Mary Hannah Briggs

Mary Hannah Briggs is the fourth of seven children born to John Briggs and Ruth Butterworth, both from England. The family immigrated to America from England, and once in America they joined the Edward Martin Company of 1856 to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. The handcart company had begun their journey late in the year and were caught in extreme snowstorms and cold weather. Food supplies were all but nothing. Many passed away from the freezing cold, snow, and starvation. Among the victims were Mary’s father, John, who died on November 3, 1856 at Devils Gate. Then, 7-year-old Mary Hannah died and is buied near the mouth of Emigration Canyon. She was the last person of the Martin Handcart Company to die along the trail before reaching the Valley.