Mary Ann West

Mary Ann West is the fifth of eleven children born to Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield, both of England.

The family immigrated to America, sailing on the ship “Amazon.” After arriving in America, the family traveled to Nebraska and joined an “unknown company” to journey with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley.

Mary Ann became ill on the ship, and her ill health continued throughout the journey west to Salt Lake City. Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. After arriving in the Utah Territory, the family settled in Provo, Utah. Mary Ann, 3-years-old, died and is buried in the Provo Cemetery.

Recorded in family histories: “Mary Ann wasn’t well. Her condition worsened and she died a few weeks later on 22 October 1863 in Provo, Utah. The family had gone to bed early to save the few candles the family possessed. During the night, she awoke and tried to get out of bed. Charles encouraged her to go back to sleep. Reluctantly, she settled down to sleep again. But first, she called each family member by name and bid them a goodnight. She died in her father’s arms in the night. Bishop Miller lent his buggy and horse to carry her rough coffin to the Provo cemetery.”