🌿 Summary of Polly Benson Bartholomew’s Life Family Lineage Polly descended from John Benson, who emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1638. Through generations of Bensons—farmers and millwrights—her father Benjamin Benson eventually married Keziah Messenger. Polly was born February 12, 1816 in Bath, Seneca County, New York, the tenth of twelve children. Conversion & Early Faith Polly experienced vivid spiritual dreams that led her to embrace the restored gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even before missionaries visited her family. The Benson family was baptized in 1832, enduring persecution and relocating to Kirtland, Ohio, and later Jackson County, Missouri. Marriage & Family During the Benson family’s migration, young Joseph Bartholomew joined them. Polly and Joseph married in 1843 in Illinois. They lost twin sons shortly after birth, but went on to raise a large family, including John, Mary Keziah, Joseph, George, Elizabeth Almira, Eliza Elvira, William Orange, and James Orson. Trials of Persecution & Migration Polly and Joseph lived through mob violence in Missouri, the martyrdom of Joseph Smith in 1844, and the forced exodus from Illinois. In 1846, Polly courageously drove an ox-team across the frozen Mississippi River with her infant son while Joseph followed armed for protection. They lived in Iowa for several years before joining the trek west. In 1852, after an arduous 89-day journey, they arrived in Salt Lake Valley and settled in Springville, later moving to Warm Creek (Fayette), Utah. Life in Utah Polly’s life was marked by hard work and resourcefulness: She wove cloth, carpets, and coverlets, often designing patterns with her son Joseph. She made dyes, soap, candles, and preserved food from gardens, livestock, and wild resources. She endured illness, including a severe fever that caused her hair to fall out, but recovered through faith. She served faithfully in the Relief Society, eventually becoming First Counselor, and contributed woven carpets to the Manti Temple dedication. Faith & Legacy Polly bore testimony of knowing the Prophet Joseph Smith and hearing him preach. She remained industrious, artistic, and deeply faithful throughout her life. After Joseph’s death in 1901, she continued her work with her youngest son James. She passed away peacefully on December 19, 1912, at age 96, in Fayette, Utah, and was buried beside her husband. Character & Memory Polly was remembered as: Industrious, energetic, and resourceful. Deeply faithful, with a strong testimony. Artistic in weaving and homemaking. Hospitable, with her home serving as a resting place for church leaders. A woman of humor and principle—famously walking out of church when her husband spoke about “Polly-e-ticks.”
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English: patronymic from the medieval personal name Ben(ne), a pet form of Benedict (see Benn ) + -son.
English: habitational name from a place in Oxfordshire named Benson, from Old English Benesingtūn ‘settlement (Old English tūn) associated with Benesa’, a personal name of obscure origin, perhaps a derivative of Bana meaning ‘slayer’.
Americanized form of any of various Scandinavian patronymics from the personal name Bengt, Bendt, etc., Scandinavian forms of Benedict , e.g. Swedish Bengtsson , Danish Bendtsen, Danish and Norwegian Bentsen . Compare Bensen 2.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related NamesI joined the church in 1832. I knew the prophet Joseph Smith. I cooked for him, ate at his table and worked for him. I knew him personally and I know that he was a prophet of the Lord and that the …
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