PB Beatrice Twitchell Heaps

Today I received my 2nd Great Grandmother's, Beatrice Twitchell Heaps, Patriarchal Blessing. The Twitchell side of the family has been in America for a very long time. Benjamin Twitchell was my 9th Great Grandfather and he was born in Chesham, England in 1599, in the 1630's he came to America and he was married to Mary Riggs in 1652 in Dorchester, MA. They had eight children and I descend from their oldest son Joseph. Benjamin died at the beginning of King Philip's War in 1675.

Beatrice is the daughter of Edwin and Vesta Lucetta Bishop Twitchell and she was born in Escalante, Utah in 1864. Beatrice is actually third generation Mormon on both her parents' sides. Her Bishop and Twitchell Grandparents joined the church early. Vesta crossed the plains in 1850 at the age of 7 with her Mother, Eliza, and her sisters Mary and infant Penelope, and brother Mahonri Moriancumer. Edwin crossed the plains in 1848 at the age of 11 with a big group of Twitchell's. Edwin and Vesta were married in 1860 in Fillmore, Utah. Beatrice is their third child, but first to live to adulthood. I found Beatrice in the 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census. In October 1880 she married Willard Heaps, a convert from England. In the 1900 Census Beatrice and Willard are living next door to her parents and in the 1930 Census they are living about three or four houses away from my other 2nd Great Grandparents Isaac J and Clara Maria Berry Riddle in Escalante, Utah. Isaac and Clara Maria's daughter Clara Minerva married Beatrice and Willard's son Joseph Henry in 1910. I already posted about Joseph Henry and Clara Minerva Heaps' PB here.

Beatrice actually had two PB's. One in 1879, which is short with flowery handwriting, and the other in 1900. Both of them say she comes from the tribe of Ephraim.

1879 page 1

1879 page 2

I like the part that says, "Seek learning not only by study but by faith. Listen attentively to the teachings of the Priesthood that you may become wise unto salvation."

1900 page 1

The Patriarch was John Ashman and took place 29 Sept 1900 in Escalante

There are a couple of lines in the middle that are pretty cool. "Thou art highly favored of the Lord for thou art a chosen vessel. Thou hast born some of the noblest spirits that ever came to earth and there are others that are waiting to come thru your lineage." That's me!

1900 page 2

If you notice at the bottom it says Joshua Twitchell scribe and Lucetta Twitchell Recorder. Beatrice has a brother named Joshua and a sister named Vesta Lucetta, so it could be them?