Clarissa Ames Pugsley

Clarissa Ames Pugsley
b. 16 December 1827  Shoreham, Addison, Vermont
m (1): 1843  Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
m (2): 27 December 1850  Kanesville, Iowa
m (3): 24 August 1855  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
d. 24 July 1910  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
b. 27 July 1910  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Father: Ira Ames
Mother: Charity Carter
Husbands: (1) Thomas Munjar, (2) John D. Williams, (3) Philip Pugsley

Clarissa Ames Pugsley, my mother, was born 16 December 1827 at Shoreham, Addison County, Vermont. Her father, Ira Ames, joined the Church in 1832, moving from place to place with the Saints. Her mother, Charity Carter, died from exposure caused through traveling when she was 12 years of age.

After the death of her mother, my mother went to live with Lydia K. Knight, who was the mother of Jesse Knight, taking care of the children while Mrs. Knight attended to her millinery shop.

Mother’s people were neighbors to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, and she was baptized at the age of 8 years in the Mississippi River in the month of December, the ice having to be broken for her baptism.

Her mother was a close companion to Emma Smith, the Prophet’s wife, who gave her a bead necklace which she had made herself.

The Prophet Joseph was also a close friend of grandfather Ames and spent many evenings at their home, my mother then being a child but remembered having sat on his knees many times.

Mother attended a school which was called the School of the Prophets, which convened at night, in which the Prophet Joseph was the teacher. At the age of 14 years she was taken ill, and having great faith in the gospel, went to her uncle Jared Carter for a blessing, not knowing he had left the Church, not being able to stand the persecutions.

In 1843, at the age of 16, she married Thomas Munjar, having one child. After the death of her baby she left him as he failed to provide a living, and she returned to her father’s home in Ohio.

In December 1850, she married John D. Williams, and in the following spring came with him to Utah, locating in the 19th Ward. Mr. Williams died in February of 1852, just two months before the birth of their son [Charles John Williams, 1852-1867]. In 1856, she married Philip Pugsley, who was my father. Like most pioneer mothers she could spin, card, weave, and knit. She belonged to the first Relief Society of the 19th Ward.

Mother and Father had four children (Sarah, Mary, Clarissa and George). Father died August 7, 1903 at the age of 81 years. Mother died July 24, 1910 at the age of 83, they having been married 48 years.

Clarissa Pugsley Barlow, "Pioneer Mother and Father"


Photo of Shoreham, Vermont, from www.flickr.com/photos/redjar/113906872/. Photo of Salt Lake City showing the area where the Pugsleys lived to the right of the photo from www.flickr.com/photos/edgarzuniga/3681272162/.