Biography of John Coulam and Sarah Corden - Monk

Biography of John Coulam and Sarah Corden
Compiled by Dana Palmer
John Coulam, son of John Coulam and Joeshannah
Ward, was born on August 2, 1802 in Louth, Lincolnshire,
England. The Coulam family was one of the prominent
families located in Louth. John was a cabinetmaker by
trade.
Sarah Corden, daughter of William Corden/ Cordell
and Frances Willey, was born 4 February 1803 and
christened under her middle name, Jane, on 20 February
1803 in Raithby cum Maltby, Lincolnshire, England. Her
family has been difficult to track since it has been listed
under many various spellings such as Cordan, Cordon,
Corden, Cordell, Cordel, Cordle, Coardel, Courdel, Cuden,
Cardan, Cardon,etc.
Sarah’s father, William Corden, was christened on 24 October 1773 in South
Willingham, Lincolnshire, England, son of Mathew Corden and Mary Pike. It is believed
that Mathew's parents and family belonged to a nonconformist Baptist church near
Wainfleet St. Mary as he is not listed in the Church of England records. Her mother,
Frances Willey was born about 1775 in Lincolnshire, England.
William Corden and Frances Willey married on 22 November 1792 in Tathwell.
Sarah had the following siblings: Mary, born about 1793 in Withern; Ann, christened on
20 December 1795 in Tathwell; Susannah, christened 8 December 1797 in Tathwell; and
John, christened on 7 October 1804 in Raithby cum Maltby. Her sister, Mary Corden/
Cordall married Robert Dias/ Dyas on 5 September 1815 in Louth St. James. Her sister,
Ann or Nanny Corden married Mr. Otchin / Hotchkins and settled in Strubby. Her sister
Susannah Corden married John Mumby, a widower on 6 May 1844 in Louth, and helped
raise the children from his prior marriage. Susannah or Susan and her husband eventually
settled in North Thoresby where they died and were buried. Her brother, John Corden
married Rebecca Coney on 26 Dec 1836 in Tathwell and moved around eventually
settling in North Cockerington, where he died and was buried.
John married Sarah Corden on 9 Dec 1834 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England.
Sarah’s sister, Susannah, was a witness at their wedding, and Sarah was a witness at
Susannah’s wedding on 6 May 1844 to John Mumby in Louth. Sarah wasn’t listed as a
witness to her brother John’s wedding on 26 Dec 1836 in Tathwell to Rebecca Coney.
John Coulam and his wife Sarah Corden had six children. Their first child, John
Jr., was born September 1, 1826. (I’m not sure why he was born so many years before
they married, but the registers for those years are not available to confirm this date- and I
suspect that John Coulam Sr was previously married but the first wife of whom this first
child was born, died. This still needs to be proved or disproved!). Charles, their second
child was born 23 October 1835. Fannie was born on December 26, 1838. Henry arrived
on May 13, 1842. Sarah Jane, my 2 nd John Coulam
great grandmother, was the first child born, 19

January 1845, after the family accepted the Gospel. George was the last child born, on
26 May 1848. All the children were born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England
John Coulam and his wife Sarah Corden, were devoted and raised their family as
members of the Church of England in Louth; but they always felt something was missing
from their lives. When they were young married people, there came some elders of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to their door, advocating the restored gospel
of Jesus Christ. The Elders told them of the revelations given to Joseph Smith declaring
that he had received a revelation giving him authority to open up the dispensation of the
fullness of times and of the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon. They listened to the
teachings, recognized its truthfulness, and became members. Wanting to join with the
other saints in America and build up Zion, they immediately made preparations to
immigrate.
On March 19, 1843, John was
baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. Sarah soon followed and
was baptized on March 21 that same year.
John was ordained a deacon on 25 July
1843. Their oldest son, John soon followed,
and was baptized on July 3, 1843 by Elder
George Ayre in the waters of Saint Ellen’s.
Soon followed by Charles, on 8 July 1846.
The other children were baptized after they
were in Utah.
The John Coulam family made
preparations to join the saints in Utah and
make their trek westward across the Atlantic
and the wild wilderness. They traveled with
the Edward Warburton, Thomas Atkins,
William Thompson and Jane Mason and her
Coulam Home in England
boy James, and left Louth on January 16,
1849 for the Great Salt Lake.
They arrived at Hull, England that same day and stayed there all night. The next
morning they left for Liverpool, where they arrived about 4 PM and lodged with Mr.
Powell, who lived on Kay Street. After staying with Mr. Powell for a few days, they then
took their journey and sailed for America. The fare for adults for the ship and necessary
provisions was 3 lbs., 7 shillings and 6 pence (~$18.00 in US currency). For children
under 14 years, the cost was 2 lbs., 10 shillings. For infants under 12 months, the passage
was free.
John Coulam, Jr., son of John and Sarah Coulam, wrote: “We set sail on the 29 th
of January, on the ship Zetland, under the command of Captain Brown and the presidency
of Orson Spencer, who was returning from his mission in England, to join his family in
the Great Salt Lake City. Nothing of any particular note transpired during the voyage; we
were just nine weeks on the water” [note: Sarah Cordon Coulam was very sick the entire
voyage], having a very pleasant passage.” It took 57 days for them to cross the Atlantic
and to arrive in New Orleans.

They arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on the 2 nd of April; and left New Orleans
on the 5 th on the steamboat, Iowa. There were several deaths in New Orleans. [Passage
from New Orleans to St. Louis was $2.50 for adults, and half price for children between 4
and 14 years old. Again children under 4 were free. Adults were allowed 100 pounds,
for loads more than this it was from 20 to 30 cents per hundred]. They arrived in St.
Louis on the 13 th ; left the same day for the Bluffs on the 20 th . Sarah’s mother had been ill
during the entire voyage across the ocean. They then traveled by steamboat up the
Missouri River to St. Louis. An outbreak of cholera prevailed among the passengers.
Two of the crew members and two passengers died from the cholera epidemic before
reaching St. Louis.” Two of the saints were buried on island “82.” On April 12 th a
number of the passengers were still sick, and three died on board the steamer the night
after reaching the port. Sarah Corden Coulam Sarah's mother, already in a weakened
state from the voyage across the ocean could not survive the effects of cholera and died
two days after leaving the St. Louis port on April 22, 1849. “During the journey up the
Missouri [River] a cylinder on the steamboat broke, where they had to stop until the 26 th .
My mother died on the 22 nd , which was Sunday, while the boat was laid by, between
seven and eight o’clock, leaving six motherless children to deplore her loss, which was
sad indeed; George, the youngest one, only about 11 months old.
Tradition says that John Coulam Sr. begged the captain to stop the boat so the
family could give Sarah a proper burial on land. But to his dismay, the captain refused
saying it would cost too much to make a landing, and told John to throw her overboard.
John unwilling to comply with this demand prayed to God for a solution so they would
not have to throw her body overboard. As noted above, the machinery failed and the boat
was forced to make a two day landing to wait for new parts from St. Louis, which was
long enough for John and family to bury Sarah. It is traditionally believed that Sarah
Cordon Coulam is buried on the shores of the Missouri River near Glasgow, Howard
County, Missouri, about 23 rd of April 1849. But other records indicate she was buried at
Florence. Henry Coulam in some of his personal records and notes wrote that his mother,
Sarah Corden Coulam was buried in a grave near some other emigrants who had also
been buried near a grove of trees. Alice Coulam Richards, daughter of Henry Coulam,
wrote: "My father [Henry Coulam] distinctly remembered seeing them carry his mother
to her grave from the boat."
Family tradition had always stated that at Council Bluffs, John Coulam Sr. met
Ann Altass Robinson, who was a recent widow, also losing her husband along the way.
According to new research, Ann Altass’s husband, Robert Robinson, also spelled
Robertson, died and was buried in St. Louis, Missouri from cholera. In addition, Ann
Robinson and John Coulam came in separate wagon trains almost three months apart.
John Coulam and his children remained in the Bluffs until the 28 th of May,
starting for the valley, in Orson Spencer’s Company, having three yoke of cattle, one
yoke of cows, several wagons. They reached the Salt Lake Valley on September 23, and
their destination September 25 th 1849. They settled on South Temple between Seventh
and Eighth East. They resided in the Salt Lake Eleventh Ward, with John Lytle as
Bishop.
Life pioneering Utah was rough for the widower, John Coulam Sr and his young
family. His children helped with the household chores. His sons helped haul wood and
stone and also to cultivate the soil. The daughters helped take care of the household

chores. They suffered much for the want of food and clothing as did many other
pioneers, and although John Coulam was a man of thrift and determination, he found it
hard to provide for his family under such hard conditions.
John Coulam Sr. was married to Ann Altass, widow
of Robert Robinson, on 6 March 1850, by Elder James Ure
in Salt Lake City. Ann Altass, daughter of George Altass
and Martha Taylor, was born 13 May 1820 in Hull,
Yorkshire, England. She was christened that same day at
Holy Trinity in Hull. Ann Altass had been previously
married to Robert Robinson on 7 June 1840 at Hull,
Yorkshire, England.
Ann Altass Robinson Coulam
John Coulam worked as a carpenter on the Salt Lake Temple, tabernacle and
many other buildings. He taught his boys the carpenter trade. Since some of the LDS
members’ records were lost, many were rebaptized. John and Ann both were rebaptized
in the City Creek for the remission of sins, the renewal of their covenants and for health
and long life, under the supervision of Bishop Alexander McRae. John Coulam Sr. was
ordained a High Priest on December 22, 1851 by Elder George A. Smith and endowed
and sealed to his deceased wife, Sarah Corden that same day.
During October of 1856, John suffered from a terrible sickness, being
unconscious at times and irrational at others. This required the family members to
constantly attend to his needs. Many of the brethren took turns in staying all night with
him and administering to him. One night, while Brother William Campbell was with
him, he stood upon the bed and pressed his head into the ceiling, crushing the plaster.
However, with constant care his health was restored.
In 1858, John and his sons, John and Charles were at Brother Beckstead’s in West
Jordan building houses and such, which occupied most of the month, but returned for
short visits to their homes. While at the Beckstead’s on the 19 th of January at four in the
afternoon, both John and his son, John Jr. sat down to enjoy some cheese, cake, pie and a
small bottle of elderberry wine, which he brought out with him, to celebrate Sarah Jane’s
13 th birthday. He proposed many happy returns of the day, and John Jr. wished they
might have as good a job at the next birthday. John Coulam Sr commented that when his
daughter, Sarah Jane was born in Louth; he was also away working at Tealby in
Lincolnshire, which was similar distance from his home in Salt Lake as to Brother
Beckstead’s in West Jordan.
In February, John Jr., left for west Jordan where he worked for Brother Egbert for
50 lbs. of flour a day and board. The Coulam’s were then asked to move south and settle
in Utah County with about 500 other families since the coming of Johnston’s Army. It
was believed that the whole city would be burned and destroyed. To preserve their
property many saints were asked to move and settle in Provo for a time until it was safe
to come home. On April 3, Charles started south with a load of flour, leaving his load at
John Leatham’s in Provo. They traveled back and forth for a few days carry flour down
and preparing a home for the Coulam’s. On the 20 th of 1858, John Jr. and Charles arrived

in Provo, soon followed by the rest of the family on May 2 nd . Preparations began to till
the ground and put in crops and erect a temporary shelter, Sarah Jane and Fanny assisted
them.
Charles returned to Salt Lake on June 30 th . On Friday, July 9 th , the family
returned to their home in Salt Lake from Provo. When they arrived, Charles was
extremely sick with pain at the bottom of his body, attended with purging and vomiting,
and was in great distress for several days. On Monday, the 12 th he walked out a little.
John Jr. and Henry left for Provo on Tuesday, arriving on Wednesday. Charles died that
day, the 14 th of July in 1858 and was buried on the 16 th . John Jr. and Henry did not reach
home until the following day. This was the first death in the family after arriving in the
valley.
The Coulam’s in 1859 moved back to Salt Lake and settled in their home on
Seventh East near South Temple. Soon John Jr. married Sarah Jane Orton, who at the
time was living in “Ogden Hole” or North Ogden. They were wed on October 29, 1859
in Salt Lake City. She was only 17 years at the time of their wedding.
John & George Coulam
John Coulam Jr.
Also on October 29, 1859, John Coulam Sr. was sealed to his dead wife Sarah
Corden by Ann Atlass as proxy in the Salt Lake Temple, and Ann Atlass was sealed to
her dead husband, Robert Robinson, by John Coulam Sr. as proxy, by President Young.
On March 7 th of 1861, came John Jr.’s first daughter, who was blessed by John
Coulam Sr. on the 12 th . His daughter, Fanny Coulam began going with John Baker and
they were soon married on Thursday April 19 th , 1862.
In 1864, John Coulam Sr. and his sons, John and
Henry worked for Squire Wells at his new saw mill up Big
Cottonwood Canyon. Dan Smith took them into the
canyon. Henry rode with Brother Hinckley “in his
buckboard” arriving there at 11 PM. On August 25 th ,
Henry fell through the floor in the mill about 30 feet and
was miraculously saved from being severely injured.
In 1865, Sarah Jane and John Heiner went down to
Battle Creek to visit her sister, Fanny. In July, John Sr.
bought a span of horses and had Henry and John Baker
took them to Battle Creek to break them in.
Sarah Bean & Henry Coulam

The last three children soon married. On February 1 st of 1866, Henry and Jane
went to a dance in the schoolhouse, after which they had supper at their father’s. A
young lady named Sarah Bean was also present. Sarah Bean eventually became the wife
of Henry that next year on 24 August 1867 in Salt Lake City.
Not much is recorded about the home life of John Coulam Sr., except a few
glimpses from his daughter Sarah Jane, which left an unfavorable impression of her stepmother.
Because of the way her step-mother treated her, Sarah Jane took a position as a
maid and cook in Daniel H. Wells home. Here she met John Heiner, who was then
employed by Mr. Wells. She was only twenty-one years old. They fell in love and were
soon married on March 23, 1867 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake
County, Utah, and moved to Morgan to make their home near his parents.
Sarah Jane Coulam Heiner
Sadly, John Heiner, husband to Sarah
Jane died on 12 June 1868. Not wanting to
return to her father's home, she returned to
Morgan, where the Heiners lived and stayed
with them. She soon fell in love with Daniel
Heiner, younger brother to John. Since Sarah
was already sealed to John, Daniel insisted that
he find a wife that he could be sealed to for all
time and eternity before he could marry Sarah
Jane. Daniel Heiner married Martha Stevens and
Sarah Jane Coulam on 31 March 1873 in the
Salt Lake City Temple.
George Coulam married Elizabeth Horrocks on
December 27, 1869 in Salt Lake City. All the children of
John Coulam and Sarah Corden had left home.
John Coulam Sr. continued to live in the 11 th Ward
until the time of his death, which was caused by a disease
of the kidneys. On May 20 th 1877, John Coulam left this
mortal existence and died in Salt Lake City being 74 years
old, 9 months and 18 days old. He was buried on the 23 rd in George Coulam
the SLC cemetery.
Ann Altass Robinson Coulam married a third time to George Dunbar Doull.
George Dunbar Doull, son of John W. Doull and Janet Moody, was born on 17 August
1833 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland. Ann Altass Robinson Coulam Doull died on 13
February 1908 in Salt Lake City and was buried 17 February 1908 in the John Coulam
plot in the Salt Lake City cemetery, plat F, block 6, lot 12, grave 2E under the name Ann
Doull. But there is no head stone for Ann. Her husband George Doull remained in the
Coulam home in Salt Lake City after her death until his death on 7 March 1912 in Salt
Lake City.

References
1. “Died: Obituary for John Coulam.” Deseret News. 21 May 1877.
2. “Zetland.” New Orleans Commercial Bulletin. Apr. 3, 1849. Vol. 18, no. 76, p.
3, col. 1.
3. Ancestry. The Pioneer Heritage CD-ROM: Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah;
Pioneer Vital Records; Histories & Early Periodicals; Pioneer
Biographies; Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Collection; and Indices to
Pioneer Resources. Computer CD-ROM. Orem, Utah: Ancestry, 1998.
4. Barton, Cecily C. “Life of John Coulam Jr.” Unpublished biography, 1930.
5. Carter, Kate B. Heart Throbs of the West. Vol. 2, p. 208-209. Salt Lake City:
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, 1939-1951.
6. Carter, Kate. An Enduring Legacy. Vol. 2, p. 366; Vol. 12, p. 351-352. Salt Lake
City, Utah: Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, XXXX.
7. Carter, Kate. Our Pioneer Heritage. “1849” p. 446. Salt Lake City: Daughters of
the Utah Pioneers, xxxx.
8. Church Emigration. Vol. II. 1849: 3: 234.
9. Colam, John. Correspondence for Coulam/Colam family line in Lincolnshire,
England. Email: john@colam.co.uk
10. Colam, Joyce. Correspondence- for Coulam/Colam family line in Lincolnshire,
England.
11. Conquerors of the West. “John Coulam, Sr.” Sons of the Utah Pioneers: Salt
Lake City, Utah, xxxx.
12. Cook, Peter. Correspondence for Coulam family line. Email:
peter@petercook.supanet.com
13. Coulam, John Jr. “Biographical Sketch of John Coulam, Jr.” Unpublished
biographical sketch.
14. Croft, Fannie H. “Heiner family records and pictures.” Unpublished collection.
15. Croft, Gretta. “Heiner family records & pictures.” Unpublished collection.
16. England, Lincolnshire, Louth. Civil Registration-Birth for Sarah Jane Coulam.
Registration District: Louth. SubDistrict: Louth. No. 301 for 1845.
17. England, Lincolnshire, Louth. Bishop’s Transcripts-Marriage for John Coulam
and Sarah Corden. Film #0508012.
18. England, Lincolnshire, Louth. Bishop’s Transcripts, 1604-1858. Coulam/Cowlam
family. Film #0504568.
19. England, Lincolnshire, Louth, St. James. Parish records-Marriage for John
Coulam and Sarah Corden. Film #1541999, p. 112, no. 335.
20. England, Lincolnshire, Louth, St. James. Parish records-Marriage for John
Mumby and Susanna Corden. Film #1541999, p. 224, no. 448.
21. England, Lincolnshire, Raithby cum Maltby. Parish records-Birth for Sarah (Jane)
Corden (Cordell). Film #0504737, item 2.
22. England, Lincolnshire, Tathwell. Parish records-Marriage for William Cordell
and Francis Willey.
23. Esshom, Frank. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. P. 182, 822. Salt Lake
City: Western Epics Co., 1966.

24. European Emigration Card Index. “Coulam, John.” LDS Film #0298432.
25. Green, Phyllis. Correspondence for Coulam and Heiner families. Email:
gwgreene@juno.com
26. Heiner, Hattie. “Sarah Jane Coulam.” Unpublished biography.
27. Hewson, Trevor. Correspondence for Mary Corden Dias/ Dyas, sister to Sarah
Corden. Email: trevorhewson@mac.com Webpage:
http://homepage.mac.com/trevorhewson/home/
28. LDS Emigration Roster & Voyage History for 1840-1869. Computer CD-ROM.
Salt Lake City, Utah: YourShip 1997. Yship@aol.com
29. Mackinder, David. Correspondence for Corden/Cordell research in Lincolnshire,
England. Email: davidm@linkstolincs.co.uk
30. Mathews, Della W. Oral Interview of Sarah Coulam Heiner, Dec. 1975.
31. Millenial Star. Vol. II, p. 56, 92, 155, 183, 254.
32. Monk, Chloe W. “Biography of Sarah Jane Coulam Heiner.” Unpublished
biography.
33. Monk, Chloe W. “History of John Coulam Sr.” Unpublished biography.
34. Monk, Chloe W. “Sarah Cordon-Coulam. “ Unpublished biography.
35. Monk, Richard. Correspondence for Heiner & Coulam lines. Email:
richard@packrat.musm.ttu.edu
36. Mormon Immigration Index. Computer CD-ROM. Salt Lake City, Utah: Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Intellectual Reserve Inc., 2000.
37. Mumby, Estelle. Correspondence for the Mumby family of North Thoresby.
Email: e.mumby@tesco.net
38. National Archives. Passenger lists of vessels arriving at New Orleans, 1820-
1849. National Archives microfilm #259, roll 30. For February 7- May
29, 1849. List Nos. 63-280, p. 1-3. (Last name misspelled and listed
under name Coulan instead of Coulam.)
39. Palmer, Dana Croft. “Coulam family records, pictures, genealogy and research.”
Unpublished collection.
40. Richards, Alice. "History of the Life of Henry Coulam." Unpublished
biographical sketch.
41. Sloan, Eugene & Linda. "Coulam family records, genealogy and research."
Unpublished collection. Email: esloan2@netzero.net
42. Smith, Linda H. Correspondence for Heiner line and information about Morgan
County.
43. Sons of the Utah Pioneers Files. “Coulam 002484” for Sarah Cordon Coulam.
44. Tanner, Annette. (Granddaughter of Alice Coulam Richards) "Genealogy and
personal papers of Henry Coulam." Unpublished collection of
miscellaneous papers, memorabilia, photos and journal of Henry Coulam
from his mission to England 1894-95.
45. Utah Immigration Card Index. “Coulam, John.” LDS Film #0298440.
46. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. Death certificate for Ann Doull. Date of Death:
13 Feb 1908. Date of Internment: 17 Feb 1908. Death Certificate #18688.
Interment #28799. Death Permit #15688. Grave Location: Plat F, Block
6, Lot 12, Grave 2E.

47. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. Death certificate for Ann Doull. LDS
Film#026554. Salt Lake County Death Records, p 381. Death #14474;
Cert #D18688. "Ann Doull age 87 yrs, 9 Mo, 0 days [which meand her
correct birth date is 13 May 1820 which is the date found in the English
parish registers]. Death Place 730 East South Temple, SLC [which is the
John Coulam b. 1802 family home]; parents both of English nativity,
George Altass and Martha Taylor. She died of senility."
48. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. Obituary- Salt Lake Herald Newspaper for death
of George Doull on 9 March 1912. Funeral arrangements made by the
Salt Lake Masonic Lodge (Wasatch Lodge). Services held at Masonic
Temple.
49. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. Burial for George Doull. Burial Location: Mount
Olivet Cemetery, buried 10 March 1915, location E-Wasatch-S-1.
50. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. Death certificate for George Doull. LDS
Film#026554. Salt Lake County Death Records, p. XX.
51. Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City. 1880 US Census. LDS Film#1255337; National
Archives film T9-1337, p 216D. "Ann Colum, housekeeper, widow, age
60, birth place England, father and mother's birth place- England." [She
was a widow living alone in the 11 th Ward.]