History of Mary Kershaw Blamires Boynton

Mary Kershaw Blamires Boynton, born February 26, 1829, in Yorkshire, England, was the daughter of Titus and Harriet Pickles Kershaw. We do not know anything of her young life, but in due time she married Richard Blamires, whose occupation was that of a fancy stone cutter and architect. To this union eight children were born.

Mary joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 1853. When she stepped into the waters of baptism she was lame, but came out healed, of which she bore strong testimony. All her children who were old enough were baptized before leaving England. She was a member of the church for sixteen years before coming to America. The older members of the family worked in the foundry after they were twelve years of age to help the family income, as was the custom in those days. The Blamires’ home was a gathering place for young people. They enjoyed themselves in singing and playing different kinds of instruments.

Mary Kershaw Blamires with her children, Lambert, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nephi, Mary Ann, Robert and Emma, sailed from Liverpool, England, on the steamship “Manhattan” on Wednesday, September 22, 1869, with Joseph Lawson in charge. It was through the help of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund that she was able to undertake this move. She left England for the sake of the Gospel, firmly believing that her husband would follow. However, he never joined the family and they have no account of him ever joining the Church. It was later rumored he had gone to Australia.

These obstacles did not daunt Mary. With a clear, blue-gray eye and a straightforward personality, coupled with a determination to take her family to Zion and enjoy the blessings of the Gospel among those who had already gathered, she calmly pursued her chosen course.

The company, after being on the ocean for 14 days, arrived in New York October 7, 1869. Mrs. Blamires and the older children had a little money which they gave to man they thought could be trusted, to be changed into American money, but they never got it back. For a time they were hungry, but Mary borrowed money from one of the members to continue the journey. Before her plight was known to the company, the family went hungry long enough that Emma, a four and one-half-month-old nursing baby became ill. This happened at Castle Gardens in New York.

They were happy in spite of these trials, and the journey on the train was most pleasant. The boys played musical instruments; Lambert the concertina, Nephi the triangle and all sang songs. One song in particular they liked was, “To The Land of Plenty We Will Go, Hurrah! Hurrah!”

They arrived in Ogden October 16, 1869, and stayed at the home of Mr. Dinsdale. The family waited in Ogden for Robert Burton to take them to Kaysville. All were anxious to see Joseph Burton, the boy who had lived with them in England while acting as an apprentice in the shoemaking trade. He preceded them to America by three months and was like a member of the family.

Mary Blamires’ family went from Ogden to Kaysville in a wagon drawn by ox team and was taken directly to the Burton home. Brother Burton was familiarly known to the family as Cousin Robert. The Burton home consisted of one log room without doors or windows; quilts were tacked up at the opening for protection from the weather. While staying there a day or so the children stripped a patch of sugarcane for Brother Burton before looking for work. Lambert, the oldest worked for Catherine Pillings, and Nephi for a Mr. Robins. The next year they were located in their own home.

About two years after her arrival in this country, Mary Blamires married Thomas Boynton. One son, Christopher, was born of this union. Mary was a member and block teacher of the Relief Society, taught Sunday School, was agent for the Women’s Exponent, and a member of the choir. She was interested in genealogical work and often went to the Temple. She and her husband paid back the loan she received from the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. Mary was very industrious, she dried fruit, knitted stockings, raised silk worms, thereby helping maintain home industry and was always anxious to assist those in need.

Mary died September 29, 1894, in Kaysville, Utah.

Written by Ida Egbert Evans