The next step of my journey was to search the LDS Derbyshire Ward Records for Martha Ann Riste. I searched the LDS church records for Derby, Derbyshire, England, and found Martha Ann Riste in the index.
Look what I found:
Martha Ann Riste and her sister, Lovinah. Martha Ann and
Lovinah Riste were baptized into the LDS church on 14 Feb 1852.
Also on the same page, I found their brother, Hyrum Frederick Riste:
But the real clincher was what I found on the page before these baptisms.
Who do you think I found there?
Martha Ann Riste's parents-- James and Mary Riste! They were baptized on 8 Sep 1850. Furthermore, there is a note on James Riste's record stating that he emigrated on 23 Mar 1853. Clearly, Martha Ann Riste was not an orphan. Family story debunked! (I feel like I could start my own Genealogy Mythbusters show!)
I now knew for certain that the story about Martha Ann Riste being an orphan was not true. I still wanted to learn a lot more about her, though. My next quest: find out more about her emigration to America.
Stay tuned for my next post to find out about Martha Ann Riste's journey to America!
Restored photo of Martha Ann Riste
