Sarah Ann Gardner Burr Derr

Sarah Ann Gardner was born February 13, 1807 in Wilmington, Delaware to James and Hannah Gardner.  We know little else about her genealogy, but Wilmington had been settled first by Scandinavians and later by English settlers. 

Her early life may well have been defined by the War of 1812, which played out its drama in the Atlantic Ocean to the East and Chesapeake Bay to the West.  Readers will recall that the British sacked Washington, DC, destroying the White House and other public buildings in 1813.  Following the raid on Washington, the British attacked Baltimore by sea, shelling Fort Henry.  When the 25 hours of shelling ended, the Star Spangled Banner still flew over the fort, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write what became the National Anthem.  One can only surmise that the Gardners were focused intently on these battles in their region.

Sarah Ann Gardner married Samuel H. Burr, likely in 1826.  Together they had five children, three boys (Edward-1827, George-1830 and Westley-1833) and two daughters (Anna-1829 and Elizabeth-1831).  Samuel and his wife and two children were recorded as living in Wilmington for the 1830 census.  For the 1840 census, only the two daughters are noted with their parents.  Family records do not include death dates for the boys, leading one to wonder if they died between 1830 and 1840.  Later generations of the family were diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC deficiency), which takes the lives of untreated male carriers.  Of course, if that is what happened, at the time there would have been no diagnosis and no treatment for the boys.  We can only imagine the heartbreak and anguish those parents would have suffered watching their boys die.

The next decade was pivotal in Sarah's life.  Though no family or other records seem to indicate how or when exactly it happened, Sarah apparently joined the LDS Church, but Samuel did not.  Ultimately, Sarah went to Utah without him.

At age 45, Sarah married William Derr on April 20, 1852.  They were sealed together in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City two years later on April 4, 1854.

While it is not clear from family records whether her oldest daughter, Anna, came out West, Sarah's younger daughter, Elizabeth did come.  In fact, Elizabeth also married William Derr on February 10, 1865 at age 33.

Sarah and William did not have any children together, but Elizabeth and William had four children, presumably allowing Sarah to be unusually close to her grandchildren.

Sarah died at age 75 on February 15, 1882.  She is apparently buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, but I cannot find a grave marker for her.

Comments

[Yvonne Failner]

Sarah ann joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1845. We believe because her husband Samuel Was an active Quaker, he divorced and sent her away. she left New Jersey and went to Philadelphia where she lived next door to William and Eliza Durr. Sarah had a special talent of nursing the sick, therefore she took care of Eliza. Upon Eliza's death she made William promise to marry Sarah and Take her to Zion with him. Samuel Burr died in 1863 and in his will there is no mention of Sarah. He left $1000.00 to Elizabeth Burr Cook who took the money and went to Utah to live with her mother. His will mentions his son George W., his son Samuel H Burr, Elizabeth wife of Jacob Cook, his niece Sallie Losee and a daughter Ellen Lingg from his deceased wife.

[Devin Thorpe]

Thank you so much for sharing!!!