Thomas Briggs

Thomas Briggs is the second of seven children born to John Briggs and Ruth Butterworth, both from England. The family immigrated to America and once they arrived, they joined the Edward Martin Company of 1856. They would journey by handcart 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 company began the trek late in the season. As a result, the pioneers were met with extreme cold temperatures, snowstorms, and starvation. Among the many victims were John Briggs, Thomas’ father, who passed away on November 3, 1856 at Devil’s Gate. Thirteen-year-old Thomas was the next to succumb to the circumstances and finally his sister, Mary Hannah.