Sarah Dearden

Sarah Dearden is the daughter of Thomas Dearden and Charlotte Davies, both from England. The Dearden and Davies families immigrated to America on the ship “John Bright.” After arriving in America, they traveled by train to Nebraska. Once there, they joined the John Riggs Murdock Company, departing for the Salt Lake Valley with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 27, 1868.

Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Within a week of reaching their destination, 18-month-old Sarah died of unknown causes. She is buried along the Mormon Trail in Wyoming.

From her father’s history: “Sarah died on August 11th, at the age of 18 months and 2 weeks. Charlotte’s father, Henry Davies, bought some lumber and made small wooden coffins and they buried their babies in shallow graves beside the trail.”