Mary's Story
Birth: March 13th, 1854 | female | in Manchester, Lancashire, England
Death: September 3rd, 1855 | 1 year old | in Sweetwater, Wyoming
Memorial: Stone 5 | right column | 16th name
Mary’s parents were Joseph Flitcroft Birch and Dorothy Chambers both from England.
The Birches left England for America, after they arrived safely, plans were made to join the Richard Ballantyne Company to travel west to the Salt Lake Valley.
When their company reached the Sweetwater River in Wyoming, Mary became very sick. No matter how much medicine and faith the family had, little Mary passed away.
1 year old Mary is buried by the Sweetwater River in Wyoming, along the Mormon Trail.
George Mayer's diary of the journey said:
“Brother Birchs Childe [Mary] Dide and we Berid [buried] it on Wil[l]ow Creek by Severl other graves.”
Also in Richard Ballantyne's journal of the journey, he recorded:
“Monday Sept 3rd
While the Camp Was traveling along the Sweet Water a Child of Joseph [Flitcroft Birch] & Dorothe [Dorothy Chambers] Birch of [by] the name of Mary aged 7 Months died of Protracted Thrus[h] & Was Buried at the above Place.
Tuesday Sept 4th
Bro Birch's Child who died Yesterday was Buried this morning”