Soon after this, Grandmother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was the only member of her family who did join the Church. Her family was so opposed to the gospel that they would have nothing to do with her.

Leaving her family in England, because they would not let her come home, and because she wanted to come to Zion, she sailed across the ocean with her two year old son, Samuel. On the way her second child, Joseph, was born. A few hours later he died and was buried in the ocean.

Imagine how she must have felt. Alone, far away from home, and burying a child in the ocean. But her love for the gospel was so great that she was willing to make great sacrifices for the sake of the gospel.

She died November 12, 1904 at the age of 79 years.

Editors Note: I have in my posession a few letters written by Samuel Matkin to his second wife, Permelia. Knowing that Samuel left for Canada after his marriage to his 3rd wife I asked Tom Matkin the signfiicance of the letters. I was amazed to learn that Samuel had returned every year until his death and did not simply abandon his two families left in Cache Valley. Further asking also revealed that Esther came to America on the Ellen Maria with her brother Samuel and his family. There is no record of her giving birth to a child that was subsequently buried at sea.