Anna Elizabeth Sears
Born 22 Dec. 1863 at Sawtry, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.[1] Daughter of John Sears and Sarah Wagstaff.[2] Immigrated with her parents to the U.S., arriving 19 July 1864.[3] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the William Hyde pioneer company, arriving Oct. 1864.[4] Quilted as a young woman and worked as a dressmaker, 1880.[5] Married Joseph Smith Wells, 14 Apr. 1888; five children.[6] Enjoyed a fond relationship with EBW.[7] Died unexpectedly, 1 June 1903, in Salt Lake City.[8]
[1] General Register Office, Sawtry, Huntingdon, England, “Certified Copy of Entry of Birth,” in “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 17 Sept. 2020), Anna Elizabeth Sears (KW8P-4R5), Memories. “In Memoriam: Anna Sears Wells,” Women’s Exponent, June 1903, 4.
[2] General Register Office, Sawtry, Huntingdon, England, “Certified Copy of Entry of Birth,” in “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 17 Sept. 2020), Anna Elizabeth Sears (KW8P-4R5), Memories.
[3] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, European Mission, Emigration Records, 1849–1885, 1899–1923, Emigration Register, 1855–1863, p. 154, Anna E. Sears, microfilm 25691, DGS 8087184, image 159/781, FHL.
[4] “Anna Elizabeth Sears,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 17 Sept. 2020).
[5] “In Memoriam: Anna Sears Wells,” Women’s Exponent, June 1903, 4. 1880 U.S. Census, 11th Ward, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, ED 136, p. 7, Ann E. Sears.
[6] Cache Co., UT, County Clerk, Marriage Records, 1887–1966, Index of Marriage Certificates A–C, 1887–1915, p. 224, Joseph Smith Wells and Anna Elizabeth Sears, 13 Mar. 1888, microfilm 430301, DGS 4540805, image 367/613, FHL. “In Memoriam: Anna Sears Wells,” Women’s Exponent, June 1903, 4.
[7] EBW, Diary, 26 July 1890; 18 June 1897; 26 Oct. 1900; 1 June 1903.
[8] Salt Lake City, Office of Vital Statistics, Death Records, 1848–Sept. 1950, Death Register, 1890–1908, p. 211, Anna E. S. Wells, 1 June 1903, line 8010, cert. no. D13282, microfilm 26554, DGS 7578790, image 679/874, FHL. “In Memoriam: Anna Sears Wells,” Women’s Exponent, June 1903, 4.