Wiggill, Eli, 1811-1884
Dates
- Existence: 1811 - 1884
Biography
Eli Wiggill (1811-1884) was a pioneer from England who joined the LDS Church in South Africa and migrated to Utah.
Eli Wiggill was born on November 5, 1810 or 1811 in Gloucestershire, England to Isaac Wiggill and Elizabeth Grimes. In the Winter of 1819-1820, his family migrated to South Africa where they were some of the first English settlers in that country. On February 20, 1831, Eli married Susannah Bentley in Grahamstown, South Africa, and they had nine children together. Eli worked as a wagon maker. In 1837 Eli began working as a preacher for the Methodist Wesleyan Church, for which had been a member since the 1820s, and later taught Sunday School and doing other work in building up the mission and teaching the native people of the area. They survived the Kaffir Rebellion (1835) and the War of the Axe (1850).
In 1857, Wiggill was introduced to missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized on March 1, 1858, along with his wife, Susannah, and daughter, then later re-baptized with many of his family on June 1, 1858. Wiggill would lead the branch of Latter-day Saints until February 1861, when he and his family migrated to Utah. The Wiggill family eventually settled in Kaysville, where Wiggill was involved in carpentry and farming.
In August 1869, Susannah Wiggill died of dysentery. Soon after this, Eli determined to return to South Africa, which he did as a missionary from from December 1869 to May 1873.
In 1873, Wiggill would marry Ann Brown Hammer.
Eli Wiggill died on April 13, 1884 and was buried in Kaysville, Utah.
Citation:
LOC Authority Record, accessed Apr. 24, 2018 (b. 1811)Pioneer Overland Travel database, via WWW, Apr. 6, 2018 (b. 5 Nov. 1811; d. 13 Apr. 1884)
Find-A-Grave.com, via WWW, Apr. 6, 2018 (b. 5 Nov. 1810 in Gloucestershire, England; m. 20 Feb. 1831 to Susannah Bentley, Grahamstown, South Africa; m. Ann Brown Hammer, 1873; buried in Kaysville, Utah)
UPB files, Apr. 24, 2018 (Eli Wiggill. b. November 5, 1810 to Isaac Wiggill and Elizabeth Grimes; in the Winter of 1819-1820, his family migrated to South Africa; worked as a wagon maker; in 1837 began working as a preacher for the Methodist Wesleyan Church, for which had been a member since the 1820s, and later taught Sunday School and doing other work in building up the mission and teaching the native people of the area; survived the Kaffir Rebellion (1835) and the War of the Axe (1850); in 1857, was introduced to missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized on March 1, 1858, along with his wife, Susannah, and daughter, then later re-baptized with many of his family on June 1, 1858; led the branch of Latter-day Saints until February 1861, when he and his family migrated to Utah; eventually settled in Kaysville; involved in carpentry and farming; in August 1869, Susannah Wiggill died of dysentery; soon after this, Eli determined to return to South Africa, which he did as a missionary from from December 1869 to May 1873)
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Eli Wiggill autobiography
Eli Wiggill autobiography typescript
Typewritten copy of an autobiography. Wiggill was born in England and migrated to South Africa where he joined the Mormon Church. He came to Utah in 1861 and worked as a wagon maker there. His account gives a lot of detail on his activities as a Mormon in South Africa, his journey to Utah, and his subsequent life in that state.
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- Subject: Pioneers X