Sarah Ann Ashton

Sarah Ann Ashton is the daughter of William Ashton and Sarah Ann Barlow from England. William and Sarah sailed the Atlantic Ocean to America with five daughters. After their arrival, they joined the Edward Martin Handcart Company to travel with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley.

Sarah was expecting when the family began the journey west. After leaving Florence, Sarah gave birth to another daughter, who was named Sarah Ann after the baby’s mother. The mother did not survive childbirth and is buried in the area of where the baby was born. Despite her sisters’ efforts to care for Sarah Ann, the baby was malnourished and died a month later. She is buried by the Mormon Trail in Nebraska.

The handcart company was plagued with little food, snowstorms, and frigid winds. The Ashton sisters tried to take care of their new baby sister. The days were long and hot but nights were cold.

In the history of John Jaques’ journal of the journey, he wrote: “Thurs. [September] 11: Started in the morning and traveled about 9 miles on a dry creek, though so dry as not to be running.  Here were the graves of two men and child, belonging to Col. A.W. Babbitt's wagons, killed on August 25th b the Cheyenne Indians.... Here we buried the infant of the late Sister Ashton who died of childbirth at Cutler's Park the night of August 26th."