William Empey

William Empey was the first of five children born to Jesse Empey and Mary Foulkes, both of England. Along with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Empey family left England for America. They joined the James Willie Handcart Company. As they traveled west, William’s father, Jesse, was ill most of the time. Despite his poor health, the family forged on.

Food was limited and rations were cut. In addition to hunger, the pioneers suffered from the damp, cold, and frigid snowstorms. Death took its toll among many of the Saints in the company. Among them was 9-year-old William Empey who passed away on November 7 and was buried alongside other by the cottonwood grove where they camped. The Handcart Company entered the Salt Lake Valley three days later.

The company journal reads: “7 November 1856, the Willie Journal records that the camp rolled on, crossed a steep hill, came into East Canyon, crossed the East Canyon Creek several times, and camped in a cottonwood grove …three deaths of the day including, William Empey from Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, England, aged 9 years."