Joseph. A year later, much to their sorrow, he passed away.
Of this Hannah wrote, “Our first child, Joseph was born January 28, 1853 and died the same year September 6th.”
In the year 1855, they emigrated to America. They had no children but brought with them their niece, Mary Ann Kirk. Hannah was like a mother to Mary Ann, who had lost her mother when she was only 6 and she was now 16. Mary Ann had lived with them for several years as she was listed as part of their household in the 1851 census.
On the ship’s passenger list, Mary Ann Kirk is not found. However, listed with Henry Goddard and Hannah Goddard is a 16-year-old female named Cathrine Goddard. We assume that Cathrine is Mary Ann.
They left Liverpool April 22, 1855, and sailed in a sailing vessel, the Samuel Curling, and were on the ocean about five weeks, arriving at Castle Gardens in New York on. May 23rd. It was a very rough voyage and many times they were afraid they would go down. But through the blessings of the Lord, they finally landed safely.
Hannah recorded, “After a few days we left for Mormon Grove, where we remained seven weeks, before starting across the plains. The journey to UT was made with ox teams and occupied three months. We left Mormon Grove July 25thunder the command of Elder Harper. Mary Ann Kirk, our 16 year old, niece, who was baptized about the same time and came out with us, died on the night before reaching Salt Lake City, having been ill some time through cold and exposure and fatigue of the journey, fording rivers, etc. We buried her with many regrets, she was a faithful Latter-Day -Saint.”
Cholera had broken out in one of their camps. Hannah had it and had turned black, but she recovered before they reached UT. Henry was ill for nearly a year after their arrival.
They had always been used to indoor work and the long journey across the ocean had weakened their bodies and they had not become acclimated to this new country. Hannah, through exposure of wading rivers, etc., got the rheumatism from which she suffered the remaining years of her life.
They had lots of good clothes they had brought from England. They were able to trade silk dresses and a broadcloth coat for land. They bought a log cabin in the southern part Provo city where they lived for many years until they built a larger home. It was in this log cabin where the rest of their children were born.
In 1856 on December 11, a black-eyed baby girl came to gladden their home. Her name was Hannah Charlotte.
Two years later November 20, 1858, a son was born. His name was Henry John William. The night he was born a raging snow storm came up. Hannah’s husband was not home. Hannah went out in the storm to get the cattle under shelter. That night her son was born.
Enoch Samuel, another son, was born June 27, 1861.
The children grew and played with other children. Near their home was much unsettled land. This seemed to be the camping grounds for the Indians. The boys often told of playing and wrestling with the Indian boys.
Hannah noted “In Oct of 1868 we received our endowments in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, where we were sealed for time and all eternity.”
In his old age Hannah’s oldest brother John and his wife came to settle in West Jordan, UT. They brought news from home and the branch there. John passed away in 1882.
Hannah Astill ran a hat mil when she was young. As she raised her 3 children she told them stories of her little shop in England and the fine ladies who came to buy. The grandchildren loved to gather around her and hear her stories of the old country and dress up in her stylish hats.
Hannah was bed-ridden for her last 20 years with rheumatism, contracted through hardship and pioneer life. Hannah died on Sept 29, 1887.
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