Author: Andrew Wrathall
The earliest Wrathall to go to the United States of America was James Wrathall who was born in Yorkshire in 1828. James Wrathall arrived in America in 1850. One of the earliest references to the name was of James Wrathall, age 22, recorded in the year 1850, in the State of Utah, upon his emigration from Britain in an effort to escape oppression there, and improve his personal fortunes.
The Variant form of "Wrath", appeared in Maryland and Virginia from the seventeenth century onwards.
Milton was unable to learn much about James Wrathall's mother, Elizabeth Atkinson, except that she made him promise not to join the L.D.S. until after he left England. James never wrote anything yet found about his life in England, but apparently came under the influence of the Saints at one of their meetings in his village ( Buckden , parish of Arnecliffe), where, under the leadership of Wilford Woodruff, they were active and successful at that time in converting entire patronages of Anglican parishes to the Church of the L.D.S. James did, however, end up taking a ship to America with the Saints in 1851, so part of his reason for emigrating was his newfound religion.
Milton noted the many tall stone fences around Buckden, built during the Enclosure acts to keep in the sheep, which could then no longer be grazed in common swales, thus limiting the ability of James to inherit a flock and raise them in Wharfedale, since all the paddocks were already taken. Thus there was a strong incentive for James to move to an area with economic opportunities.
Click HERE for a photo of Buckden and the valley of Wharfedale.
When Milton stayed in Buckden, he noted that sheep are still an important part of the area, and he found a relative (Paul Wrathall) to the south (Wetherby) who was still involved in sheep husbandry. However, Milton could not find anybody in Buckden who remembered the Wrathalls. But it was clear where James got his ability to raise sheep successfully.
