Susannah Pass

Susannah was born 8 January 1845 in England to Thomas Pass and Mary Ann Wharmby
Married Thomas Worthington 4 July 1865 in Salt Lake City
Susannah-Charles-Eudean-Earl
Died 20 December 1923 in Nephi
Buried in Nephi

1870 Census
1880 Census
1900 Census
1910 Census
1920 Census

The following history was written by her daughter, Mary Ann Worthington Park, January 30, 1934.  There is another brief history below the first one, although I don't know who wrote it.

Susanah Pass Worthington, better known as “Aunt Susie” among her friends and associates at Nephi, Utah, where she spent the greater part of her life, was born on January 8, 1845, at Stockport, Lancshire, England.

As a girl she worked in the cotton factory to help support a large family of 11 children, thus having little time for education. She, with her parents Mary Ann Warmby Pass and Thomas Pass, were baptized at the time Brigham Young and others were in England opening the mission in Great Britain. She, together with other members of the family who worked, were asked by her mother to give part of their wages to the misionaries who were laboring there without purse or script.

Two of Aunt Susie’s sisters, Elizabeth and Rachael, came to Utah before the rest of the family. On May 23, 1863, they all left their home to come to American or Zion as they called it. With such a large family, it was no easy task. They were not blessed with much of this worlds goods, but through the perpetual emigration fund they were able to purchase tickets for the family.

The hardest trial to endure was just before leaving Liverpool; their daughter, Sarah, said she had forgotten to say goodbye to a friend, and asked permission to do so. She failed to return in time to sail. That was the last they ever saw of her. They left not knowing what happened to her. After arriving in Utah, they received a letter from her aunt who had asked Sarah to do this because of her affection for the girl.

This family, with 483 Latter-day Saints, sailed on the ship Antarctic, and arrived in New York on the 10th day of July after being 48 days on the ocean. From New York, they went by rail to Florence, Nebraska, and left there on the 25th day of July in the Church train of emigrants under the direction of Captain Peter Nebeker. They were some 60 days on the plains. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, they were met by their eldest daughter and her husband, Harry Hawkins. The daugther’s home was in Nephi, so that was where her father and mother settled. Sister Pass was 76 years old when she passed away and her husband was 99. They never knew one day of sickness because of their observance of the Word of Wisdom.

At Nephi, Susanah met and married Thomas Worthington on the fourth of July 1865. Through this union there have been born 11 children. Her husband was an engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad for 20 years, and also an engineer in England before coming here. He died at Nephi on July 28, 1912, 11 years before his wife. She had been a faithful and dutiful wife and mother. She was also a good neighbor and 100 percent American citizen. She was a faithful Latter-day Saint, and her home was a gathering place for the young folks of Nephi. Their children would play and sing, and no one ever went to her home without being fed and made welcome in her jolly way.

Her home was also a refuge for those who were forced to hide during the persecution of those who entered into plural marriage. At times she held them hid in a clothes closet when the officers were after them. Many times when President Woodruff was in hiding, her husband would take him in his cab to the southern part of the state. The lives of these good people will long be remembered among their associates and friends.

Susanah spent the last days of her life in doing good among the sick and in laying out the dead until her own time came to pass to her reward. She died on December 20, 1923, leaving a posterity of nine children, 36 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren to honor her memory.

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Susannah Pass was born 8 January 1845, at Stockport, Lancashire, England, a daughter of Thomas Pass and Mary Ann Wharmby. She began working in the cotton factories at the age of eight to help support her family. In 1863, Susannah emigrated to the United States and arrived in Utah in the fall of that year. After seven days in Salt Lake City, she and her parents and siblings moved to Nephi, Utah. There, Susannah secured employment as the housekeeper in the home of Bishop Bryan, where she met her husband, Thomas Worthington. The two married on 4 July 1865.

Susannah first lived in a rental home on the southwest corner of Main Street and 100 North. Later, she and
Thomas moved out to Main Street and Seventh South, where the Pass family and many of Thomas' s friends had clustered. A mother of twelve children, Susannah's house saw much activity. During Indian troubles, the neighbors gathered at her house, where the women and children hid inside while the men stood guard outside. Her mother-inlaw, Mary Ison Bleazard, knew many prominent men in the LDS Church and this led to Susannah's home being part of the polygamist underground. She also loved to sing and dance and be merry and she often held dances in her home.

She owned the first organ in the South Ward. Susannah also belonged to the Ladies Republican Club and served as president. A member of the Relief Society, she worked tirelessly at aiding the sick and laying out the dead. There were lighter moments too, for the sisters enjoyed gathering for their step-dances. After a long and useful life, she died on the 20 December 1923.