In my last post, I mentioned that I began searching for Martha Ann Riste after hearing a fantastic story about her determination to join the leaders of the church and head west.
This story inspired me. I was fascinated with the idea of a courageous orphan who forsook everything for the gospel. So, when I had my first British Family History class, I began researching her family.
My first stop was the Ancestral File, to see what information had been submitted about Martha Ann Riste. I found that she was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, on 23 September 1839.
With a birthdate and place, I set off to find Martha in England. Since I knew she had joined the LDS church in England, I began by searching for LDS Church Records in the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). The FHLC had one listing for membership records of the Derby branch of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
What was in the LDS membership records? Watch for my next post . . . and find out!
I will be waiting with baited breath!
ReplyDeleteYou had better finish this story!!! You can't leave us hanging!!!
ReplyDeleteShe wasn't an orphan. She came with her parents and sister to Utah with the pioneers. Her parents died in Santaquin, but they do have one amazing and inspirational story... if you want to email me, I will send it to you. mgroneman@gmail.com
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