.
THOMAS SLOAN MACKAY
Thomas was born on 23 July 1810 in Lisbane, Down, Northern Ireland. As a young ma
n he assisted his father in carpentry work and farming their small plot of land. Because they did not have enough land to support their children as they grew older and married (since John, Thomas’ father was a younger son), Thomas left Ireland at age nineteen and travele
d to Isle of Man for work. He settled in the Kirk German area; and, when his father died in 1832, made the choice not to return to Ireland. Soon after he met Elinor Cowley Rogers and her family and started courting Ann, the eldest daughter, who was ten years older than him. Thomas and Ann were married 30 April 1833 in Kirk German, Isle of Man. Ann’s father was in Ireland at the time, and Ellinor, the only living daughter of Thomas Cowley, was working with her brothers on her father’s land to support her children.
Thomas, Ann, and Ellinor heard Elder John Taylor, who had just been ord
ained an apostle, preach in Kirk German. Elder Taylor had come from the United States to his native country, England, as a missionary. While visiting the Isle of Man, his wife’s birthplace, he preached in Kirk German. They were all baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840. The other members of Ann’s family did not join at that time. Tom was so thrilled with this new religion that he decided to make a trip back to Ireland to carry the message to them. Upon his arrival he found his mother living elsewhere and his brothers unwilling to listen. His young sister Nancy, however, agreed to return to live with him. Ellinor Cowley Rogers, Ann’s mother, sold her land so that this family could immigrate to Nauvoo, the City Beautiful, built on the Mississippi River.
On November 8, 1841, Tom, Ann, Margaret Ellen, John, Annie, Charles, and Ellinor sailed from Liverpool, England, in the vessel “Chaos” for America with Peter Melling, Captain. After nine weeks of sailing they reached New Orleans in late winter. Three-year-old Charles died in New Orleans. Thomas worked in the wharves and saved money to take them to Nauvoo in the late summer of 1842. While in Nauvoo, Thomas worked as a
carpenter and mason on the Nauvoo Temple and was privileged to attend the “School of the Prophets.” Thomas became interested in the study of the composition of wood. He learned the various grains of wood and how to handle them. His specialty was spinning wheels and component parts for wagon wheels. He also made yokes for oxen, staves for barrels, and many other such items. During the winter of 1845-46 he assisted with construction of several thousand wagons that later carried the exiled Mormons on their journey to Winter Quarters in Nebraska. Father Mackay was present at the meeting when Brigham Young was sustained president of the Latter Day Saints church. He took great delight in saying that when Brigham Young stood up to address the meeting the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith coming from Brigham Young's mouth.
In the sum
mer of 1847 the Mackay family traveled in the second company of Mormon Saints 1200 miles by ox team from Winter Quarters, Nebraska to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 29, 1847, two months after Brigham Young and the first group of Mormons had arrived in the valley. They built houses of logs and adobe in lean-to shape with the highest walls on the outside and the roofs sloping towards the interior of the fort in Pioneer Square.
In the spring of 1848, they moved out of the fort and farmed land to the southeast in what was later called Forest Dale. Their very f
ine crop was destroyed by the “Mormon crickets,” and they managed to live on two ounces of flour a day for weeks with whatever wild roots they could find. They cooked raw hides of animals to sustain life. January 9, 1849, Thomas Mackay, John Bennion, Samuel Bennion, Thomas Turbett, William Blackhurst, William Farrer, John Robinson, and James Taylor moved across the Jordan River on the ice and located at about 33rd South and 16th West near Joseph Harker who had preceded them. They made dugouts near the river on land that was later known as Little’s farm. The little group tried to farm but it was too difficult to get the water from the river onto the land, so they moved about a mile farther south. Thomas built a two-room log house by the river near some springs for his family which consisted of his wife, his wife’s mother, Ellinor Rodgers, his son John and daughter Annie. Tom and John Mackay assisted in building the first canal dug in that part of the valley. This was the beginning of the irrigation system which gradually became known as the North Jordan Canal Company. In January 1852 all the families west of the River were organized as the West Jordan Ward, with John Robinson as Bishop, Joseph Harker and Reese Williams as counselors, with 361 members.
There were many Indians around that part of the country. The Indians would beg and steal and sometimes became hostile and destructive. As a protection for the women who were often alone, the west of Jordan
settlers started to build a fort on the land north of the present Taylorsville Cemetery, later known as English Fort. Apostle John Taylor, who had recently returned from a mission abroad, built a home in the fort, and David O. Calder, who had just emigrated to Utah, also moved in with his family. Taylorsville was later named for John Taylor. During the winter of 1853-4 all of the men were out in the Oquirrh Mountains fighting Indians. They had been instructed to kill all the male Indians. During the Walker Indian War, Thomas Mackay while on guard in the mountains came upon a lone Indian boy hiding in the bushes. He thought it was an old Indian and raised his gun to shoot. The boy leaped into the open,
and when he saw that it was a child, he lowered his gun. He took the boy home and raised him to manhood. They named him Laman. As he grew up he was a source of much trouble for Thomas. He was quarrelsome and fought the neighbor’s boys. When he grew to manhood, Thomas sent him into Salt Lake to work. He was a good worker, but continued to get into trouble at times. He worked around Salt Lake until he was middle-aged; then he went north, and the family never heard from him again.
After coming to Utah, Thomas was advised that he would never prosper until he married a second wife. On June 26, 1853, he married Charlotte James in the Endowment House, and she went to live in part of Ann’s home.
CHARLOTTE JAMES MACKAY
.
After the death of her mother and grandfather in Kanesville, Ohio, Charlotte was befriended by some of the group and came on to Salt Lake City with them. Her
Uncle David went on to California with a private company and was never heard from again. When Charlotte reached Salt Lake, she went to live with the Feremorz Little family over Jordan River as a maid in their home. She learned to do the dairy work. She was an expert butter maker and had charge of all the dairy products that went to the market. Thomas Mackay met her when visiting at the Little home. Charlotte and Thomas were married 26 July 1853 in the Endowment House. Charlotte went to live in the same home with Ann, Thomas’ first wife.
Four years later Thomas married a third wife, Sarah Franks. At that time Thomas built another room on the home, and Ann lived in the one room by herself, and Charlotte and Sarah lived together. When the family grew, Thomas built a new little home on the same lot for Ann. The housework was divided so as not to conflict. The wives assumed the responsibility of the work they were most capable of doing. Charlotte who had been trained in dairying took charge of the dairy work and poultry. The older children assisted with the milking. Eggs had to be packed, and a large quantity of butter had to be made for market on Saturdays. Churning was done twice a week. The milk and eggs were kept in the milk-house, which was a dirt cellar with rocked-up walls. There were cupboards and shelves
built for the milk. Milk was strained into large pans and stacked pan upon pan with slats of shingles in between. The pans and shelves were covered with mosquito netting. Every day the rich cream was skimmed off the milk into a large crock churn. The cellar being under ground was cool and kept the milk and cream fresh. The family had plenty of rich cream and milk to drink. The skimmed milk was fed to the pigs and chicken and calves. Butter making in those days was an art. Every woman who made butter to sell prided herself on her reputation for making A-1 butter. Charlotte was known as a very fine butter maker. Churning was done with dasher churn. The lot to do the churning fell to the children. It was a long drawn-out process at times. Their arms would grow tired, and they would have to “spell” each other off. On churning day fresh buttermilk was taken by the children to the neighbors who did not have cows. Nothing in the way of food was ever wasted.
The other problems such as clothing, bedding, canning, washing, and soap making, the women worked out together. Clothing and dressmaking was done in th
e home by the women and girls. Dresses and coats had to be made over and cut down for the smaller children, and much of it had to be done by hand. Even the underwear and laces were made by hand. The boys’ clothing had to be made also. There were stockings and mittens and scarfs to be knitted. When one of the women sat down to rest a few minutes, she picked up her knitting. There were no idle moments. Baby’s formula was also a problem. Many of the women who worked hard did not have nourishment for their babies, and it became necessary for nursing mothers in the neighborhood to share with them. In the Mackay home Sarah provided the milk for Charlotte’s children. When she could not spare enough, Mrs. Williams, the neighbor on the south, came to her assistance. The older girls in the family carried the babies back and forth for their feedings. *During the fruit season everybody helped. The children picked the fruit while the women and older girls prepared it for drying and bottling. Much of the vegetables and fruit was dried. Other fruits were bottled, pickled, preserved, and jellied, until the bottles and shelves were filled.
After Thomas’ death and the estate was settled, Charlotte and Sarah lived in the home together for awhile. Then a new red brick home of six rooms was built on the north half of the land for Charlotte, about a block north of the other home which was given to Sarah. Charlotte’s patriarchal blessing says she is of the House of Israel through the blood of Ephraim. As the Psalmist said, “All Israel should hear and know the joyful sound,” and she had heard and knew the joyful sound and was entitled to its blessings. She had entered into the celestial covenants with her husband, and she was blessed with a life that was useful and which brought her many blessings.
When Charlotte was about 65 years of age she became terribly crippled with rheumatism and arthritis, and suffered much in her later life. She finally contracted lung trouble and died at the age of 71. She passed away 7 May 1901 in Taylorsville in the house formerly owned by J.Rex Mackay. Although Charlotte worked hard, she was very happy in her married life. She loved and respected her husband and was kind and lenient with her children. She had been reared in a strict home where children had few privileges and asked few questions. After her death her home was torn down, and the land eventually came into the hands of Joshua Mackay.
In the year 1857, four years after marrying Charlotte, Thomas married a third wife, Sarah F
ranks.He built a new little home for Ann of two rooms with a front porch and a board fence around. She had two cows of her own and made her butter to take to market on Saturdays. Ann was 30 years older than Charlotte and 32 years older than Sarah. She was very motherly and kind to Charlotte and Sarah and their children. They always called her “Mamma.” Charlotte and Sarah lived in the old home. Each had an apartment, but they all ate together in the large kitchen. The only floor coverings were small braided rugs and rag rugs made by the women. The floors in the bedrooms and kitchen were scrubbed almost daily like the tables. The home was kept clean and orderly, for Thomas Mackay was an orderly man. There was a large hard dirt door yard that was swept up every day like a floor. The door steps were always scrubbed and clean. He used to say to his family, “Show me a man’s back door steps and I can tell you who lives in the house.” About 1872 Thomas built a large seven-room adobe home for Charlotte and Sarah at the west end of the farm on what is now known as Redwood Road. He made all the adobe bricks himself. There were four large rooms and a pantry downstairs and two large bedrooms upstairs in the attic, each with several beds built into the walls. One room was for boys and one for girls. There was a very large parlor with a grate and mantle in it. The mantle was covered with glass and silver slippers, china dogs, figurines, etc. The parlor table was covered with a fine tapestry cloth that hung almost to the floor. A large beautiful Bible adorned the table and in the center was an elaborate glass-covered basket of wax fruits made by the young ladies. The large kitchen was used as a dining room and had a stairway leading to the attic. The parlor and bedrooms were carpeted. A clean layer of new straw was spread on the floor under the carpets, making the floors warm and soundless. There was a long colonial style front porch with board floor extending the length of the house. There were easy rocking chairs with cushions both on the porch and in the house. Coal-oil lamps were used in this home. They were small oval glass lamps with a base and chimney.
Thomas Mackay was a devout man. He had family prayer night and morning in his home. He was faithful and sought counsel from those in authority. In 1868 he again became a member of the “School of the Prophets” which had been reorganized. He was very devoted to his family. There was no partiality shown to his wives or children. Tom
was a large man of athletic build and athletic mind. He liked out-of-door sports. In his young life he liked to wrestle, jump, and run foot races. He told of having matched his ability in jumping and wrestling with that of the Prophet Joseph Smith while they lived in Nauvoo. Tom had golden red hair and a dark auburn bear. His eyes were a greenish blue or grey. He had a firm set mouth that showed great determination. He was very industrious and energetic. He never wasted time. In the early morning of February 19, 1880, Tom awakened his wife Sarah and told her he was very cold. She got up, put more covers on him and tucked their little girl Clara at his back, built up the fire and gave him a warm drink. He seemed to be comfortable and went to sleep. She went back to bed. When morning came she waited for him to awake. When he did not rouse, she found he had died in his sleep.
Much of the information and pictures were taken from a compilation by Jeanne Jensen and Joyce Parsons on mackayfamilyonline.com. A small portion was taken from Clara M. Wallace history. Pictures of Thomas Mackay, Ann Cowley, Charlotte James, Sarah Franks, John Taylor, Lisbane Ireland are ligitimate all others are for purpose of illustration.
THOMAS SLOAN MACKAY
Thomas was born on 23 July 1810 in Lisbane, Down, Northern Ireland. As a young ma
n he assisted his father in carpentry work and farming their small plot of land. Because they did not have enough land to support their children as they grew older and married (since John, Thomas’ father was a younger son), Thomas left Ireland at age nineteen and travele
d to Isle of Man for work. He settled in the Kirk German area; and, when his father died in 1832, made the choice not to return to Ireland. Soon after he met Elinor Cowley Rogers and her family and started courting Ann, the eldest daughter, who was ten years older than him. Thomas and Ann were married 30 April 1833 in Kirk German, Isle of Man. Ann’s father was in Ireland at the time, and Ellinor, the only living daughter of Thomas Cowley, was working with her brothers on her father’s land to support her children.Thomas, Ann, and Ellinor heard Elder John Taylor, who had just been ord
ained an apostle, preach in Kirk German. Elder Taylor had come from the United States to his native country, England, as a missionary. While visiting the Isle of Man, his wife’s birthplace, he preached in Kirk German. They were all baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840. The other members of Ann’s family did not join at that time. Tom was so thrilled with this new religion that he decided to make a trip back to Ireland to carry the message to them. Upon his arrival he found his mother living elsewhere and his brothers unwilling to listen. His young sister Nancy, however, agreed to return to live with him. Ellinor Cowley Rogers, Ann’s mother, sold her land so that this family could immigrate to Nauvoo, the City Beautiful, built on the Mississippi River.On November 8, 1841, Tom, Ann, Margaret Ellen, John, Annie, Charles, and Ellinor sailed from Liverpool, England, in the vessel “Chaos” for America with Peter Melling, Captain. After nine weeks of sailing they reached New Orleans in late winter. Three-year-old Charles died in New Orleans. Thomas worked in the wharves and saved money to take them to Nauvoo in the late summer of 1842. While in Nauvoo, Thomas worked as a
carpenter and mason on the Nauvoo Temple and was privileged to attend the “School of the Prophets.” Thomas became interested in the study of the composition of wood. He learned the various grains of wood and how to handle them. His specialty was spinning wheels and component parts for wagon wheels. He also made yokes for oxen, staves for barrels, and many other such items. During the winter of 1845-46 he assisted with construction of several thousand wagons that later carried the exiled Mormons on their journey to Winter Quarters in Nebraska. Father Mackay was present at the meeting when Brigham Young was sustained president of the Latter Day Saints church. He took great delight in saying that when Brigham Young stood up to address the meeting the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith coming from Brigham Young's mouth.In the sum
mer of 1847 the Mackay family traveled in the second company of Mormon Saints 1200 miles by ox team from Winter Quarters, Nebraska to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 29, 1847, two months after Brigham Young and the first group of Mormons had arrived in the valley. They built houses of logs and adobe in lean-to shape with the highest walls on the outside and the roofs sloping towards the interior of the fort in Pioneer Square.In the spring of 1848, they moved out of the fort and farmed land to the southeast in what was later called Forest Dale. Their very f
ine crop was destroyed by the “Mormon crickets,” and they managed to live on two ounces of flour a day for weeks with whatever wild roots they could find. They cooked raw hides of animals to sustain life. January 9, 1849, Thomas Mackay, John Bennion, Samuel Bennion, Thomas Turbett, William Blackhurst, William Farrer, John Robinson, and James Taylor moved across the Jordan River on the ice and located at about 33rd South and 16th West near Joseph Harker who had preceded them. They made dugouts near the river on land that was later known as Little’s farm. The little group tried to farm but it was too difficult to get the water from the river onto the land, so they moved about a mile farther south. Thomas built a two-room log house by the river near some springs for his family which consisted of his wife, his wife’s mother, Ellinor Rodgers, his son John and daughter Annie. Tom and John Mackay assisted in building the first canal dug in that part of the valley. This was the beginning of the irrigation system which gradually became known as the North Jordan Canal Company. In January 1852 all the families west of the River were organized as the West Jordan Ward, with John Robinson as Bishop, Joseph Harker and Reese Williams as counselors, with 361 members.There were many Indians around that part of the country. The Indians would beg and steal and sometimes became hostile and destructive. As a protection for the women who were often alone, the west of Jordan
settlers started to build a fort on the land north of the present Taylorsville Cemetery, later known as English Fort. Apostle John Taylor, who had recently returned from a mission abroad, built a home in the fort, and David O. Calder, who had just emigrated to Utah, also moved in with his family. Taylorsville was later named for John Taylor. During the winter of 1853-4 all of the men were out in the Oquirrh Mountains fighting Indians. They had been instructed to kill all the male Indians. During the Walker Indian War, Thomas Mackay while on guard in the mountains came upon a lone Indian boy hiding in the bushes. He thought it was an old Indian and raised his gun to shoot. The boy leaped into the open,
and when he saw that it was a child, he lowered his gun. He took the boy home and raised him to manhood. They named him Laman. As he grew up he was a source of much trouble for Thomas. He was quarrelsome and fought the neighbor’s boys. When he grew to manhood, Thomas sent him into Salt Lake to work. He was a good worker, but continued to get into trouble at times. He worked around Salt Lake until he was middle-aged; then he went north, and the family never heard from him again.After coming to Utah, Thomas was advised that he would never prosper until he married a second wife. On June 26, 1853, he married Charlotte James in the Endowment House, and she went to live in part of Ann’s home.
CHARLOTTE JAMES MACKAY.
Charlotte was a small, timid woman 23 years of age and an orphan when she married Thomas on June 26, 1853 in the Endowment House. She was born in Llangerdyrne, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, in July, 1830, a daughter of Mary James and probably David James [possibly Mary’s uncle - since he is the only David shown in Llangerdeyrne]. Charlotte lived with her grandparents, Evan (John - interchangeable in Welsh) and Sarah James. Charlotte remembered her Grandmother Sarah’s death when she was eleven years old. Her family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Wales and came to America in 1849 in a Dan Jones Company.
After the death of her mother and grandfather in Kanesville, Ohio, Charlotte was befriended by some of the group and came on to Salt Lake City with them. Her
Uncle David went on to California with a private company and was never heard from again. When Charlotte reached Salt Lake, she went to live with the Feremorz Little family over Jordan River as a maid in their home. She learned to do the dairy work. She was an expert butter maker and had charge of all the dairy products that went to the market. Thomas Mackay met her when visiting at the Little home. Charlotte and Thomas were married 26 July 1853 in the Endowment House. Charlotte went to live in the same home with Ann, Thomas’ first wife.Four years later Thomas married a third wife, Sarah Franks. At that time Thomas built another room on the home, and Ann lived in the one room by herself, and Charlotte and Sarah lived together. When the family grew, Thomas built a new little home on the same lot for Ann. The housework was divided so as not to conflict. The wives assumed the responsibility of the work they were most capable of doing. Charlotte who had been trained in dairying took charge of the dairy work and poultry. The older children assisted with the milking. Eggs had to be packed, and a large quantity of butter had to be made for market on Saturdays. Churning was done twice a week. The milk and eggs were kept in the milk-house, which was a dirt cellar with rocked-up walls. There were cupboards and shelves
built for the milk. Milk was strained into large pans and stacked pan upon pan with slats of shingles in between. The pans and shelves were covered with mosquito netting. Every day the rich cream was skimmed off the milk into a large crock churn. The cellar being under ground was cool and kept the milk and cream fresh. The family had plenty of rich cream and milk to drink. The skimmed milk was fed to the pigs and chicken and calves. Butter making in those days was an art. Every woman who made butter to sell prided herself on her reputation for making A-1 butter. Charlotte was known as a very fine butter maker. Churning was done with dasher churn. The lot to do the churning fell to the children. It was a long drawn-out process at times. Their arms would grow tired, and they would have to “spell” each other off. On churning day fresh buttermilk was taken by the children to the neighbors who did not have cows. Nothing in the way of food was ever wasted.The other problems such as clothing, bedding, canning, washing, and soap making, the women worked out together. Clothing and dressmaking was done in th
e home by the women and girls. Dresses and coats had to be made over and cut down for the smaller children, and much of it had to be done by hand. Even the underwear and laces were made by hand. The boys’ clothing had to be made also. There were stockings and mittens and scarfs to be knitted. When one of the women sat down to rest a few minutes, she picked up her knitting. There were no idle moments. Baby’s formula was also a problem. Many of the women who worked hard did not have nourishment for their babies, and it became necessary for nursing mothers in the neighborhood to share with them. In the Mackay home Sarah provided the milk for Charlotte’s children. When she could not spare enough, Mrs. Williams, the neighbor on the south, came to her assistance. The older girls in the family carried the babies back and forth for their feedings. *During the fruit season everybody helped. The children picked the fruit while the women and older girls prepared it for drying and bottling. Much of the vegetables and fruit was dried. Other fruits were bottled, pickled, preserved, and jellied, until the bottles and shelves were filled.After Thomas’ death and the estate was settled, Charlotte and Sarah lived in the home together for awhile. Then a new red brick home of six rooms was built on the north half of the land for Charlotte, about a block north of the other home which was given to Sarah. Charlotte’s patriarchal blessing says she is of the House of Israel through the blood of Ephraim. As the Psalmist said, “All Israel should hear and know the joyful sound,” and she had heard and knew the joyful sound and was entitled to its blessings. She had entered into the celestial covenants with her husband, and she was blessed with a life that was useful and which brought her many blessings.
When Charlotte was about 65 years of age she became terribly crippled with rheumatism and arthritis, and suffered much in her later life. She finally contracted lung trouble and died at the age of 71. She passed away 7 May 1901 in Taylorsville in the house formerly owned by J.Rex Mackay. Although Charlotte worked hard, she was very happy in her married life. She loved and respected her husband and was kind and lenient with her children. She had been reared in a strict home where children had few privileges and asked few questions. After her death her home was torn down, and the land eventually came into the hands of Joshua Mackay.
In the year 1857, four years after marrying Charlotte, Thomas married a third wife, Sarah F
ranks.He built a new little home for Ann of two rooms with a front porch and a board fence around. She had two cows of her own and made her butter to take to market on Saturdays. Ann was 30 years older than Charlotte and 32 years older than Sarah. She was very motherly and kind to Charlotte and Sarah and their children. They always called her “Mamma.” Charlotte and Sarah lived in the old home. Each had an apartment, but they all ate together in the large kitchen. The only floor coverings were small braided rugs and rag rugs made by the women. The floors in the bedrooms and kitchen were scrubbed almost daily like the tables. The home was kept clean and orderly, for Thomas Mackay was an orderly man. There was a large hard dirt door yard that was swept up every day like a floor. The door steps were always scrubbed and clean. He used to say to his family, “Show me a man’s back door steps and I can tell you who lives in the house.” About 1872 Thomas built a large seven-room adobe home for Charlotte and Sarah at the west end of the farm on what is now known as Redwood Road. He made all the adobe bricks himself. There were four large rooms and a pantry downstairs and two large bedrooms upstairs in the attic, each with several beds built into the walls. One room was for boys and one for girls. There was a very large parlor with a grate and mantle in it. The mantle was covered with glass and silver slippers, china dogs, figurines, etc. The parlor table was covered with a fine tapestry cloth that hung almost to the floor. A large beautiful Bible adorned the table and in the center was an elaborate glass-covered basket of wax fruits made by the young ladies. The large kitchen was used as a dining room and had a stairway leading to the attic. The parlor and bedrooms were carpeted. A clean layer of new straw was spread on the floor under the carpets, making the floors warm and soundless. There was a long colonial style front porch with board floor extending the length of the house. There were easy rocking chairs with cushions both on the porch and in the house. Coal-oil lamps were used in this home. They were small oval glass lamps with a base and chimney.Thomas Mackay was a devout man. He had family prayer night and morning in his home. He was faithful and sought counsel from those in authority. In 1868 he again became a member of the “School of the Prophets” which had been reorganized. He was very devoted to his family. There was no partiality shown to his wives or children. Tom
was a large man of athletic build and athletic mind. He liked out-of-door sports. In his young life he liked to wrestle, jump, and run foot races. He told of having matched his ability in jumping and wrestling with that of the Prophet Joseph Smith while they lived in Nauvoo. Tom had golden red hair and a dark auburn bear. His eyes were a greenish blue or grey. He had a firm set mouth that showed great determination. He was very industrious and energetic. He never wasted time. In the early morning of February 19, 1880, Tom awakened his wife Sarah and told her he was very cold. She got up, put more covers on him and tucked their little girl Clara at his back, built up the fire and gave him a warm drink. He seemed to be comfortable and went to sleep. She went back to bed. When morning came she waited for him to awake. When he did not rouse, she found he had died in his sleep.Much of the information and pictures were taken from a compilation by Jeanne Jensen and Joyce Parsons on mackayfamilyonline.com. A small portion was taken from Clara M. Wallace history. Pictures of Thomas Mackay, Ann Cowley, Charlotte James, Sarah Franks, John Taylor, Lisbane Ireland are ligitimate all others are for purpose of illustration.
