*VICTIM OF THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE*
William Prewit was the second son of David Prewit and Sarah "Sadie" Downs, born 26 July 1839 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Prewits, and their nine children, migrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in the late 1840's, and settled in Marion County. Headed to California, William Prewit, and his brother John, departed from Sugar Loaf Township, Marion County, Arkansas with "The Mitchell Train" in April, 1857. The Mitchell Train was comprised of the family of Charles Roark Mitchell, and his brother Joel Dyer Mitchell, who were taking approximately 74 to 100 head of cattle to California to start a cattle ranch. The Prewit brothers probably worked as a drovers, or hired hands, on the trip and may have planned to work for the Mitchells when they reached their destination in California. Another possible drover with the Mitchell Train was Lawson A. McEntire, whose family, like the Prewits, had come from Rutherford County, North Carolina and settled in Marion County, Arkansas. (Lawson McEntire's sister Rachel Dulcina McEntire, was married to George Francis Elam. George Francis Elam's father, William Thomas Elam's, second wife was Sarah Prewit, the sister of John and William Prewit.)
During their journey west, the Mitchell Train traveled in conjunction with "The Dunlap Train", who were relatives of the Mitchell brothers, and were also from Sugar Loaf Township. William Prewit was single, and 18 years old, when he died in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. His older brother, John Prewit, also died in the Massacre.
© 2008 Mountain Meadows Association. All rights reserved
*VICTIM OF THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE*
William Prewit was the second son of David Prewit and Sarah "Sadie" Downs, born 26 July 1839 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Prewits, and their nine children, migrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in the late 1840's, and settled in Marion County. Headed to California, William Prewit, and his brother John, departed from Sugar Loaf Township, Marion County, Arkansas with "The Mitchell Train" in April, 1857. The Mitchell Train was comprised of the family of Charles Roark Mitchell, and his brother Joel Dyer Mitchell, who were taking approximately 74 to 100 head of cattle to California to start a cattle ranch. The Prewit brothers probably worked as a drovers, or hired hands, on the trip and may have planned to work for the Mitchells when they reached their destination in California. Another possible drover with the Mitchell Train was Lawson A. McEntire, whose family, like the Prewits, had come from Rutherford County, North Carolina and settled in Marion County, Arkansas. (Lawson McEntire's sister Rachel Dulcina McEntire, was married to George Francis Elam. George Francis Elam's father, William Thomas Elam's, second wife was Sarah Prewit, the sister of John and William Prewit.)
During their journey west, the Mitchell Train traveled in conjunction with "The Dunlap Train", who were relatives of the Mitchell brothers, and were also from Sugar Loaf Township. William Prewit was single, and 18 years old, when he died in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. His older brother, John Prewit, also died in the Massacre.
© 2008 Mountain Meadows Association. All rights reserved
Bio by: Mountain Meadows Association
Inscription
IN MEMORIAM
IN THE VALLEY BELOW BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 7 AND 11, 1857, A COMPANY OF MORE THAN 120 ARKANSAS EMIGRANTS LED BY CAPT. JOHN T. BAKER AND CAPT. ALEXANDER FANCHER WAS ATTACKED WHILE EN ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. THIS EVENT IS KNOWN IN HISTORY AS THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE
WILLIAM PREWIT, 18
*Please note that the names of the victims of the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre that appear here are those who we have personally researched and verified as actual victims. In some cases this list will differ from the names that were inscribed on the 1990 Monument on Dan Sill Hill.
Family Members
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David Prewit
1808–1863
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Sarah Downs Prewit
1803–1860
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Elizabeth Prewit Wright
1830–1891
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Barbara Prewit Wright
1833–1887
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Leucinda Charlotte Prewit Keeling
1835–1882
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John Prewit
1837–1857
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David Prewit
1841–1900
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Elijah Prewit
1846–1902
Flowers
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