Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson McDonald was born in Lisburn, Ireland, on October 13, 1803. Lisburn is in the North-Eastern part of Ireland near Belfast. Her parents were Sarnuel and Nancy Aldrice Ferguson. We do not know much about her childhood other than that she was taught to spin beautifully. The big mills spinning and weaving Irish linen had now been established near her home, and the skill of hand spinning with a spinning wheel would soon be a lost art.

When she was twenty-two, she married James McDonald, a tall, broad-shouldered man who was the son of Moses and Mary Glass McDonald. Moses was a Scotsman from Glenoek. Glenock was across the North Channel of the Irish Sea on the River Clyde. On a clear day, the shores of Scotland could be seen from Grawfordsburn, County Down, Ireland, where James was born. This was where he brought Sarah as a bride.

To them were born ten children. Nine of whom were born at Crawfordsburn and the youngest at Belfast. Jane was born first in 1826, then John, in 1828. He died as a baby. Eliza came in 1830, and the next baby, they named John also, in 1832, William in 1834, and Mary in 1836.   She was a twin, and her brother David died, as did the next child, Hyrum, born in 1839. Robert was born in 1840, and Joseph Smith in 1841, in Belfast.

James passed away on their journey to Uah on 17 June 1850 on the bank of the Platte River. Sarah completed the journey with her family.

She died in Heber City, March 8, 1883, at· the age of 78.