James Darling Ross (1824 - 1878)

Born 5 Mar 1824 in Perthshire, Scotland

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth (Smith) Ross — married 8 Sep 1857 in London, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 1 Oct 1878 at age 54 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States

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James Ross was a Latter Day Saint pioneer.

Biography

James Darling Ross was born March 5, 1824 at Perthshire, Scotland, March 5, 1824, the son of James Ross. On the 8th day of September 1857 he married Sarah Elizabeth Smith. The marriage was solemnized at the registrar's office in the district of Stepney, Middlesex county, England. Elder Ross performed two missions for the Latter-day Saint Church while living in England and was required to secure a permit from the British government which read: "We, James Howard, Earl of Malmesbury, Viscount Fitz Harris, Baron Malmesbury, a peer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, a member of Her Britannica Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, etc., request and require in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow Mr. James D. Ross, British subject, traveling on the continent to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford him every assistance and protection of which he may stand in need. Given at the Foreign Office, London, the 24th day of August 1858."

The Ross' were the parents of two children when they left England, Sarah D., and a son who died while crossing the ocean or shortly after they landed. James was made captain of the company of Saints on the ship Underwriter, consisting of 594 British and Swiss converts, which docked in New York harbor May 1, 1860. From there these emigrants traveled to Florence, Nebraska, where Elder Ross was again put in charge of the Saints going overland to Utah territory. In this company were 249 converts with 36 wagons. They arrived in the valley September 3, 1860.

After a few years in Zion, James was called back to Scotland and England on another mission. During the seven years he was furthering the work of the Latter-day Saint Church in foreign lands, Sarah worked hard to support the family, four more children having been born after her arrival in Salt Lake City. It is said that Elder Ross was so well versed in the Scriptures he was often called the "Walking Bible." Prior to leaving for the European mission, in February 1861, the 62nd quorum of Seventies was organized in Great Salt Lake City with James F. Cleary, Wm. L. Brundage, Richard Golightly, Francis Platte, Henry W. Nesbitt, James D. Ross and Claude Clive. Mr. Ross was by profession an attorney. He died in Salt Lake City October 1, 1878 — Flora D. Randall Taylor

Sources

• Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 4, p. 32
• https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/pioneers/23041/james-darling-ross
• "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26HS-C6L : 13 December 2014), James Darling Ross, 1857; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1857, quarter 3, vol. 1C, p. 1011, Stepney, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCY-FYH : 17 October 2014), James D Ross, Utah, United States; citing p. 3, family 18, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,110.
• "Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1849-1949," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQHP-C52 : 5 December 2014), James D Ross, 01 Oct 1878; citing Ward 20, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, Management and Archives, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 4,139,664.
• "Utah Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F85V-69Q : 5 December 2014), James D. Ross, 01 Oct 1878; citing Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, reference p216 #8614; FHL microfilm 26,553.
• Salt Lake Herald, 1878-10-02, Died