William Athol McMaster and Margaret Drummond Ferguson - my Great Great Grandparents

[From: Mormon pioneer overland travel 1847-1868  history.lds.org/overlandtravel/pioneers/14967/william-athol-mc-master ]
Captain of Ten. (He spelled his surname "MacMaster" in his diary, and the Ancestral File uses the "McMaster" spelling.)

• Daniel Garn Company (1854) : Age at Departure: 37

Company Unknown (1868) : Age at Departure: 51  Returning Missionary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[From: BRIAN and LYN FOULGER research  --  email: brian.foulger1@ ntlworld.com]

WILLIAM ATHOL McMASTER son of PETER McMASTER and GRACE HENDERSON born 15 September 1816 Greenock Renfrew Scotland.  He died 22 January 1887 Salt Lake City buried Salt Lake City Cemetery.  He married MARGARET DRUMMOND FERGUSON daughter of JOHN FERGUSON and MARGARET DRUMMOND. 2 September 1842 Paisley Renfrew Scotland.    MARGARET was born 15 May 1822 Greenock Renfrew, died 24 April 1894 Salt Lake City.

The McMASTER family departed Liverpool aboard the "John M Wood" 12 March arrived New Orleans 2 May left on 1 July arrived Utah 1 October 1854 travelled with DANIEL GARN Company.   WILLIAM and MARGARET are shown on the sons of Utah Pioneers plaque 5.

Children of WILLIAM and MARGARET are:

JOHN BRIGHAM McMASTER, born 17 August 1843 Dunfermline Fife Scotland died 15 April 1913 Brigham City buried  Brigham City Cemetery....  married (1) ELIZABETH MEIKLE FORREST, 27 December 1869 Salt Lake City,  ELIZABETH was born 14 June 1844 Ranton Dumbarton Scotland; died 11 September 1883 Brigham City buried Brigham City Cemetery.    married (2) VERE FORREST 1886 Salt Lake City,  VERE was born 18 August 1852 Jamestown Dumbarton Scotland died 10 March 1926 Brigham City Box Elder Utah.     ELIZABETH and VERE were daughters of THOMAS MEIKLE FORREST and ELIZABETH CALHOUN FERGUSON.

  The FORREST family departed Liverpool aboard the "Minnesota" 2 June  arrived  New York 15 June arrived  Salt Lake City 25 June 1869.

  THOMAS FORREST kept a journal of the trip and says when he arrived in Salt Lake City he was meet by his cousin WILLIAM McMASTER.

ii MARGARET DRUMMOND FERGUSON McMASTER, born 15 January 1845 Dunfermline died 10 March 1925 Salt Lake City.buried Salt Lake City Cemetery, married JOHN PRIESTLEY son of JOHN PRIESTLEY and JANE ADAMSON 31 October 1863 Salt Lake City.  JOHN was born 25 February 1843 Bradford Yorkshire England died 1 March 1916 Salt Lake City.

iii GRACE HENDERSON McMASTER, born 6 October 1846 Dunfermline Fife died 2 January 1847 Scotland

iv WILLIAM ATHOL McMASTER, born 18 January 1848 Dunfermline Fife died 2 October 1932 Salt Lake City buried Salt Lake City Cemetery, married  RACHEL SMITH daughter of WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH and MARY ANN FRIER 14 August 1871 Salt Lake City.  RACHEL was born 4 July 1852 Salt Lake City died 30 August 1918 Salt Lake City buried Salt Lake City Cemetery

v VIRGINIA FAITHFUL McMASTER, born 9 July 1850  Dunfermline died 18 April 1904 Layton Davis buried Kaysville City Cemetery Utah, married  WILLIAM DUNCOMBE MAJOR son of ROBERT MAJOR and HARRIET HULBERT 30 August 1869 Salt Lake City, .    WILLIAM was born 13 July 1847 Southampton Hampshire England died 7 July Layton Davis buried 10 July 1925 Kaysville Davis Utah,  arrived New York aboard the "Amazon" 18 July 1863 on the ship was WALLACE and HERBERT JOHN FOULGER.    He  married (2) MARY ELLEN FINDLAY 25 July 1905 Ogden Weber.    MARY was born 8 March 1841 Manchester England died 6 July 1933 Lanark Idaho buried Paris Cemetery Bear Lake County Idaho

vi ISARILLIS McMASTER, born 14 September 1852 Clitheroe Lancashire died 12 July 1854 at the Baptist Missionary Station near the Kansas river  after crossing the river ISARILLIS was buried on top of a hill (from a diary kept by his father)

vii DONALD HENDERSON McMASTER, born 15 August 1855 Salt Lake City died 21 June 1930 Butte Montana buried Salt Lake City Cemetery, married HATTIE ISABEL HARRISON 19 April 1885 Beverhead Montana.  HATTIE was born July 1850 Missouri died 15 January 1911 Butte Montana

viii ALEXANDER McMASTER, born 12 August 1857 Salt Lake City died  29 January 1916 Salt Lake City buried Salt Lake City Cemetery, married FRANCES LAURA MITCHELL daughter of FREDERICK FRANK MITCHELL and MARGARET THOMPSON 27 December 1883 Salt Lake City. FRANCES was born 20 March 1866 Salt Lake City died 22 July 1933 Salt Lake City.buried Salt Lake City Cemetery

ix JAMES BRUCE McMASTER, born 1 July 1859 Salt Lake City died 22 December 1862 Salt Lake City buried Salt Lake City Cemetery

x HANNAH ELIZABETH McMASTER, born 16 March 1861 Salt Lake City died 11 May 1953 Salt Lake City, married JOSEPH CHARLES FOULGER son of JOHN FOULGER and SUSANNAH WOOLNOUGH.

xi MARY ANN McMASTER, born 28 April 1863 Salt Lake City died 5 March 1943 Safford Graham Arizona.buried Thatcher Cemetery Graham Arizona, married CHARLES MARTIN LAYTON, son of CHRISTOPHER LAYTON and SARAH MARTIN 20 September 1883 Salt Lake City.  CHARLES was born 3 July 1862 Kaysville Davis Utah died 10 November 1933 Safford Graham Arizona.buried Thatcher Cemetery Graham

xii JOSEPH HEBER McMASTER, born 30 July 1865 Salt Lake City died 7 October 1900 Colby Kansas buried Salt Lake City Cemetery

Margaret Drummond Ferguson McMaster

[From:  The Deseret Weekly, Volume 48, page 604]

[from Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, page 1061]

 


[From:   Church History Library, MS 989 : MacMaster, William Athole, Diary, 1848-1887, fd. 1, 351-63.]
Teusday 6^th ten Wagons went to the plains with these hundred some heavey rain and thunder. there was a Meeting to see how many died of the Shife [ship] Windermoor [Windmere] Company and it was found to be 53 to this deat [death].

Wednesday 7^th ten Wagons went to the plains. very Cold Morning.

Thursday 8 some wagons went to the Plains[.] very cold Morning i went to Kansas and visited. the camp these day very hot.

Freday 9^th some Wagons went to the plains[.] fine day only verey cold

Saterday 10^th i was Appointed Captain over ten Wagons[.] warm day[.] i orgnized 195 souls and Appointed the guard for the Night.

Sunday 11^th warm day. i called A Public meeting and several of the Brothren spoke and we had the Lords supper in our tents After. and i Appointed the guard for the Night[.] all is well. only one man.

Monday 12^th warm day. i served out some oxens and other things and took the Names of all those that has only payed their Passage to Kansas and Appointed the gaard for the Night.

Teusday 13^th i Called a Meeting of the saints on the campe ground. That we might clear the ground of all the rechage [wreckage] that others left behind when they left and only few Attended. to it. but went their own way. all well.

Wednesday 14^th my Wife was verey ill but she began to get better in the Morning About. 5. oclock by the Power of God. i Also searved out food to About 200 People. day warm.

Thursday 15^th dul day with some thunder and rain i gave out some food. and Attended to other things in the Evening three Came to my tent and was Attended to that they Might be Healed as they were ill. i Appointed the guard for the Night.

Friday 16^th i gave out some food to go to People on the Plains[.] there was a verey heavy rain in the Morning. i Baptized John Given son of Elizabeth Given. verey hevey Thunder and rain to Night.

saterday 17^th gave out some Proviesion to go to the plains and Confirmed John Given and Appointed the guard for the Night. the day was verey warm.

Sunday 18^th I was verey thrang all day. it was verey warm

Monday 19^th i gave out provision to the camp i.e. those that compose it. Thunder and rain day. i organized some tents to day and many found fault with it Although they say that they would do any thing for the Church[.] i remained in the McGee ground till

Thurday 22 when i left with six wagon and came and pi[t]ched on the Borders of the Prires [Prairie] on a healthy place

Friday 23^rd we began to get some more Provision for the Journey[.] day warm

Saterday 24^th i went with one Wagon and 48 oxen and Brought up some Wagons and People and Provisions to the Campe on the Borders of the Prires[.] it was about 9 oclock at night when we got to the Campe with the last Wagon[.] verey warm day

Sunday 25^th i dealed out some Provision and Attended to other dutyes

Monday 26^thi attended to the deutys of the day. it Being verey warm and i was verey pained with tooth Ack [ache].

Teusday 27^th our Camp Consisting of 31 wagons went to the Priries in three divisions viz. Captian [Thomas Tod[d]— Cap Lamb 2 ^nd and i 3^rd and in the Evening i Attended drill

Wednesday 28^th verey busie Among the Cattle and14 yock [yoke] went to Kansas and removed many of the saints these to the Borders of the Prires. Day verey hot with lighting at night

Thursday 29 D. Caran was Appointed to Lead the saints of 66 Wagons over the plains to the S.L. valley day was verey hot.

Friday 30^th in company with [..] Andrew i went to McGee Camp Ground with 4 oxen and took up D. Caran, wagon and goods to the Pririe[.] day verey hot.

Saterday 1^st July 1854 made ready to start over the Plains

Sunday 2^nd we left for the plains and some of the oxen off with the wagons over duches [ditches] and set the tubs and pans a jumpen and one wagon brock [broke] down[.] we went about two mils and Camp for the night.

Monday 3^rd we went rather better. we went about 8 mils[.] two wagons stuck in the mud

Tuesday 4^th we went still better and Camped in Bull Creek.

Wednesday 5 Lock [Luke] Smith died about 3 oclock morning and was buired age 17 years. he had no coffon. Thursday 6th We left Bull Creek about 8 oclock AM and came over 8 mils of rough road one wagon brock down. we camped for the Night and to make repairs at a place where was planty of water coled.

we past on untill Wednesday 12 ^th when my young son jsrellows [Isarilis McMaster] died at the Baptist Missionary station near the Kansas river and we crossd the river and about 7 mils to the west of this where we Camped for the Night.

Thursdays Friday 14^th i Buired my son on the top of the hill near a large stone about 8 oclock in the Morning. He died on his way to Zion in the last days. so he rests in peac[e] with his Lord.

Saterday 15^th we started and when we were a little on our way 12^th wagon had a little stampe[e]d but we soon got all things to order again and the stars was bright in the Heavens when we camped at Night

Sunday 16^th we came about 5 mils and Camped about 12 oclock and we had a Public meeting and made an axeltree

Monday 17^th we left and came over a rough road and camped for the night.

Tuesday 18^th we treaveled over a rough road and camped for the Night. i do not put down the Mil[e]s as i do not know them correct

Wednesday 19^th we came over a rough road and thrugh two or three rivers and at Night we Camped a little from the Big Blue where the men was to the midle coming thrugh

Thursday 20 we stoped at the Big Blue and made some Repairs.

Friday 21^st we left the Blue River and so past on till we came to the Little Blue River on Monday 24^thDistance about 80 or 85 mils where we camped—

Tuesday 25^th we stoped to mak[e] some repairs

Wednesday 26^th we left the little Blue River and traveled till we came to the platt[e] river on the 29^th over a verey rough road and we treavled about 6 mils past fort Carnie [Kearney] and Camped for the night and being no wood or water we left earley on the 30^th when we past Elder O[rson]. Pratts train and so we past on till the 5^th of Augest 1854 when we past Elder O[rson]. P[ratt].s train again as it past us or our train the day before so we were stoped making an axeltree for my wagon. Elder O.P.s cattle took a stampaid [stampede] this morning and some of his men was out hunting them in the Afternoon we met E[lder]. Snow and E. Benson of the twelve and O. Spencer and other Brotheren from the valey and E. Snow and E. Benson spok[e] to us and made out heart rejoice and then past on to help Br O.P. and we past on to a few mils and Camped for the night

we left on the 6^th and past on till the 8^th when we crost the Platt[e] river in the morning and we Camped for the day. and the bains camp left in the morning. Henry Smith died about 12 oclock the Night before and was buired this morning with a coffon

Wednesday 9^th we left and came to Ash holloa [Hollow] leting the Wagons down a hill by rop[e]s and we camped for the Night Near the post office Thursday[.] 10^th we left and Came About 15 mils thrugh some verey beds of sand

Friday 11^th E. Benson of the 12 and three other Brothren came up to us in the Morning and asked for some Cattle to help Br O.Pratts train which lost their as Above said and Br D[aniel]. Caran [Garn] out [our] Captain said that he would help them all he could so they went on and we Came about 10 mils and camped for the Night and About 11 oclock Elder O.Pratt and S.W. richards came to our campe on their way to the valley

Saterday 12^th we sent 35 yock of oxen and 20 men to help Elder O. Pratts train Along and we still remained where we was making such repairs both in our cattle and wagons as was needed

Sunday 13^th Widow Leadlaw [Jane Ferguson Laidlaw] was brought to bed of a son About 3 oclock in the Morning (her Husband died on the Missourie River on his way to Zion) the Kans send 20 yock of cattle to help O.P[ratt]. s train they came to our Camp about 12 oclock. we had a meeting in the Afternoon and some of the Elders spok[e].

Monday 14^th two men went with the 20 yock of cattle to meet O.P s company[.] yesterday we had a heavy storm of thunder.

Tuesday 15^th two Elders and I was Appointed to wight [weigh] all the goods in all the wagons and we found many of the people had more then they should have and they Had to burn many good things. in the Evening O.P.s train came up. we had several oxened died while we stayed here

Wednesday 16^th we left and camped about 20 mils and camped for the Night

Thursday 17^th we went About 18 mils over a hard road and we Camped a few mils from the Chimnie [Chimney] rock.

Friday 18^th we went About 13 miles and camped Beside a house about 10 miles from Chimnie rock for the night.

Saterday 19^th we left and came About 25 mils and on our way we buired a sister that died in the Morning.

Sunday 20^th we buired Walter Hol[l]ey in the Morning which died the night before we camped About 27 mils from Fort Laremoor [Laramie.]

Monday 21^st we Ccame to a house about 19 mils from the Fort and we was there informed that the indans and the solders at the fort Had A Fight 28 solders was kild and one wouded. we wase orderded to load our guns and make ready for an Atack from the indans and we Camped 18^th mils from the Fort and all the row began because one of the indans taking a Cow from the Danes and killing it and not giving up the indan that did it. in the Evening two men on horse Back came to our camp on their way to Fort Le[a]venworth for help[.] it would take them eleven days or nine. we placed Armed men round the camp and cattle all night[.] i headed the first guiard

Tuesday 22^nd we came About 3 miles and Camped puting our wagon in a carall and our tents inside of it. as we were Afraid that the indans was storming the fort so we thought that it was Best to stope behind till Elder E. Benson of the Twelve camp up as he had the charge of the camp as O.P. went on to the valley. and our captain D[aniel]. Carans [Garn] thought it wright to stop on him i-e. E. B[enson]. we are Camped on the Bank of the river Platt[e]. Day verey hot

Wednesday 23^rd we left and treaveled About 5 miles past fort Laremoore [Laramie] and camped for the Night.

Thursday 24^th we came to the Black hills and camped for the Night after passing over a very rought road of hills and vallys and sand

Friday 25^th we had such Another days teravel and William Day of Stockport England Died before we came into Camp

Saterday 26^th he was Buired without a coffon and we had such a days march as the day before. and we Camped on a hill and the Cattle watered in a valley below

Sunday 27^th we left or all About to leave but when we came to hich our cattle two was amissing and all the train left but two wagons and i and some other of the Brothren went and hunted them up Among the hills and when we got up to the train they were Camped. and Sister [Mary Ann Leonard] Day wife of the above died about 2 oclock P.M. and was buired without a coffing [coffin] and we had A visit of some indans at the Camp[.] Br Carter shoded some oxen. rain and thunder in the Afternoon when we were hunting the cattle two indans came up two of us. and to get quate of them, i gave one A knapkin to put around his which was in my belt.

Monday 28^th there was A ox lost for some time and the wagon that it belong to was left behind the train and when the indans saw it by itself they came about it rather two friendly so i went for ade [aid] to the train and on my way a ind[i]an with a Knife in his hand sesed [seized] me by the collor and wanted to Know what i had in my Pockets so i gave him A small teeth comb and he let me pass on. and when i got to the train i stoped it and Br D. Carans [Garn] with a Party of armed men went to the wagon and when the indans saw them they fled. we went about 13 mils and Camped for the Night. the road was verey rough

Tuesday 29^th we left and came About 14 mils over a rough road and we Camped for the night.

Wednesday 30^th we left and came to Deer Crick About 11 oclock and we treavled some more and Camped for the night. we had some thunder hail and rain

Thursday 31^st we came to the upper crossing of the Platt[e] and camped for Night.

Friday Sept 1^st we crost the Platt[e] and camped for the [missing text] but we sent the cattle back to grass

Saterday 2^nd we traevled About 27 miles and Camped for the Night to the wright of wellow [Willow] spring.

Sunday 3^rd we treavled About 16 mils and Camped for the Night.

Monday 4^th we treavled 11 miles and Camped about about 1½ miles to the wright of sweet water. Sister [Puah Sarah Collins] Holl[e]y wife of the late Walter Holly was delivered of a daughter [Sophia Ann Holley].

Tuesday 5^th we left and past and indpendence [Independence] rock and the Divels [Devils] Gate and Camped by sweet water A few mils by the gate

Wednesday 6^th we left and Came a few mils and a axeltree of a wagon brock and we camped by sweet water untill repairs was made.

Thursday 7^th we left and came thrugh a heavy rain and sandy road and camped about 1/2 past 5 oclock P.M.

Friday 8 we left and at noon it rained heavy and we stoped A little and the Crow tribe of indans Came up to use with their cheaf and they beged some bread of us and we yocked our cattle and came and camped about 4 oclock P.M. by sweet water.

Saterday 9^th we left and came About 19 miles] over a road of sand and camped at sweet water

Sunday 10^th most all our cattle was amissing and the men went to hunt them and found them. and we left and treavled a few mils and campe for the Night and [William Furlsburg] Carter shoed some oxen and Elder A[lexander]. F[indlay]. Mcdo'ald blest Sister [Jane Ferguson] Leadlaws [Laidlaw’s] young Frances [Laidlaw] 4 week. old.

Monday 11^th we left and treavled over A rough 16 mils and Camped by A creek where was little grass and in the morning the cattle had to be hunted for

Tuesday 12^th we hunted up our oxen and befor we started some indans came up and treavled with us and Ccamped with us over night. and three wagons from the valley Ccame up and Ccamped with us to and a meeting of some friends took Mother and son. Brothers and Sisters

Wednesday 13^th we left and came to Pecific [Pacific] Springs and let the cattle lo[o]se for a little and some of them got stuck in the mud and had to be holed out with rop[e]s. and we hiched up and came on and came up to and past the Danes Camp and we campe by the Pecific Springs for the Night and the Deans [Danes] went by us and the indans with them.

Thursday 14^th we left and on our way sister Leadlaws [Laidlaw’s] young son [Francis Laidlaw] died and i Buired it About ½ past 2 oclock P.M. we came on A few mils more and camped for the Night

Friday 15^th we treavled to Big Sandy river and camped for the Night[.] we past the deans [dunes] on the way and some Brothren from the valley with food for the gathren [gathering] saints. The day before we met Elder John Taylor and some others on Missions to the Nations.

Saterday 16^th we came to the Big bend of Big Sanday [Sandy] and camped for the night

Sunday 17^th we crost the green River and camped for the Night and met some Brothren from the Vally S. Adams

Monday 18^th all the goods in the Wagons was turned out that the flour might be seen in the camp.

Tuesday 19^th we left and came to hams fork and camped for the Night[.] G. Smith and family and wagon was left behind as they brock [broke] an Axeltree of their Wagon

Wednesday 20^th we left and camped by the same river crosing it three times too day

Thursday 21^st we came About 10 mils and Camped by the same river crosting it twice to day. i-e Black Fork

Friday 22^nd we came to fort Bridget [Bridger] and we took 1000 lbs of flour—and past it About 10 mils and camped for the night

Saterday 23^rd we left and came Aabout 18 mils up hills and down hills[.] and rocks and sand with thunder lighten and rain at times.

Sunday 24^th we left and came to Bear River and camped for the Night

Monday 25^th we left and came to Cove Rock in Echo Ca[n]yon. dis [distance] 18 mils and we camped for the night

Wednesday Tuesday 26^th we left and came to Beaver or verer [Weber] River dis. 25 mils[.] we camped for the night After the Moon went down.

Wednesday 27^th we left and camp About 9 mils by a little creek and campd for the Night.

Thursday 28^th we left and camped 4 mils from the Big Mountain over a verey rough road and camped for the Night

Friday 29^th we came over the Big Mountain and the cattle was sore dune we camped a few mils from the Bottom

Saterday 30^th we came over the little Mountain and Camped a few mils from the bottom of it for the night

Sunday 1^st of Oct we came into the Salt Lake City and Camped in the Public Squair [Square] and many of my Brothren called to see me and family

[From:  Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger A, p. 124.]

[From:  Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger A, p. 390.]

[From: Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger B, p. 34.]

 [From: Utah State History Cemeteries and Burials Database]