Ruth Butterworth (Briggs Clark ) was born on 23rd of April 1817 in Stalybridge, Lancashire, England to James and Mary Fielding Butterworth, she first married John Briggs about 1835, they had 7 children
Eliza, James, Thomas, Sarah Ann, Mary Hannah, Rachel, and Emma. On their migration to Great Salt Lake City, Utah with the Martin Handcart Company the family was met with great a tragedy, her husband and two of their children-Thomas and Mary Hannah, died of starvation, frostbite and total exhaustion as the handcart company was hit by an early snowstorm, and better coldness. They were in the area of what is now called Devil's Gate Wyoming. Ruth and the other children continued on the trek to Salt Lake after being rescued from the men of Salt Lake. the family was taken in and cared for possibly by the Benjamin Thomas Clark family, whom Ruth married afterwards, they had one child Lavinia Alice Clark, who was born June 2 1858 and died a few months after her Mother in November of 1860, Ruth passed away about 6 August 1860, in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. She is buried in the Salt Lake Cemetery, Plot 1158 Section E-6-3. I think she died because of complications of her recent childbirth and the exposure from 1856.
All previous Church Blessings (LDS) reconfirmed and ratified for above wife 20 Sep
1962
!After death of Husband,John Briggs, Ruth was sealed to her husband John
Briggs, in the Presidents Office by Brigham Young with Benjamin Thomas Clarke
proxy for the dead husband, 28 Jun 1857. At the same time Ruth was married
to Benjamin Thomas Clarke for this life only. Information from L.D.S. sealing
record 1856-57 pp.192 and 193. On film #183,395. Verified in Special
Services dept of church records.