Essentials
Born: 8 October 1800; Bungay, Suffolk, England
Son of: Richard BLOOMFIELD and Elizabeth SMITH
Married: Martha RICHES; 28 October 1822; Bungay, Suffolk, England
Died: 30 Nov 1869; Hyde Park, Utah

Descending family line:

4G Grandfather 3G Grandfather 2G Grandmother G grandfather Grandfather

John BLOOMFIELD (Martha RICHES) John BLOOMFIELD (Harriet WILKINSON) Mary E. BLOOMFIELD (Joseph H. JAMES) George Heber JAMES (Sarah L. NELSON) George Heber JAMES (Norma MORRIS)

b. 1800 b. 1831 b. 1863 b. 1883 b. 1910

Page contents
One-minute history
Last will and testament of Richard Bloomfield

COMPILED BY DARYL JAMES
2002, USING VARIOUS SOURCES
     John Bloomfield was the middle child of Richard Bloomfield and Elizabeth Smith. He was born Oct. 8, 1800, in Bungay, Suffolk County, England. His older brother, William, married Amy Page and had 10 children. His younger brother, Robert, remained a bachelor -- at least until the mid-1850s. Robert acquired a great deal of property in Suffolk County and in London.
     John married Martha Riches on Oct. 28, 1822, at the Holy Trinity Church in Bungay. John was 22 and Martha was 23 at the time. John made a living as a farmer in the area. Their youngest child, John Jr., writes, "We lived a very comfortable life, having those material things that made life very pleasant." Death, however, hit the Bloomfield family on numerous occasions. John Sr. and Martha had five daughters and one son from 1823 to 1831, but four of these children suffered early deaths. Elizabeth died at about age 9 in 1834, Sarah died at age 19 in 1842, Harriet died at age 19 in 1843, and Maria died at about age 23 in 1852. Meanwhile, John's father died in 1837 at about age 68, and his mother died in 1839 at about age 72.
     Life took a turn for the Bloomfields about 1850 when the family met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Suffolk County. Despite opposition from his brother Robert and perhaps others in the county, John accepted the message of the missionaries and was baptized at age 49 on Sept. 1, 1850, at Homersfield, Suffolk, England, with his wife and son, John Jr. His daughters Emma and Maria, ages 23 and 21, perhaps were also baptized at this time. In an autobiography, John Jr. specifies that he was baptized by Elder Job Smith but does not say who baptized his parents or sisters.
     About the time of the baptisms, John Jr. contracted small pox. His mother brought the Mormon elders to the Bloomfield home to administer to him. John Jr. says, "They promised me I would recover and not one scar would be left on my body. The next morning I was up and walking around outside when the doctor came. When he first saw me he was frightened because he thought he was looking at my ghost. I calmly reassured him I was alive and completely well." The circumstances of Maria's death about 18 months later are not described. She was buried Feb. 10, 1852, most likely in Suffolk County.
     John Sr. and his wife, Martha, remained in England until 1862, when they boarded the Mormon immigration ship John J. Boyd at Liverpool and sailed to America. James S. Brown presided over 702 Latter-day Saints on board. After a 40-day voyage, the ship docked June 1, 1862, in New York City. From there John and Martha made their way with other immigrants to Florence (Winter Quarters), Neb. By this time John Sr. was nearly 62 and Martha was nearly 63.
     Shortly after arriving in Nebraska, they joined a wagon company led by Isaac Canfield. Elder James McKnight writes that on the evening of July 28, 1862, a number of Saints camped near Florence held a meeting with Elder Joseph W. Young and Apostle Amasa M. Lyman. At this time Isaac A. Canfield was unanimously chosen as captain of a company that was ready to make the trek to Utah. This company left July 30 and arrived in Salt Lake Valley on Oct. 16, 1862.
     Fifteen-year-old Lucy Canfield, daughter of the captain, kept a daily record of the trek. She writes, "Ours was an independent company and father was the captain. We had 18 wagons in all. James McKnight was chaplain." Lucy describes various minor setbacks but nothing catastrophic. For example, on Aug. 2, 1862, she writes, "Traveled about 8 miles. Broke an axle tree and had to stop." On Aug. 12 she records: "Crossed Wood River, and had an awful night with the mosquitoes." And on Sept. 9: "Discovered a dead Indian in a tree this morning. Saw two squaws. We climbed to the top of the rock to look around."
     John and Martha settled at Hyde Park, Utah, near the home of their son, John Jr., and his wife, Harriet Wilkinson. Less than four years later, Martha died in Hyde Park at age 67. John Sr. live another two-and-one-half years and died Nov. 30, 1869, in Hyde Park at age 69.

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Last Will and Testament of Richard Blumfield

DICTATED FOUR WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH
SALT LAKE LIBRARY CALL NUMBER
F SUFF 6 PT 113 FED. SER. 14356
NO. OF WILL: 100
     In the name of God Amen I Richard Blumfield of the parish of Bramfield in the county of Suffolk Farmer do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and from following that is to say first I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix and Executor hereinafter named also I give and bequeath all my money goods chattels and effects of what nature kind or quality so ever or wherever situate (after payment of all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses ) unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Blumfield to and for her own use and benefit absolutely during her life and at her decease all my farming stock implements in husbandry and household furniture and effects to be sold by auction and the money arising from the sale together with all money securities for money which may be in her possession to be equally divided between my three sons William John and Robert and I also request that my said son Robert should superintend the farm for his mother as long as she remain in the same and I do hereby request that a double gravestone be erected after my decease one part of the same with an inscription to my memory and the other part left blank to be lettered after the decease of my said wife and I do hereby nominate and appoint my said wife Elizabeth Blumfield and Mr. Charles Paine of Bungay Executrix and Executor of this my last will and testament made In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained on one sheet of paper set and subscribed by hand and seal this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven
     (The mark of Richard Blumfield)

     Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Richard Blumfield as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at this request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as
     Sheres of Stephen Capon of John Stigall of

     This was proved at Bungay in the county of Suffolk on the seventh day of October, 1837 before the Reverend Thomas Bewicke clerk Surrogate duly appointed of the Worshipful deaconry of Suffolk lawfully constituted and Administration of all and singular the good rights chattels and credits of the said testator deceased was duly granted to Elizabeth Blumfield and Charles Paine the Executrix and Executor named in the said will they being duly sworn and so forth
     Savings and effects sworn under #100
     Exam. Testator died 27th May 1837
     Wm. Jessop

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John BLOOMFIELD Jr.
John BLOOMFIELD Sr.
Mary Eliza BLOOMFIELD
Lydia DAINES
Harriet WILKINSON

CHILDREN WITH MARTHA RICHES