LDS Witness
Testimonies (Why I Believe)

Mary Ann Weston Maughan — Divine Protection of a Grave

Published October 29, 2026 at 11:38 PM

1850s · 1850
Mormon Trail, USA
Mary Ann Weston Maughan·Peter Maughan·Peter Weston Maughan

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In 1850, while traveling across the plains, Mary Ann Weston Maughan and her husband Peter Maughan lost their young son, Peter Weston Maughan. They were forced to bury him in a dry-goods box along the trail. After placing the body in the ground, they offered prayers that the grave would be protected from wolves. They later recorded that this was all they could do before turning away in sorrow to continue their journey toward Zion.

In Their Own Words

“Some one had made a nice headboard, with his name printed on, also his age and date of death. This was all we could do, and many prayers were offered to our heavenly Father, that he might rest in peace and not be disturbed by wolves. We turned away in sorrow and grief. A few days after, we heard that his grave had not been touched, but another little one made beside it, and afterwards some more were buried by them. This was a great satisfaction to us, to know that he remained as we left him. Our dear one's name was Peter Weston Maughan, born in New Diggings, Wisconsin Territory, May 20th, 1847.”

— Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Journal of Mary Ann Weston Maughan

Sources & References

Under Covenant Toward the Promised Land | Tessa Santiago | BYU Speeches (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/tessa-meyer-santiago/covenant-toward-promised-land); Journal of Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Our Pioneer Heritage, vol. 2, p. 377 (research confidence: high) Full first-person account: Pioneer 1848-1868 Companies - Heritage Gateways https://heritage.uen.org/companies/Wce67bfb3c9aa4.shtml

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Filed under

Testimonies (Why I Believe)1850sUSA

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More accounts involving Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Peter Maughan, Peter Weston Maughan, plus similar miracle types and stories from the 1850s.

Mary Ann Weston Maughan — Rebuking the Storm at Sea(1841)
Peter Maughan — witness in Peter Maughan's Supernatural Protection from an Indian Chief's AmbushPeter Maughan's Supernatural Protection from an Indian Chief's Ambush(1856)
Peter Maughan, Bear Hunter — witness in Mr. Maughan's Miraculous Preservation from an Indian's Poisoned ArrowMr. Maughan's Miraculous Preservation from an Indian's Poisoned Arrow(1859)
Survival of Lewis Halversen in a snow-slide in Black Fork Canon(1871)
Hernando Cortez's Discovery of Aztec Temples(1519)
Gunn McKay, David O. McKay — witness in Gunn McKay — Inspired Decision to Close Business on SundayGunn McKay — Inspired Decision to Close Business on Sunday(1960s)

Questions about this account

Who was involved in this account?
The account involves Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Peter Maughan, Peter Weston Maughan. Each person named here also has a witness page collecting the other accounts involving them.
When did this account take place?
The account is set in 1850, in the 1850s.
Where did this account take place?
It took place in Mormon Trail, USA.
What kind of miracle is this?
It is filed as a Testimonies (Why I Believe) account reported in USA.
Where does this account come from?
Under Covenant Toward the Promised Land | Tessa Santiago | BYU Speeches ( Journal of Mary Ann Weston Maughan, Our Pioneer Heritage, vol. The full source citation appears in the Sources section below, with links to the original where available.

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