John's father was a weaver by trade and most likely John started in the weaving trade himself as a young boy. John's family had lived in Renfrew for at least five generations. Robert and Mary had six children: John, Thomas, Alexander, Elizabeth, Charles and Robert.

Primrose Cunningham was born on August 17, 1805 at Tradeston, Gorbals Parish, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the daughter of Archibald and Ann Primrose Cunningham. They carried the surname "Primrose" as a given name through the generations to their children and grandchildren. Archibald and Ann were the parents of eight children: Catherine, Archibald, Primrose, Thomas, Margaret, William, Jeanie and Ann.

John and Primrose were people of strength and conviction; musical, artistic and hard workers. John was a weaver by trade. He owned and played many instruments,including the bagpipes, trumpet, violin and mandolin. He was known for his excellent handwriting and his love of books. He was one of the first librarians in Tooele and was on the Library Board.

John was small in stature, weighing only ninety pounds when well. He was ambitious and had a lot of energy. He also had a violent temper which got out of hand once in a while, but he worked hard to keep his temper in check. He lived a life of service to his family, church and in public affairs.

We don't read as much of Primrose, but we do know that she was a singer and dancer. She performed the traditional highland dances which is no small feat. We know from Primrose's life that she had many of the same qualities as John. She lived in the tenements of Glasgow with five children while John was on a two-year mission to Ireland. Primrose was a very spiritual woman. In Glasgow the MacPherson children came to Primrose for comfort when their own mother wasn't available which tells us she was kind and compassionate. She buried three children and had her share of sorrow.

John and Primrose were married in Renfrew on August 3, 1827. Their children were all born in Renfrew during the period 1827 to 1844. Eight children were born to this union, but only five survived to adulthood.

John accumulated some of the comforts of life including a nice home in Renfrew and a variety of musical instruments which he and his children played.

John was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1841. He was a devoted member of his church. He was ordained an Elder at Renfrew in January 1842 and presided over the Branch at Renfrew. At the Glasgow Conference in 1842, John Shields represented the Renfrew Branch which included sixteen members. John served a mission to Ireland from 1845 to 1847.

John's wife and children also joined the Latter-day Saint church. They were much enthused over the new religion and exercised every effort to prepare to migrate to its headquarters in America. The older children were able to work and help. On July 7, 1844, John Shields and his family were accepted by letter into the Glasgow Branch from Renfrew.

The 1840's was a time of depression in Glasgow. Many weavers who were being put out of work by the Industrial Revolution moved to Glasgow to find work. Perhaps John was one of these weavers. Glasgow at this time was described as "an accumulated mass of squalid wretchedness, which is probably unequaled in any other town". From the appalling housing conditions sprang most of the social evils: improvidence, malnutrition, vagrancy, delinquency, intemperance and disease. Cheap raw whisky was the usual standby of the working class. Typhus fever was a constant and deadly victor. The ravages of cholera struck in 1848 and 1849.

The Shields family lived in a Glasgow tenement building. The widow MacPherson lived across the hall. Isabel MacPherson, the daughter, became a close friend of Mary Shields and they shared their love for the gospel. Isabell's mother worked in the factories and left her daughter to care for her little brother. Primrose Shields watched over the two young children when she was needed.