Thomas Day History
see hunthistories.com

but for now:
A Brief History of
Thomas and Elizabeth Merchant Day
Thomas Day and Elizabeth Merchant were married in a Baptist meeting according to the rights and ceremonies of the Baptist's, by Henry Burgess the Minister, on 15 November 1842 in Luton, Bedrod, England.
The 1861 census records of Luton show that Thomas Day was a strawbonnet blocker and it is believed that Elizabeth was in the wholesale millinery business having a large number of employees working for her. All hats were made by hand at that time.
Thomas was the son of John Day, an agricultural worker, and Elizabeth Talbot.
It is believed that Thomas Day was a Baptist Minister in England. He was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Pace of St. George, Utah who was on a mission in England. Thomas was baptized in September 1844. The membership records of the Luton Branch 1844 to 1849 show that Elizabeth Day was baptized 14 July 1845 at the age of 23, by Ed Davis. These records also show that Thomas Day was ordained an Elder 16 June 1847, age 29. They were both excommunicated 15 October 1847. Six years later the Luton Branch records show that Elizabeth was re-baptized by Elder J. Parsons 20 November 1852. No record has been found as yet of Thomas's re-baptism, of which he was.
Thomas and Elizabeth had 9 children all of which were born in Luton, Bedrod England.
William, their first-born arrived on 12 October 1843, then Henry born 13 March 1845. Francis followed on 31 August 1846. Their first daughter was born to this union 1 July 1848. Mary Ann, often called Polly, was born 22 May 1850. Jane, or Janie as she was called, joined the family 2 October 1851. Ellen, also called Nell, arrived 10 August 1855. Emily, nicknamed Emma, was born 14 February 1858. Their family was finally completed with John being born 20 August 1860.
No record has been found of William as to what happened to him. The census records do not show him with the family, perhaps married or off working.
Henry died July 1863 at the tender age of 18.
Francis was the first to leave England at the age of 14 (1860). He left because of a whipping from his father because he threw rocks at some ministers getting off of a ship. (See his history). He went to Liverpool where he became a stowaway on the ship "John J. Boyd" for America. In his history he tells of his mother, Elizabeth, while still in England helping Brigham Young and as a result he saw that she was well taken care of after coming to America.
The rest of the family left in the one hundred and forty four company on the Sailing Ship "John Bright" bound for New York, Thursday 4 June 1868. The ship roster shows there were 722 Saints in the company. It was intended that the emigrants that year should crossed the Atlantic by Steamers, but on account of the high price demanded for Steamer passage, the voyage had to be made by some in Sailing Vessels. The youngest son John related that while on the voyage he slipped on the wet deck and broke his leg.
The company arrived safely in New York 13 July 1868 and on the following day, 14 July, they got aboard a train and started their journey westward. They traveled via Chicago and Omaha and then on the Union Pacific railroad to Laramie City, Wyoming. The fare from New York to Omaha was $14.00 and from Omaha to Laramie, which was the terminus of the railraod was $21.00. Those who would stop to work on the Union Pacific were conveyed all the way for $14.00.
This faithful Company of Saints arrived in Laramie on 23 July 1868. They were met by the Church wagon trains and it is believed that Thomas Day and family left there in the John B. Murdock company **See note at bottom), arriving in Salt Lake City 17 Aug 1868. Most of the Saints on the ship "John Bright" left Laramie on 27 July in the Horton B. Haight's company and arriving in Salt Lake City 24 Aug. 1868.
It is not known exactly where they lived or what they did after arriving in Salt Lake. They lived somewhere on the east side of town.
Thomas was subject to epilepsy and must have had some hard seizers. Thomas and Elizabeth were divorced on 13 November 1869, one year and three months after arriving in Salt Lake. It is believed that Thomas sickness lead to this separation. Each married again, Elizabeth married James Bird and was sealed to him in the Endowment House on 8 February 1870. (The children of Thomas and Elizabeth were sealed by proxy to Elizabeth and James Bird on 6 November 1958 in Salt Lake City Temple). Thomas was sealed to Mary Chapman by proxy, (his daughter Elizabeth Day Hawkins acting as proxy for her) in the Endowment House on 31 October 1870.
Thomas's death was found recorded in the Deseret News Daily, August 25, 1875 as follows ----
"Sudden Death" Last evening 24th half past 5 o'clock, Thomas Day was found lying dead in a lot opposite the M. E. Church, third south street. He had been subject to very severe Epileptic fits for a long time and the reasonable presumption is that he expired while under an attack of that malady, such being the verdict of the jury at the inquest subsequently held over the body. Deceased was a native of England and about 45 years old." (His actual age was 59). He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in a lot that was purchased by his son Francis. Also buried there are, his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Richard Hawkins, his daughter Emily or Emma and a son of Mary Ann's named John Francis Showell.
It is believed that because of Thomas's illness of epilepsy that this might have been the cause of family problems that existed such as the divorce and the two sons leaving home at an early age. (Francis and John).
Francis married Caroline Emett, later married Mary Ann Norton, and lived most of their lives and raised their family in Arizona. He died and was buried in Eager, Arizona.
Elizabeth married Richard Hawkins and they lived in Salt Lake City. No record has been found if they had any children.
Mary Ann married George Showell and they lived in Salt Lake and had a family of four children. After his death she married Samual Charles Hull.
Jane married Edmund Bird, who was a son of James Bird who married and was sealed to her mother Elizabeth. They lived in Beaver, Utah and also in Salt Lake City. She raised her family in Beaver and Millard Counties. She died and was buried in Kanosh, Utah.
Ellen married George Henry Smith. She was a mother of three children and a widow at age 21. She then married Arthur Croxford and they had no family. Her life was spent in Salt Lake City.
Emily died a year after they came to Salt Lake City.
John left home as a young man and went to Southern Utah herding sheep. On 5 November he married Lucy Philena Canfield (Emett). She having been married to Thomas Carlos Emett previously. They lived in Hamblin or also known as Mountain Meadows. They also lived at the old Castle Ranch, up the canyon from New Castle. Their next move was to Enterprise. He married again to Sarah Bell Tait on 16 June 1904. (see his history). John and Lucy were sealed by proxy 24 Nov 1989 and their 3 children were sealed to them in the St. George Temple.
Written by Preston Hunt
http://hunt4day.blogspot.com/search/label/Day%20-%20Thomas