James Burtenshaw

James is the third of eight children born to John Burtenshaw and Sarah Loveland both of England. John had been working in America for two years to make enough money to pay his family's passage. Finally in 1862, Sarah and the children immigrated to America.

The family traveled to Nebraska and joined the Ansil P. Harmon Company westward bound with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The company left Nebraska August 1, for the Great Salt Lake Valley.

Along the journey, 3-year-old James suffered from “bilious fever” (the most common cause was malaria) and passed away. According to a history written of his mother, Sarah, James was wrapped in his father’s white shirt and buried near Green River, Wyoming, in the same grave with a woman who had died the night before. Following the burial of their little one, Sarah and John made a record of the event and placed it carefully in a small bag along with a lock of his hair.

John Daniel Thompson’s journal reads, “Friday 12th Sept. at 7.O.Clock we Started and travaled 2 miles & crossed the Bridge drove 10 Miles farther & nooned opposite the "Red Butes" we travaled the lower road. stoped 4 hours and at Sundown Buried Mary Graham who died last evening of Decline, aged 43 years. also James Burtenshaw aged 3 years died this morning of Billious fever, Son of John & Sarah. we buried them in one grave on a Small hill to the left of the road and the only one on the flat[.] at Sundown we Started & travaled 5 Miles & Camped. Made 17 Miles”