Brigham young biography wives of donald

List of Brigham Young's wives

No.Marriage date and Young's age at marriage Portrait Name, lifespan, and age at marriage Wife's status at marriage Type of union Children Notes 1 October 8, 1824(1824-10-08) (aged 23)
Miriam Angeline Works (1806–1832), aged 18 at marriage First marriage Civil, sealed for eternity (posthumous) 2 with Young Died in September 1832 from consumption, just a few months after she and Young were baptized.2 February 1834(1834-02-00) (aged 32)
Mary Ann Angell (1803–1882), aged 30 at marriage First marriage Civil, sealed for time and eternity 6 with Young This was not a plural marriage, as Young was a widower at the time. Mother of Brigham Young Jr., John Willard Young and Joseph Angell Young.3 June 14, 1842(1842-06-14) (aged 41)
Lucy Ann Decker (1822–1890), aged 20 at marriage Abandoned by non-Mormon husband William Seeley, whom she had married at the age of fourteen Sealed for time and eternity 7 with Young, 3 with Seeley First plural wife of Brigham Young. She and Young had seven children, in addition to her three from her previous marriage.4 November 2, 1843(1843-11-02) (aged 42)
Augusta Adams (1802–1886), aged 40 at marriage Married to non-Mormon Henry Cobb (divorced in 1847). Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 8 with Cobb Left Boston with Young in September 1843, leaving behind her husband and most of her children. Young later married her son James Cobb's ex-wife, Mary Van Cott Cobb (m. 1868). Grandmother of architect Henry Ives Cobb. 5 November 2, 1843(1843-11-02) (aged 42)
Harriet Elizabeth Cook (1824–1898), aged 19 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young Initially stayed behind in Nauvoo with her and Young's infant son, before joining him at Winter Quarters in 1847.6 May 8, 1844(1844-05-08) (aged 42)
Clarissa Caroline Decker (1828–1889), aged 15 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 5 with Young Sister of Lucy Ann Decker (m. 1842). One of three women to be part of the first pioneer company traveling to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. She adopted Sally, a young Bannock girl who had been captured and sold to Charles Decker by a slave trader.7 September 1844 (aged 43)
Emily Dow Partridge (1824–1899),[31] aged 20 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph SmithSealed for time 7 with Young Daughter of Edward Partridge. Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and Young for life. Mother of Don Carlos Young.8 September 10, 1844(1844-09-10) (aged 43)
Clarissa Ross (1814–1857), aged 30 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 4 with Young Stepdaughter of Isaac Chase, a good friend of Young. Mother of Maria Young Dougall and Willard Young. 9 September 19, 1844(1844-09-19) (aged 43)
Louisa Beaman (1815–1850),[35] aged 29 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time 5 with Young Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and to Young for life.10 October 3, 1844(1844-10-03) (aged 43)
Eliza R. Snow (1804–1887),[36] aged 40 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time None Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and to Young for life. The sister of Lorenzo Snow, the fifth president of the LDS Church. Snow was a prominent figure in the church and the second general president of the Relief Society.[38]11 October 3, 1844(1844-10-03) (aged 43)
Elizabeth Fairchild (1828–1910), aged 16 at marriage[39]First marriage (later divorced) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 3 with later husbands Obtained an official certificate of divorce from Young in 1855 after two remarriages.12 October 8, 1844(1844-10-08) (aged 43) Clarissa Blake (1796–1863), aged 48 at marriage Widow of Edmund Morse; Married to Mormon husband Lyman Homiston at the time of her sealing to Young Sealed for time and eternity None Slighted by Young upon his departure from Nauvoo. Later traveled to Utah with her husband to reconcile with Young and was rebuffed.13 October 9, 1844(1844-10-09) (aged 43) Rebecca Greenleaf Holman (1824–1849), aged 20 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity None Died on the journey to the Salt Lake Valley and is buried in Council Bluffs, Iowa.14 October 10, 1844(1844-10-10) (aged 43) Diana Chase (1827–1886), aged 17 at marriage First marriage (later divorced) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 10 with Shaw Daughter of Ezra Chase. Married to William Shaw in 1849 following her divorce from Young.15 October 12, 1844 (aged 43) Maria Lawrence (1823-1847),[46] aged 20 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time None Many sources do not mention her as being one of Young's wives.[1][12] Married Almon W. Babbitt in 1846 in Nauvoo shortly before her death. 16 October 31, 1844(1844-10-31) (aged 43)
Susanne Snively (1815–1892), aged 29 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young (adopted) Lived for many years on Young's large Forest Farm on the outskirts of Salt Lake City.17 November 7, 1844(1844-11-07) (aged 43) Olive Grey Frost (1816–1845),[48] aged 28 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time None Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and Young for life. Died in childbirth a year after her marriage to Young.18 January 15, 1845(1845-01-15) (aged 43) Mary Ann Clark (1816–1881), aged 28 at marriage Married to William Powers Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 1 with Powers Divorced Young in June 1851.19 January 16, 1845(1845-01-16) (aged 43)
Margaret Pierce (1823–1907), aged 22 at marriage Widow of Morris Whitesides Sealed for time 1 with Young Sister of Mary Pierce (m. 1845). Sealed to Whitesides for eternity and Young for time. Originally had wished to be sealed to Young for eternity rather than to Whitesides, but Young protested, saying he did not wish to "rob the dead."20 January 16, 1845(1845-01-16) (aged 43) Mary Harvey Pierce (1821–1847), aged 25 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time None Sister of Margaret Pierce (m. 1845). Died of consumption at Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Along with Margaret, the daughter of Robert and Hannah Pierce, who were later ritually adopted by Young.21 April 30, 1845(1845-04-30) (aged 43)
Emmeline (Emeline) Free (1826–1875), aged 18 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 10 with Young (more than any other wife) Frequently accompanied Young to social gatherings, and was regarded by many as Young's favorite. Felt slighted by Young's later marriages and became addicted to morphine.22 May 22, 1845(1845-05-22) (aged 43)
Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner (1818–1913),[56] aged 26 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith and married to non-Mormon Adam Lightner Sealed for time None with Young, 10 with Lightner Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and to Young for time. As a child, she and her sister are credited with rescuing papers that would later make up the Doctrine and Covenants from a mob upon the burning of the printing press in Independence, Missouri.[58] Remained living with Lightner in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri until her death.23 January 14, 1846(1846-01-14) (aged 44)
Margaret Maria Alley (1825–1852), aged 20 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 2 with Young Traveled West with the Brigham Young company in 1848. Died shortly after giving birth to their second child. Grandmother of Mahonri Young, sculptor of the This Is the Place Monument and the Seagull Monument. 24 January 15, 1846(1846-01-15) (aged 44) Olive Andrews (1818–1879), aged 27 at marriage Posthumous plural wife of Joseph Smith Sealed for time None with Young, 7 with other husbands Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity (by proxy after his death) and to Young for time.25 January 15, 1846(1846-01-15) (aged 44) Emily Haws (1823–?), aged 22 at marriage Widow of William Whitmarsh Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 1 with Whitmarsh Sealed for eternity to Young.26 January 21, 1846(1846-01-21) (aged 44)
Martha Bowker (1822–1890), aged 23 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young Adoptive mother of her only daughter.27 January 21, 1846(1846-01-21) (aged 44) Ellen Rockwood (1829–1866), aged 16 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity None Arrived in the Salt Lake Valley with the Young family in September 1848.[62]28 January 28, 1846(1846-01-28) (aged 44) Jemima Angell (1803–1869), aged 41 at marriage Widow of Valentine Young (no relation) and separated from William Stringham prior to her 1846 marriage to Young Sealed for time and eternity None with (Brigham) Young, 5 with (Valentine) Young Married Young on the same day as her mother Phebe (m. 1846). Younger sister of Mary Ann Angell (m. 1834).29 January 28, 1846(1846-01-28) (aged 44) Abigail Marks (1781–1846), aged 69 at marriage Widow of Asa Works Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 9 with Works Mother of Young's first wife, Miriam Works. Sealed to Works for eternity and to Young for time.30 January 28, 1846(1846-01-28) (aged 44) Phebe (alt. Phoebe) Ann Morton (1786–1854), aged 59 at marriage Previously married to James W. Angell (estranged) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 11 with Angell Mother of both Mary Ann Angell (m. 1834) and Jemima Angell (m. 1846). Young's mother-in-law at the time of their marriage. Sealed to Angell for eternity and to Young for time.31 January 28, 1846(1846-01-28) (aged 44) Cynthia Porter (1783–1861), aged 62 at marriage Married to William Weston Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 2 with Weston Unknown if she was widowed, divorced, or separated from Weston. 32 January 31, 1846(1846-01-31) (aged 44) Mary Eliza Nelson (1812–1886), aged 33 at marriage Widow of John P. GreeneSealed for time None with Young, 1 with Greene Sealed to John P. Greene for eternity and to Young for time. Divorced from Young by 1850.33 January 31, 1846(1846-01-31) (aged 44)
Rhoda Richards (1784–1879),[64] aged 61 at marriage Plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time None Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and to Young for time. The sister of Young's counselor Willard Richards and first cousin to Young.34 February 2, 1846(1846-02-02) (aged 44)
Zina Diantha Huntington (1821–1901),[66] aged 25 at marriage Married to Mormon Henry Bailey Jacobs, plural widow of Joseph Smith Sealed for time 1 with Young, 2 with Jacobs Third general president of the Relief Society, and played a prominent role in the Society's reorganization. Sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity and to Young for time (not sealed to Jacobs). Transitioned to living with the Young family while Jacobs was on a mission to England. Served as the Young family midwife while living in the Lion House. Mother of Zina P. Young Card. 35 February 3, 1846(1846-02-03) (aged 44) Amy Cecilia Cooper (1804–1852), aged 41 at marriage Married to (non-Mormon?) Joseph Aldrich. Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 1 with Aldrich Later separated from Aldrich. 36 February 3, 1846(1846-02-03) (aged 44) Mary Ellen de la Montaigne (1803–1894), aged 42 at marriage divorced from James Boyd Woodward Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 4 with Woodward Ritually adopted by Young as his daughter (along with her husband), before being sealed to him two days later as his wife. Divorced Young and remarried Woodward.37 February 3, 1846(1846-02-03) (aged 44)
Julia Foster (1811–1891), aged 36 at marriage Widow of Mormon Jonathan Hampton, who died in Nauvoo in 1844 Sealed for time None with Young, 5 with previous husbands Joined the church in 1833 after being converted by Young. Stayed in Illinois when Young emigrated to Utah in 1847. Married Thomas Cole after the death of her first husband, but was later abandoned. Young sent for her in 1855, and she came with her children and managed the Lion House.38 February 3, 1846(1846-02-03) (aged 44) Abigail Harback (1790–1849), aged 55 at marriage Previously married to John Calvin Hall (unknown if she was widowed, divorced, or separated) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 9 with Hall. Died in Massachusetts. Circumstances surrounding her marriage to Hall and Young, as well as her time in Nauvoo, are unclear. 39 February 3, 1846(1846-02-03) (aged 44)
Mary Ann Turley (1827–1904), aged 18 at marriage First marriage (later divorced) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 9 with Cook Divorced Young in January 1851 and moved to the San Bernardino, California colony. Met and married John Cook in California. 40 February 6, 1846(1846-02-06) (aged 44)
Naamah Carter (1821–1909), aged 24 at marriage Widow of John S. Twiss Sealed for time None First husband passed away shortly after marriage. Helped prepare the sealing rooms in the Salt Lake Endowment House. Originally had wished to be sealed to Young for eternity rather than to Twiss, but Young protested, saying he did not wish to "rob the dead."41 February 6, 1846(1846-02-06) (aged 44) Nancy Cressy (1780–1871), aged 65 at marriage Widow of Oliver Walker Sealed for time None with Young, 10 with Walker Sealed for eternity to Walker and for time to Young. Came to the Salt Lake Valley in Young's company. 42 February 10, 1846(1846-02-10) (aged 44) Jane Terry (1819–1847), aged 26 at marriage Widow of George W. Young (no relation) Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 2 with previous husbands Requested on her deathbed to be sealed to Young. Died four days after their marriage in Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Sealing was reconfirmed in 1869 in the Salt Lake Endowment House. 43 March 20, 1847(1847-03-20) (aged 45)
Lucy Bigelow (1830–1905), aged 16 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 3 with Young Sister of Mary Jane Bigelow (m. 1847). Married Young at Winter Quarters. A major figure in the dedication and opening of the St. George and Manti Temples.[75] Mother of Susa Young Gates, and grandmother of Emma Lucy Gates Bowen, Leah D. Widtsoe, and B. Cecil Gates. 44 March 20, 1847(1847-03-20) (aged 45) Mary Jane Bigelow (1827–1868), aged 19 at marriage First marriage (later divorced) Sealed for time and eternity None Sister of Lucy Bigelow (m. 1847). Married Young at Winter Quarters, but turned back when she became ill. Later arrived in Utah in 1850. Divorced Young sometime before 1851.45 April 18, 1848(1848-04-18) (aged 46) Sarah Malin (1804–1858), aged 43 at marriage First marriage (later divorced) Sealed for time and eternity None Married Young on the same day that he sealed her father to a wife.46 October 3, 1852(1852-10-03) (aged 51)
Eliza Burgess (1827–1915), aged 25 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young Traveled from England to Nauvoo with her family before heading west to the Salt Lake Valley. Lived in the Young household as a servant before her sealing to Young.47 December 16, 1852(1852-12-16) (aged 51) Mary Oldfield (1793–1875), aged 59 at marriage Widow of Eli Kelsey and divorced from John Pierce and John Gribble Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 7 with Kelsey Sealed to Young for time and eternity, but never joined the Young household.48 before 1853 (aged 51)[78]Eliza Babcock (1828–1868), aged 24 at marriage[78]Previously married to Dominicus Carter (divorced) (later divorced from Young) Unknown None Broke her collarbone at the Elk Horn River and was forced to return to Winter Quarters. Divorced Young and married John James Groves in 1855.49 June 10, 1855(1855-06-10) (aged 54)
Catherine (Katharine) Reese (1804–1860), aged 51 at marriage Widow of Zephaniah Clawson Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 6 with Clawson Sealed to Young for time and eternity, but never joined the Young household.50 March 14, 1856(1856-03-14) (aged 54)
Harriet Barney (1830–1911), aged 25 at marriage Divorced from W. H. H. Sagers Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young, 6 with Sagers Daughter of Royal Barney, a Zion's Camp veteran. 51 January 24, 1863(1863-01-24) (aged 61)
Harriet Amelia Folsom (1838–1910), aged 24 at marriage First marriage Sealed for time and eternity None Daughter of architect William Folsom. Accomplished pianist and vocalist. Lived in the Gardo House along with Mary Ann Angell (m. 1834) after Young's death. Rumored to be Young's favorite wife, and was his most significant female companion during the latter years of his life. Married John Quincy Leavitt after Young's death. 52 January 8, 1868(1868-01-08) (aged 66) [81][82]
Mary Van Cott (1844–1884), aged 23 at marriage Divorced from James Thornton Cobb (son of wife no. 4) [81]Sealed for time and eternity 1 with Young, 1 with Cobb Former daughter-in-law of Augusta Adams (m. 1843).53 April 7, 1868(1868-04-07) (aged 66)
Ann Eliza Webb (1844–1917), aged 24 at marriage Divorced from James L. Dee Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 2 with Dee Acted in various minor roles at the Salt Lake Theatre and was friends with several of Young's daughters and wives. Lived with her mother in a cottage built for her by Young following their sealing. Sought a civil divorce from Young in 1875 and later became an outspoken critic of polygamy. Author of her 1875 autobiography Wife No. 19. Later married and divorced Moses R. Denning. 54 July 3, 1869(1869-07-03) (aged 68)
Elizabeth Jones (1814–1895), aged 55 at marriage Widow of David T. Lewis and Dan JonesSealed for time and eternity None with Young, 8 with previous husbands Born in Wales. Owned an inn called the "White Lion," and hosted various groups of Mormon missionaries. Her son, Thomas Lewis, was castrated in October 1856 by an extralegal posse. Lived on Young's Forest Farm property following their sealing.55 May 8, 1870(1870-05-08) (aged 68) Lydia Farnsworth (1808–1897), aged 61 at marriage Married to Elijah Mayhew Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 9 with Mayhew Expressed her strong desire to be sealed to Young for years, until his concession in 1870. Sealed to Young for eternity but remained living with husband Mayhew.56 December 8, 1872(1872-12-08) (aged 71)
Hannah Tapfield (1807–1886), aged 65 at marriage Married to non-Mormon Thomas O. King Sealed for time and eternity None with Young, 11 with King Known for her poetry. Sealed to Young but remained living with husband King.