Samuel Ensign

born: 24 May 1805S, Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

married: Mary Everett Gordon (or Jordan) ca. 1830.
married: Clarissa DeGraw, 2 March 1853. Divorced by 1866.

An 1847 pioneer, he was captain of 10 under Ira Eldredge (captain of 50), who was in the Company of Daniel Spencer. This was also known as the Parley P. Pratt company, although the Apostle was really just a passenger. They left Winter Quarters on 17 June, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley between 19 and 22 September 1847.

Others who came with him (in the order in which they appear on the roster): Mary E. Ensign, b. 15 May 1811, Catteraugus, New York. [Cattaraugus, NY]

Julia S. Ensign, b. 16 Sept.1833, New Hartford, Conn.
Samuel L. Ensign, b. 24 Jan. 1836, Westfield, MA.
Mary B. Ensign, v. il June 1806, Suffield, Hartford, Conn.
Lyman D. Ensign, b. 8 Mar. 1828, Westfield, ME.
John C. Ensign, b. 18 Nov. 1827, Westfield, MA.
Rufus B. Ensign, b. 28 Dec.1832, Westfield, MA.
Lydia E. Ensign, b. 12 Jan. 1840, Westfield, MA.
Luther Ensign, b. 16 May 1831, Westfield, MA.

The Museum has a highchair made by him in 1856 in the Salt Lake Public Works shop. It was for his daughter, Julia Searles Ensign Woolley, when she was pregnant with her son, Lorin Calvin Woolley, who was born 23 October 1856. Julia’s husband was John Wickersham Woolley, son of Edwin Dilworth Woolley. The chair was in the Woolley home in Centerville until 1943. It then passed to Gwendolyn Woolley, who later gave it to the Museum. It is now displayed as an example of public works craftsmanship in the co-op economics area of the Church history exhibit on the main floor. The information with the chair mentions that Samuel Ensign was killed in a construction accident on the Temple in 1885.