Charlotte Dansie

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel 1847–1868 Ansil P. Harmon Company (1862) Age at departure: 33 She died en route.

About 500 individuals were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska

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Birth: Feb. 10, 1829 Newton Suffolk, England

Death: Sep. 21, 1862 Fremont County Wyoming, USA

Daughter of William and Susan Rudland.

Married Robert Dansie April 8, 1849, in England. Charlotte and her husband joined the LDS Church in England and in 1862 they set out for Utah with their five children. They sailed from Liverpool on May 12, arriving in New York on June 25. The trip had already been a difficult one for many, including Charlotte who was expecting a child. The converts rode a train to Florence, Nebraska and on August 2, started across the plains with the Ansel P. Harmon Company.

On the night of September 21, Charlotte Dansie went into premature labor. A son was born, but died soon thereafter, as did Charlotte. Her grandchildren could tell the story they had often heard: "Before grandmother died, she was in such pain that she told him she could stand her suffering no longer and asked him to pray to God that she might be released and return to her maker. Grandfather did pray and it was only a matter of minutes until both she and the baby died." Robert placed a string of blue beads around Charlotte's neck and covered the body of his wife and child with a trunk lid hinged with brass images of the British lion. The president and chaplain of the company, John D. T. McAllister wrote: "At 7 ½ o'clock, a few of us went ahead to dig a grave for the body of Sister Charlotte Dansie, wife of Robert, age 32, who died this morning of a ‘Miscarriage' and general debility. One mile brought us to the Summit or pass. Three more we made the Pacific Springs, one mile farther we crossed the Pacific Creek and dug the grave on the right of the road. While digging the grave, Captain Harmon rode up and informed us that Caroline Myers, aged 25 was dead. She died of Bilious fever just after the wagons left camp. We widened the grave for both bodies. We stopped there three hours then traveled 11 miles to Dry Sandy." In 1939, some of Charlotte's descendants went looking for the grave. Near Pacific Springs, they encountered a Mexican sheepherder. The men described their mission and the sheepherder said he had heard of a grave containing two adults and a child nearby that had been opened up by some other sheepherders. Questioned further, he finally confessed to having opened the grave himself and handed over a string of blue beads before leading them to the grave. There, they found copper rivets, brass hinges with the British lion and old pieces of leather scattered around the grave. Convinced they had found their grandmother's grave, the second generation of Dansie descendants dedicated a marker on the site in October 1939. One of Charlotte's children, 81-year-old Sarah Ann, lived long enough to witness the event, attended by more than 80 of Charlotte's relatives.

The tombstone on the road from Farson to Lander reads:

"But should we die before our journey is through, all is well, all is well."

In loving memory of Charlotte R., daughter of Wm. and Susan Rudland born in Suffolk England. Died in child birth with infant son Joseph at Pacific Springs Wyo. Sept. 21, 1862, while crossing the plains to Utah. In Ansel P Harmon Co. leaving husband and five children. Caroline Myers buried in the same grave. Died Sept. 21 1862 of Bilious fever age 25 years. Grave located July 3, 1939 by Joseph H. and Leroy Dansie. Erected in 1939.

In 1958, President Eisenhower authorized the Secretary of the Interior to convey 1¼ acres of land to be used as a Grave Site Memorial to Charlotte Dansie. The deed is held by the Dansie Family Organization.

Family links:

Children:

• Robert Dansie (1850 - 1920)*
• Charles Nephi Dansie (1854 - 1926)*
• Sarah Ann Elizabeth Dansie Crane (1858 - 1945)*

Burial: Charlotte Dansie Memorial Gravesite Fremont County Wyoming, USA

Maintained by: Lori Dansie-Follett Originally Created by: Carl W. McBrayer Record added: Apr 07, 2005 Find A Grave Memorial# 10734200