Born 19 Apr. 1823 in Ashton, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania.[1] Daughter of Robert Pierce and Hannah Harvey.[2] Moved to Brandywine, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, 1832.[3] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Almon Babbitt, 5 Apr. 1840, in Brandywine.[4] Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Oct. 1841.[5] Married first Morris Whitesides, 23 July 1844, in Nauvoo; widowed 20 Feb. 1845.[6] Married second Brigham Young, 22 Jan. 1846, in Nauvoo; one child.[7] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the Jedediah M. Grant/Joseph B. Noble pioneer company, arriving 2 Oct. 1847.[8] Agent for the Woman’s Exponent in Salt Lake City, 1873–1874.[9] Supporter of the Utah Silk Association, 1881.[10] Officiated in the Salt Lake Temple, 1887, 1902.[11] Supported the women’s suffrage movement, 1904.[12] Frequent visitor and social companion of EBW, 1893–1904.[13] Served in the Kindergarten Association, 1896.[14] Contributor to the Genealogical Society, Deseret Hospital, and Relief Society.[15] Member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1904–1906; served as chaplain, 1904.[16] Died 16 Jan. 1907 in Salt Lake City.[17]
[1] “Sealings and Adoptions of the Living, 1846–1857; Index, 1846–1857,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo Temple, vol. A, 1846–1857, p. 557, lines 4054–4056, Morris Whitesides and Margaret Pierce, 22 Jan. 1846, microfilm 183374, DGS 526582 (restricted access), FHL. Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 1, MS 3801, CHL. Charles H. Stubbs, Historic-Genealogy of the Kirk Family (Lancaster, PA: Wylie and Griest, 1872), 164. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 6 Jan. 2020), Margaret Peirce (KWVQ-SSJ).
[2] Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 1, MS 3801, CHL. Charles H. Stubbs, Historic-Genealogy of the Kirk Family (Lancaster, PA: Wylie and Griest, 1872), 164.
[3] Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 2, MS 3801, CHL.
[4] Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 4, MS 3801, CHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 6 Jan. 2020), Margaret Peirce (KWVQ-SSJ).
[5] Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 7, MS 3801, CHL.
[6] Nauvoo, IL, Recorder, Marriage Record, Feb. 1842–Dec. 1845, p. 25, MS 3444, image 33/82, CHL. Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 7, MS 3801, CHL. Nauvoo, IL, Sexton, Cemetery Records, 1839–1845, Morris Whitesides, 20 Feb. 1845, MS 16142, image 30/145, CHL. Brigham Young, Journal, 27 July 1837–1 Apr. 1845, p. 94, CR 1234 1, box 71, folder 2, image 89/143, CHL.
[7] “Sealings and Adoptions of the Living, 1846–1857; Index, 1846–1857,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo Temple, vol. A, 1846–1857, p. 557, lines 4054–4056, Morris Whitesides and Margaret Pierce, 22 Jan. 1846, microfilm 183374, DGS 526582 (restricted access), FHL. Margaret P. Young, Autobiography, p. 13, MS 3801, CHL.
[8] “Margaret Young,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 9 Jan. 2020). Margaret Pierce Young, Journal Excerpts, ca. 1903, pp. 3–4, MS 5716, CHL.
[9] “Agents and Correspondents,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1873, 84. “Agents,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Feb. 1874, 144.
[10] Utah Silk Association, Stock Certificate, 11 Apr. 1881, p. [1], MS 15720, CHL. Margaret Pierce Young, Journal Excerpts, ca. 1903, p. 6, MS 5716, CHL.
[11] EBW, Diary, 30 Nov. 1887; 5 Jan. 1902. Lorenzo Snow to Margaret P. Young, p. [5], MS 23380, CHL.
[12] “One of the Pioneers,” Young Woman’s Journal, Apr. 1904, 166.
[13] EBW, Diary, 29 Aug. 1893; 21 Oct. 1897; 31 Jan. 1898; 13 Oct. 1899; 31 Jan. 1900; 24 Feb. 1900; 31 Jan. 1901; 19 Apr. 1904. “A Double Birthday Celebration,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Feb. 1901, 84.
[14] EBW, Diary, 12 June 1896.
[15] Margaret Pierce Young, Journal Excerpts, ca. 1903, p. 6, MS 5716, CHL.
[16] “Daughters of the Pioneers,” Woman’s Exponent, Apr. 1904, [4]. “Daughters of Utah Pioneers,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 23 June 1906, 2. Margaret Pierce Young, Journal Excerpts, ca. 1903, pp. 3–4, MS 5716, CHL.
[17] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 1 Jan. 2020); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 91/520 (1907), Margaret Peirce Young.