Mary Ann Pulsipher

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Mary Ann Pulsipher (Brown)

Also Known As: "Polly Pulsipher", "Polly Brown"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Death: May 07, 1886 (88)
Pine Valley, Washington County, Utah, United States
Place of Burial: Hebron Cemetery, Enterprise, Washington, Utah Territory, United States
Immediate Family:

Daughter of John Brown and Sarah Brown
Wife of Zerah Pulsipher
Mother of Mary Ann Pulsipher; Almira Iona Burgess; Mariah Burgess; Sarah Ann Alger; John Pulsipher and 7 others
Sister of Juda Nichols; John Brown; Eunice Brown; Sarah A Garrison; Thirza Chidester and 7 others

Managed by: Earl Wiest
Last Updated:

About Mary Ann Pulsipher

MARY ANN BROWN - obtained by Carol Easterbrook Wolf

MARY BROWN PULSIPHER

1799-1886

[Mary Brown Pulsipher, born 2 March 1799 at Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut. Married Zera Pulsipher in Pennsylvania in 1815. Died in May 1886 at Hebron near Enterprise, Utah. Her father was John Brown who was born 25 February 1770. Her mother was Sarah Fairchild, born 06 Mar 1771. Mary Brown arrived in Salt Lake City 22 September 1848.]

My Grandfather and Grandmother Brown I knew little about. They died when my father was quite young. They had three sons, Joseph, John and Jonathan.

My Grandfather and Grandmother Fairchild I well remember. Grandmother died in Connecticut when I was four years old. Grandfather then went to Pennsylvania and died there.

(Probably some of the history left out here because the children below are children of her Fairchild great grandparents, Stephen and Eunice. Their children’s names are Ezra, Abraham, Levi, Agur, Stephen, Eunice, Samuel, Sherman and Sarah.)

I think they had five sons and two daughters. The names that I can remember are Samuel, Sherman, Stephen, Eunice, and Sarah. Grandfather’s name was Stephen. Grandmother was Eunice.

My father, John Brown was born 25 February 1770. His children were:

Judith 02 Nov 1793 Conn.

Eunice 04 Aug 1794 Conn.

John 24 Aug 1795 Conn.

Mary Ann 02 Mar 1799 Conn.

Thirsa 11 Jul 1802 Conn.

Sally 27 Feb 1805 Conn.

Catherine 13 Aug 1808 Penn.

Hyrum abt. 1809 Penn.

Susan abt. 1810 Penn.

Loring G. 17 Apr 1811 Conn.

Infant abt. 1812

My father moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania when I was six years old. My father’s home was a home for Methodist preachers and other preachers when they came. I joined the Methodist Church when I was thirteen years old. I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 to Zera Pulsipher. My children are:

Mary Ann 30 May 1816 Penn.

Almira 08 Sep 1817 Penn.

Nelson 28 Mar 1820 Penn.

Mariah 11 Jun 1822 Penn.

Sarah 02 Nov 1824 New York

John 17 Jul 1827 New York

Charles 20 Apr 1830 New York

Mary Ann 20 Nov 1833 Ohio

William 21 Jan 1838 Ohio

Eliza Jane 26 Jul 1840 Illinois

Fidelia 13 Oct 1842 Illinois

We lived in Pennsylvania seven years. Did a great deal of hard work there; then left and moved to New York State in the town of Spafford, Onondaga County, where we heard the gospel preached for the first time by the Latter Day Saints. We went forth and were baptized in the year 1832 by Jared Carter. He baptized about 20 in that place, then ordained my husband, Zera Pulsipher, and left him to preside over the church.

He baptized more. We stayed there about two years then moved twenty miles to Fabius where we lived with a Samuel Newcomb for one and one half years. Then we all went to Kirtland, Ohio together. We stayed there four years. Zera was ordained there as one of the First Seven Presidents by the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet. He helped build the temple. He took out his endowments in the temple, and then we were driven from that place with the saints. We started on July 6, 1838 with a large camp for Missouri. We all got there in the fall and went to Daviess County. My husband was one of the Council that led that camp. We stayed in that place one month. Then we were driven from there by the mob. Then we went to Far West (Caldwell County) and stayed there through the winter. We started in March for Illinois. We stopped twenty-five miles from Nauvoo in Deer Creek Woods. The winter we were in the Far West part of Missouri we had to part with good old Mother Pulsipher. She lay sick one week and died. The day before she died she lay looking up. I said, "Mother, what do you see?" She said, "Oh, don’t you see the light?" I looked up. I could see nothing. The next day I saw it over her head. She said, "That is a light to light me through the dark valley of death." Then she fell asleep without a struggle or groan. I think she was 85 years old.

We stayed in Deer Creek Woods nearly two years. Then the First Presidency had gotten out of prison and out of Missouri. The Saints had begun to settle "Nauvoo." They sent for us to move there. We went there and stayed, I think five years. My youngest child, Fidelia, was born there. She was a very smart promising child, but we could only keep her four years and three months. We buried her there. We helped build the temple there, got our endowments in it, then started with the rest of the Church west to find some place where we could live in peace. We were two years, not forty, in going to Salt Lake. We helped cultivate the bare desert and make it bloom like the rose. We helped build the temple. My husband was one of the City Council most of the time we were there.

Then we were all called to go South three hundred miles and help cultivate another barren desert. We lived in this place ten years, Hebron (near Enterprise, Utah).

By request, I write a little more history and experience. Eight years have passed away since I wrote the little sketch. I am still here. I will begin my first experience in the Methodist Church. My parents taught me to be honest, industrious and to keep the Sabbath day holy. They were very strict Methodists.

When I was thirteen years old I thought I ought to join the Methodist Church. It was the only church I knew about. The preachers came every week to preach at Father’s house. I told him I wanted to join the church and he said I could. I did not know that they would call on me to relate a great experience when I was converted. But I could not have told them. All they did was put my name on the class paper for six months trial. When six months was up the preacher said, "Here is Sister Mary. She is a good faithful worthy sister. I motion that she be taken in full fellowship." I was voted in. Perhaps a year passed and not a word was said about baptism. I said to the preachers, "Do you believe baptism to be a duty for us to obey?" He said, "Baptism was not a saving ordinance, it is just to answer a good conscience." I said, "I see by reading the New Testament, I consider it a duty, a command." He said, "What say?" I said, "There was only one way that looked to be right, to be immersed and buried in the water," He said, "The Savior set the example and he was not immersed, he went into the water and knelt down and had some water poured on his head." He said he had seen it in history.

We went to the water. He sang and prayed then took me by the hand and led me to the water, saying, "Step in and kneel." I did. He dipped a little water, said the ceremony and pored it on my head, while he stood on the bank, did not wet his feet. I thought if baptism was to answer a good conscience, I was not satisfied. It looked like mockery to me, but I had done my duty.

I wrote this to let my children see the darkness and ignorance the world was then in. Surely the Prophet could say darkness and sin had covered the earth and gross darkness the people. I rejoice that we live in a day that the true light and true gospel are shining.

I think I was in the Methodist Church until about age 20 before I heard the true gospel. We happened to see the Book of Mormon. We borrowed and read it and believe it. But did not know anything more about it. We were very anxious to know more about it.

It was not long before a Mormon preacher came. We had a great many questions to ask. He told us how the book was found and translated. He said baptism by immersion was the only right way. It was for the remission of sin. I thought that looked right. In a short time we were ready to be baptized. I wanted to be at the first opportunity, but satan thought he would hinder it. The night before baptism I was taken very lame with rheumatism or something. I was so sick I could not get around much as they were fixing to go. Brother Carter said to me, "Sister Pulsipher, if you will do your duty you shall be healed." I took a cane and hobbled to the water and went in. It was a very cold day but I came well. I left my cane and went away.

I was very ignorant. I had not heard anything about being confirmed or receiving the Holy Ghost. The next evening I went to meeting and the six that were baptized were there. When he put his hands on my head he said, "Sister Pulsipher by the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ I lay my hands on your head to bless you and to confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I say unto you ‘receive the Holy Ghost’. He promised great blessings if I would be faithful. The spirit of the Lord was there. We sang, prayed and praised God together.

It was not long before the news went around that Brother and Sister Pulsipher were Mormons. Some would not believe it until they came to see us. We had plenty of visitors. Some came to try to convince us that it was all a delusion. They thought they could reclaim us but went away disconsolate. Others came to inquire. They said if we had something better they want to know it. They would be baptized and go home rejoicing.

I will mention one that came to see me. Joseph (Joe) Chidester. He lived four miles from me. He was going to move away but could not go without seeing me. I had belonged to the same church he did. He was a preacher. He said I was the last one he thought of being led away with such heresy and delusions as he thought it was. "Well," I said "if this is what the world calls heresy, so worship my God. I know in what I believe." He said, "I think in about six months you wil see your error. I think Mormonism will be all down flat in that time." I said, "Joseph, I haven’t the lest idea that it will. It will stand, but if it does come down I could never go to the Methodist or another church that I know of. It would be going right into darkness." He said, "I see I cannot convince you, but I have done my duty." He cried and bid me farewell. I said, "I thank you for the kind feeling you have for me. Do not worry about me." I never saw him after that. He moved away, lived a few years and died very suddenly with heart disease. He had an appointment to preach the date he was buried. His wife, my sister Thirsa, died soon after.

I think they have heard the gospel preached before this time. Zera and Joseph were great friends. He had not read the Book of Mormon. If they would hear and heed without prejudice, there would not be half so many among heresy delusions and false prophets.

Well I began to gather with the church, went to Kirtland there had my blessing from the first Patriarch in this church and that I would be the means of saving and redeeming them. I believe every word, but I’d not understood how it would come to pass. I never had heard nor thought of being baptized for the dead. He said that I had left all for the gospel. I should have a hundred fold in this world and the world to come, life everlasting, with many more good blessings if I would be faithful.

I am almost 81 years old, have lived and enjoyed myself well with my children a long time. I expect the time will come when I must leave them. I have watched over them, tried to comfort and instruct them right. I say that they may live in peace, be united and keep all the commandments of God. If riches increase, set not your heart on them, but lay treasures in Heaven. It is the only safe place that we can lay up riches.

I left all my friends but my own family. Father Smith, the first Patriarch in the Church, laid his hands on my head and blessed me. He said I should have my friends in this church, would stand on Mt. Zion, help save and redeem them. He said I had left all to obey the gospel and that I should in this world have a hundred fold. That is fulfilling very fast. I have 56 grandchildren. So, you see there is upward of a hundred fold now and increasing at a wonderful rate. I beg you all, the leaders and sisters of Relief Society to be faithful, do all the good you can, be united, put your faith in God and you need not have any fear.

I would like to have my children live near together to help and comfort one another.

May God bless you all

Mary Brown Pulsipher

Hebron, Utah March 1886

I, John, take the liberty to write a little in this book as Mother passed away from mortal life. She died on 07 May 1886. In the midst of friends and about as near as mortals ever get. So I record a little more of her history in this book.

As she lived to such advanced age, her children all desired her to give up housekeeping and live with some of us, then we would know if she needed anything and could help her so much better than when she was alone in her little house. She did close her house and had a good time. She went to St. George and visited her daughters, Sarah and Eliza, and their children and friends for several months. She then returned to Hebron for about two years.

Truly we did have an enjoyable time talking of early life, incidents of history in Conneticut and in the USA and of the Restoration of the Gospel and the rise of the Church in this age of the world. When she died we buried her by the side of Father in Herbon Cemetery.

Here are some of Mother’s own loose papers that I will record in this book:

March 2, 1879 When I went to Relief Society Meeting I expected to see ten or twelve sisters and three or four brothers there. The Bishop told me he was going. When I opened the door the first thing I saw about every family in town there. I was so surprised it almost overcame me. I said, "What does all this mean? I came to a meeting but it looks like a feast." Then I took my seat. The Bishop then arose and said, "This is in honor of Mother Pulsipher. This is her 80th birthday." I then began to cry and was so overcome. The food was then blessed and all had enough. I was then called on to preside over the meeting.

After singing I asked my oldest son, John, to open the meeting with prayer and another hymn was sung. Then I walked on to the stand and said, "I do not know as I can say much but I think these people can keep a secret. For I knew nothing of this feast until I was right here and opened the door. I feel very unworthy to have such honor and respect shown me. I thank you all. I ask my Heavenly Father to bless you all. I suppose I am the oldest person here. I am 80 years old today. I have been in the church over 47 years, have passed through persecutions, mobbings, and drivings with the Saints the days of Kirtland, and I rejoice that I am worthy to have a name and place with these people rejoicing."

Note from John: These are a few lines Mother wrote on 16 October 1883 before going to St. George to live awhile.

MARY BROWN’S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO HEBRON: I have been in Hebron from the beginning. I located with my boys as they were herding cattle at Shoal Creek when the main part of this county was a desert and sage plain. I have worked hard to make this a beautiful happy home. With the help of my boys, built the first house out of the fort. I have lived in it about 15 years, enjoyed myself wonderfully well in it. But the time draws near when I expect to find any place I like as well. If I die away from here I want to be brought back and buried here with my friends that are waiting for me behind the veil. I have been in this church 52 years, bless the people. Many have passed through persecutions with the Saints but never felt to complain, but that all would be well.

I pray my Heavenly Father to bless the people of Hebron that they may live humble, be united and keep the commandments of God. Lord bless the land, the water, the cattle, and all. May it be a healthy delightful place. I bid you all farewell.

Farewell dear Hebron, we love so well

Farewell dear Saints that in it dwell

May you still be true,

Keep covenants well

That we may all in Glory dwell.

This history was written by Mary Brown Pulsipher.

Donated by Great granddaughter,

Jennie Pulsipher Mortensen Atwood

of the Log Cabin Camp for the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Maude Powell Historian, Wellington, Utah

Sarah Tidwell Pierce, Carbon Co. Historian, Wellington, Utah.

(Carol Easterbrook (Wolf) obtained a copy of this history from Winnie Dalton, Cleveland, UT.)

______________________________________________

Mary Ann Brown was born on 2 Mar 1799 [or 22 Mar 1798?] in Kent, Conn. to John Brown and Sarah Fairchild Brown. She was known by the name Mary. They moved to Pennsylvania when she was six. She records: "My parents taught me to be honest, industrious, and to keep the Sabbath Day. They were very strict Methodists. When I was about 13 years old I thought I ought to join the Methodist Church. It was the only church I knew much about. The preachers came every week to preach at father's house. I told him I wanted to join the church and he said I could. I did not know but they would call on me to relate a great experience when I was converted, but I could not have told them. All they did was to put my name on the class paper for six month's trial. When six months were up the preachers said, Here is Sister Mary. She is a good, faithful, worthy Sister. I motion that she be taken in full fellowship.' I was voted in."

"Perhaps one year passed and not a word was said about baptism. I said to the preacher, Do you believe baptism to be a duty for us to obey?' He said baptism was not a saving ordinance, just to answer a good conscience. I said, I see by reading the New Testament, I consider a duty -- a command.' He said, What say?' I said there was only one way that looked to be right--to be immersed and buried in the water." The minister led her to the water and had her kneel in it. "He dipped a little water, said over the ceremony, and poured it on my head, while he stood on the bank--did not wet his feet. I thought if baptism was to answer a good conscience, I was not satisfied. It looked like mockery to me, but I had done my duty."

"I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 [18 Aug. 1815, Susquehanna County] to Zerah Pulsipher.... We lived in Pennsylvania seven years...and moved to New York... There we heard the gospel preached for the first time by the Latter-day Saints."

"I think I was in the Methodist Church about 20 years before I heard the true gospel. We happened to see the Book of Mormon. We borrowed it, read it, and believed it, but did not know anything more about it. We were very anxious to know more about it. It wa not long before a Mormon preacher [Jared Carter] came. We had a great many questions to ask. He told us how the Book was found and translated. He said baptism by immersion was the only right way. It was for the remission of sins. I thought that looked right. In a short time some were ready to be baptized. I wanted to be at the first opportunity, but Satan thought he would hinder it. The night before baptism, I was taken very lame with rheumatism or something. I was so sick I could not get around much. As they were fixing to go, Brother Carter said to me, "Sister Pulsipher, if you will do you duty, you shall be healed." I took a cane and hobbled to the water and went in. It was a very cold day, but I came out well, left my cane, and went away rejoicing."

"It was not long before the news went around that Brother and Sister Pulsipher were Mormons. Some would not believe it until they came to see us. We had plenty of visitors. Some came to try to convince us that it was all delusion. They thought they could reclaim us, but went away disconsolate. Others came to inquire. They said if we had got something better, they wanted to know it. They would be baptized and go home rejoicing."

"We were baptized in the year 1832 by Jared Carter. He baptized about 20 in that place, then ordained my husband Zerah Pulsipher and left him to preside over the church. He baptized more. We stayed there about two years, then moved 20 miles to Fabius." Then they moved to Kirtland, Ohio.

"Went to Kirtland, there had my blessings from the first Patriarch in this Church, Father Joseph Smith [the Prophet's father]. He said I should have my friends with me in this church, and that I would be the means of saving and redeeming them. I believed every word, but did not understand how it could come to pass. I never had heard nor thought of being baptized for the dead. He said I had left all for the gospel, I should have a hundredfold in this world and in the world to come, life everlasting, with many more good blessings if I would be faithful."

After Zerah help build the temple, he was one of the council who led a large camp to Missouri. "We stayed in that place one month; then we were driven from there by the mob. Then we went to Far West and stayed there through the winter. Then we had to go again. We started in March [1839] for Illinois. We stopped about 25 miles from Nauvoo, in Bear Creek Woods" where they stayed about two years.

They then moved to Nauvoo where her last child Fidelia was born, an intelligent child who also died there at age four. They helped build another temple there and received their temple endowments there. "Then we started with the rest of the Church west to find some place where we could live in peace. We were two years, not forty, in going to Salt Lake. We helped cultivate the bare desert and make it blossom like the rose.' My husband was one of the City Council most of the time we were there."

"Then we were called to go south three hundred miles and help cultivate another barren desert. We have lived ten years in this place, Hebron. We have enjoyed great blessings, lived in peace, none to molest or make afraid.... My husband was called away by death in January 1872. He lived to a good age, and then went down to the grave like a shock of corn, fully ripe. I am spared yet."

Eight years later, she added, "I am almost 81 years old, have lived and enjoyed myself well with my children along time....I pray that they may live in peace, be united, and keep all the commandments of God. If riches increase, set not your heats on them, but lay up treasures in Heaven. It is the only safe place that we can lay up riches. I would like to have my children live near together to help and comfort one another. May God bless you all."

Mary died on 7 May 1886 in Hebron, Utah and was buried there by the side of her beloved husband Zerah. Before dying she went to St. George and lived with her daughters Sarah and Eliza for several months and then returned to Hebron and lived with her son John for about two years.

Before she left Hebron she recorded on 16 Oct 1883, "I have been in Hebron from the beginning. I located with my boys as they were herding cattle at Shoal Creek when the main part of this country was a desert... With the help of my boys, I built the first house out of the fort. If I should die away from here I want to be brought back and buried here with my friends that are awaiting for me behind the veil. I have been in this church 52 years; passed the persecutions with the Saints, but never felt to complain, but that all would be well."

From the "Autobiography of Mary Brown Pulsipher" and also her children's words in Pulsipher Family History Book, Terry/Nora Lund, SLC, 1953, pp. 26-32. [Bracketed comments added by John P. Pratt]

lkf46added this on 27 Dec 2007
dro1973originally submitted this to Ryan Ostler on 14 Aug 2007 

---------------------------------------------

Add this to my tree  Excerpts from Mary Brown Pulsipher Autobiography 

Pulispher, Mary Brown, 1799-1886Autobiography (1799-1880)Typescript, HBLLThis autobiography has been published in Kenneth Glyn Hales, Windows: A Mormon Family (Tucson, Arizona: Skyline Printing, 1985). Grammar has been standarized according to that publication. Pagination is based on typescript at BYU. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARY BROWN PULSIPHER

My Grandfather and Grandmother Brown I knew but little about; they died when my father was quite young. They had three sons: Joseph, John and Jonathan. My Grandfather and Grandmother Fairchild I well remember. Grandmother died when I was four years old, in Connecticut. Grandfather then went to Pennsylvania and died there. I think they had five sons and two girls. The names that I can remember are: Samuel, Sherman, Stephen, Eunice and Sarah. Grandfather's name was Stephen, and grandmother's name was Eunice.

My Father, John Brown, was born February 27, 1770. My mother, Sarah Fairchild was born March 6, 1771. Their children were: Juda Brown, born November 2, 1793. John Brown, born August 24, 1795. Eunice Brown, born August 4, 1794. Mary Brown, born March 2, 1799. Thirsa Brown, born July Il, 1802. Sally Brown, born February 27, 1805. Catherine Brown, born August 13, 1808. Loring G. Brown, born April 17, 1811.

They were all born in Connecticut, but Catherine and Loring. They were born in Pennsylvania. My father moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania when I was six years old. My father's home was a home for the Methodist preachers and all other preachers when they came. I joined the Methodist Church when I was 13 years old. I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 to Zerah Pulsipher.

lkf46added this on 14 Mar 2009
rburgesslinnoriginally submitted this to BURGESSEMETT Family Tree on 11 Jun 2008 

Mary Ann Brown was born on 22 Mar 1798 in Kent, Conn. to John Brown and Sarah Fairchild Brown. She was known by the name Mary. They moved to Pennsylvania when she was six. She records: "My parents taught me to be honest, industrious, and to keep the Sabbath Day. They were very strict Methodists. When I was about 13 years old I thought I ought to join the Methodist Church. It was the only church I knew much about. The preachers came every week to preach at father's house. I told him I wanted to join the church and he said I could. I did not know but they would call on me to relate a great experience when I was converted, but I could not have told them. All they did was to put my name on the class paper for six month's trial. When six months were up the preachers said, Here is Sister Mary. She is a good, faithful, worthy Sister. I motion that she be taken in full fellowship.' I was voted in."

"Perhaps one year passed and not a word was said about baptism. I said to the preacher, Do you believe baptism to be a duty for us to obey?' He said baptism was not a saving ordinance, just to answer a good conscience. I said, I see by reading the New Testament, I consider a duty -- a command.' He said, What say?' I said there was only one way that looked to be right--to be immersed and buried in the water." The minister led her to the water and had her kneel in it. "He dipped a little water, said over the ceremony, and poured it on my head, while he stood on the bank--did not wet his feet. I thought if baptism was to answer a good conscience, I was not satisfied. It looked like mockery to me, but I had done my duty."

"I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 [18 Aug. 1815, Susquehanna County] to Zerah Pulsipher.... We lived in Pennsylvania seven years...and moved to New York... There we heard the gospel preached for the first time by the Latter-day Saints."

"I think I was in the Methodist Church about 20 years before I heard the true gospel. We happened to see the Book of Mormon. We borrowed it, read it, and believed it, but did not know anything more about it. We were very anxious to know more about it. It wa not long before a Mormon preacher [Jared Carter] came. We had a great many questions to ask. He told us how the Book was found and translated. He said baptism by immersion was the only right way. It was for the remission of sins. I thought that looked right. In a short time some were ready to be baptized. I wanted to be at the first opportunity, but Satan thought he would hinder it. The night before baptism, I was taken very lame with rheumatism or something. I was so sick I could not get around much. As they were fixing to go, Brother Carter said to me, "Sister Pulsipher, if you will do you duty, you shall be healed." I took a cane and hobbled to the water and went in. It was a very cold day, but I came out well, left my cane, and went away rejoicing."

"It was not long before the news went around that Brother and Sister Pulsipher were Mormons. Some would not believe it until they came to see us. We had plenty of visitors. Some came to try to convince us that it was all delusion. They thought they could reclaim us, but went away disconsolate. Others came to inquire. They said if we had got something better, they wanted to know it. They would be baptized and go home rejoicing."

"We were baptized in the year 1832 by Jared Carter. He baptized about 20 in that place, then ordained my husband Zerah Pulsipher and left him to preside over the church. He baptized more. We stayed there about two years, then moved 20 miles to Fabius." Then they moved to Kirtland, Ohio.

"Went to Kirtland, there had my blessings from the first Patriarch in this Church, Father Joseph Smith [the Prophet's father]. He said I should have my friends with me in this church, and that I would be the means of saving and redeeming them. I believed every word, but did not understand how it could come to pass. I never had heard nor thought of being baptized for the dead. He said I had left all for the gospel, I should have a hundredfold in this world and in the world to come, life everlasting, with many more good blessings if I would be faithful."

After Zerah help build the temple, he was one of the council who led a large camp to Missouri. "We stayed in that place one month; then we were driven from there by the mob. Then we went to Far West and stayed there through the winter. Then we had to go again. We started in March [1839] for Illinois. We stopped about 25 miles from Nauvoo, in Bear Creek Woods" where they stayed about two years.

They then moved to Nauvoo where her last child Fidelia was born, an intelligent child who also died there at age four. They helped build another temple there and received their temple endowments there. "Then we started with the rest of the Church west to find some place where we could live in peace. We were two years, not forty, in going to Salt Lake. We helped cultivate the bare desert and make it blossom like the rose.' My husband was one of the City Council most of the time we were there."

"Then we were called to go south three hundred miles and help cultivate another barren desert. We have lived ten years in this place, Hebron. We have enjoyed great blessings, lived in peace, none to molest or make afraid.... My husband was called away by death in January 1872. He lived to a good age, and then went down to the grave like a shock of corn, fully ripe. I am spared yet."

Eight years later, she added, "I am almost 81 years old, have lived and enjoyed myself well with my children along time....I pray that they may live in peace, be united, and keep all the commandments of God. If riches increase, set not your heats on them, but lay up treasures in Heaven. It is the only safe place that we can lay up riches. I would like to have my children live near together to help and comfort one another. May God bless you all."

Mary died on 7 May 1886 in Hebron, Utah and was buried there by the side of her beloved husband Zerah. Before dying she went to St. George and lived with her daughters Sarah and Eliza for several months and then returned to Hebron and lived with her son John for about two years.

Before she left Hebron she recorded on 16 Oct 1883, "I have been in Hebron from the beginning. I located with my boys as they were herding cattle at Shoal Creek when the main part of this country was a desert... With the help of my boys, I built the first house out of the fort. If I should die away from here I want to be brought back and buried here with my friends that are awaiting for me behind the veil. I have been in this church 52 years; passed the persecutions with the Saints, but never felt to complain, but that all would be well."

From the Autobiography of Mary Brown Pulsipher and also her children's words in Pulsipher Family History Book, Terry/Nora Lund, SLC, 1953, pp. 26-32. [Bracketed comments added by John P. Pratt]



Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Brigham Young Company (1848) Age 50

Departure: 5 June 1848 Arrival: 20-24 September 1848

Find a Grave

Birth: Mar. 22, 1798 Kent Litchfield County Connecticut, USA

Death: May 7, 1886 Washington County Utah, USA

Mary Ann Brown was born 22 Mar 1798 in Kent, Litchfield, CT, the daughter of John & Sarah Fairchild Brown. She married Zera Pulsipher 18 Aug 1815 in Sequehannah, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary Ann, Iona Almira, Nelson, Mariah, Sarah Ann, John, Charles, Mary Ann (2nd), William, Eliza Jane & Fidelia Pulsipher.

Mary died 7 May 1886 in Hebron, Utah at 88 years of age.

Family links:

Parents:
  • John Brown (1770 - 1845)
  • Sarah Fairchild Brown (1771 - 1855)
Spouse:

*Zerah Pulsipher (1789 - 1872)*

Children:

*Almira Iona Pulsipher Burgess (1817 - 1868)*

  • Almira Iona Pulsipher Pettit (1817 - 1868)*
  • Mariah Pulsipher Burgess (1822 - 1892)*
  • Sarah Ann Pulsipher Alger (1824 - 1909)*
  • John Pulsipher (1827 - 1891)*
  • Charles Pulsipher (1830 - 1915)*
  • Mary Ann Pulsipher Terry (1833 - 1913)*
  • William Pulsipher (1838 - 1880)*
  • Eliza Jane Pulsipher Terry (1840 - 1919)*
  • Fedelia Pulsipher (1842 - 1846)*

Burial: Hebron Cemetery Enterprise (Washington County) Washington County Utah, USA Plot: #46



Mary Ann Brown was born 22 Mar 1798 in Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut, the daughter of John & Sarah Fairchild Brown. She married Zera Pulsipher 18 Aug 1815 in Susquehannah, Pennsylvania. T hey were the parents of eleven children: Mary Ann, Iona Almira, Nelson, Mariah, Sarah Ann, John, Charles, Mary Ann (2nd), William, Eliza Jane & Fidelia Pulsipher. Mary died 7 May 1886 in Hebron, Utah at 88 years of age.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARY BROWN PULSIPHER

My Grandfather and Grandmother Brown I knew but little about; they died when my father was quite young. They had three sons: Joseph, John and Jonathan. My Grandfather and Grandmother Fairchild I well remember. Grandmother died when I was four years old, in Connecticut. Grandfather then went to Pennsylvania and died there. I think they had five sons and two girls. The names that I can remember are: Samuel, Sherman, Stephen, Eunice and Sarah. Grandfather's name was Stephen, and grandmother's name was Eunice.My Father, John Brown, was born February 27, 1770. My mother, Sarah Fairchild was born March 6, 1771. Their children were: Juda Brown, born November 2, 1793. John Brown, born August 24, 1795. Eunice Brown, born August 4, 1794. Mary Brown, born March 2, 1799. Thirsa Brown, born July Il, 1802. Sally Brown, born February 27, 1805. Catherine Brown, born August 13, 1808. Loring G. Brown, born April 17, 1811.They were all born in Connecticut, but Catherine and Loring. They were born in Pennsylvania. My father moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania when I was six years old. My father's home was a home for the Methodist preachers and all other preachers when they came. I joined the Methodist Church when I was 13 years old. I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 to Zerah Pulsipher.My oldest child was born May 30, 1816. Mary Ann Pulsipher, born May 30, 1816. Died July 14, 1816. Almira Pulsipher, born September 8, 1817. Married Horace Burgess. Died March 8, 1868. Nelson Pulsipher, born March 28, 1820. Died May 7, 1824. Mariah Pulsipher, born June 15, 1822. Married William Burgess. Died 1893. Sarah Pulsipher, born November 2, 1824. Married John Alger. Died January, 1909. John Pulsipher, born July 17, 1827. First marriage: Rosella Huffaker. Second marriage: Ester Barnum. Died August 9, 1891. Charles Pulsipher, born April 20, 1830. Mary Ann Pulsipher, born November 20, 1833. Married Thomas S. Terry. Died September 17, 1913. William Pulsipher, born January 21, 1838. Married Esther Chidester. Died March 12, 1880. Eliza Jane Pulsipher, born July 26, 1840. Married Thomas S. Terry. Died May 6, 1919. Fidelia Pulsipher, born October 13, 1842. Died January 8, 1846.We lived in Pennsylvania seven years. Did a great deal of hard work there, then left and moved to New York State, in Onondaga County. There we heard the gospel preached for the first time by the Latter-day Saints. We went forth and were baptized in the year 1832 by Jared Carter. He baptized about twenty in that place. Then ordained my husband, Zerah Pulsipher, and left him to preside over the church. He baptized more there. We stayed there about two years, then moved twenty miles to Fabius; lived with a Doctor Newcome one-and-a-half years. Then we all moved to Kirtland, Ohio, together. Stayed there four years. Zerah was ordained there one of the first seven presidents by the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet.He helped build the [Kirtland] temple. Got his endowments in it, then we were driven from that place with the rest of the Saints. We started in July (the 15th) with a large [Kirtland] camp for Missouri. We all got there in the fall and went to Daviess County. My husband was one of the council that led the camp. We stayed in that place for one month; then we were driven from there by the mob. Then we went to Far West and stayed there through the winter. Then we had to go again. We started in March for Illinois. We stopped twenty-five miles from Nauvoo, in Bear Creek Woods.The winter we were in Far West, Missouri, we had to part with our good old Mother Pulsipher. She was sick one week, and then died. The day before she died, she lay looking up. I said, "Mother, what do you see?" She said, "Oh, don't you see that light?" I looked, but could not see any. The next day she saw it again over her bed. She said, "That is a light to light me through the dark folly of death." Then she fell asleep without a struggle or groan. I think she was eighty-five years old.We stayed in Bear Creek Woods mostly two years. Then the First Presidency had gotten out of prison and out of Missouri. The saints had begun to settle Nauvoo. They sent for us to move there. We went there and stayed, I think, five years. My youngest child, Fidelia, was born there. She was a very smart, promising child, but we could not keep her only four years and three months. We buried her there. We helped build the [Nauvoo] temple there, got our endowments in it--then we started with the rest of the church west to find some place where we could live in peace. We were two years, not forty, in going to Salt Lake. We lived there fourteen years and enjoyed great blessings there. We helped cultivate the barren desert and made it "blossom like the rose." My husband was one of the city council most of the time we were there.Then we were called to go south 300 miles and help cultivate another barren desert. We have lived ten years in this place, Hebron. We have enjoyed great blessings, lived in peace, none to molest or make afraid, although we have had to part with some of our dear friends here. Almira, my daughter, died in March, 1868, and John's wife, Rosella, and little boy, William Lewis, died. We lived here, enjoyed ourselves well with our children and grandchildren all around us until my husband was called away by death, in January 1, 1872. He lived to a good age, and then went down to the grave like a shock of corn, fully ripe. I am spared yet I hope to do a little good before I die.I used to say when my children were small that if I could live to see my children grow up to be honorable men and women it would be all I could ask for. I have lived to see them all settled with good families, all trying to do what good they can to build up the kingdom of God. I feel very thankful and much pleased with my children. I hope they will live and do much good, be agreed, united, and try to help each other and carry out the counsel their father and mother has given them. I write this after I am seventy-two years old for my children to look at. It is written very poorly. Perhaps you cannot read it.By request I write a little more history and experience. Eight years have passed away since I wrote the little sketch. I am yet here. I will begin by writing my first experiences in the Methodist Church. My parents taught me to be honest, industrious, and to kept the Sabbath Day. They were very strict Methodists. When I was about thirteen years old I thought I ought to join the Methodist Church. It was the only church I knew much about. The preachers came every two weeks to preach at Father's house. I told him I wanted to join the church and he said I could. I did not know but they would call for me to relate a great experience when I was converted, but I could not have told them. All they did was to put my name on the class paper for six month's trial. When six months was out the preachers said, "Here is Sister Mary. She is a good, faithful, worthy sister. I motion that she be taken in full fellowship." I was voted in.Perhaps one year passed away and not a word was said about baptism. I said to the preacher, "Do you believe baptism to be a duty for us to obey?" He said baptism was not a saving ordinance, just to answer a good conscience. I said, "I see by reading the New Testament, I consider it a duty--a command." "Well," he said, "it is your duty to be baptized. I said, "I want to be." He said, "What way?" I said there was only one way that looked to be right--to be immersed and buried in the water. He said, "The Savior set the example and he was not immersed. He went out into the water and knelt down and had some water poured on his head." He said he had seen it in history. We went to the water. He sang and prayed, then took me by the hand and led me to the water. He said, "Step in and kneel." I did. He dipped a little water, said over the ceremony, and poured it on my head, while he stood on the bank. He did not wet his feet. I thought if baptism was to answer a good conscience, I was not satisfied. It looked like mockery to me, but I had done my duty.I write this to let my children see the darkness and ignorance the world was then in. Surely the prophet could say darkness had covered the earth, and gross darkness, the people. I rejoice that we live in a day that the true light and true gospel was shining.I think I was in the Methodist Church about twenty years before I heard the true gospel. We happened to see the Book of Mormon. We borrowed it, read it, and believed it, but did not know anything more about it. We were very anxious to know more about it. It was not long before a Mormon preacher came. We had a great many questions to ask. He told us how the book was found and translated. He knew it to be a true record. We went to hear him preach. He said baptism by immersion was the only right way. It was for the remission of sins. I thought that looked right. In a short time some were ready to be baptized. I wanted to be at the first opportunity, but Satan thought he would hinder it. The night before baptism I was taken very lame with rheumatism or something else. I was so sick I could not get around much. As they were fixing to go, Brother Carter said to me, "Sister Pulsipher, if you will do your duty, you shall be healed." I took a cane and hauled to the water and went in. It was a very cold day, but I came out well, left my cane, and went away rejoicing.I was very ignorant, I had not heard anything about being confirmed, or receiving the Holy Ghost. The next evening I went to meeting and the six that were baptized were there. When he put his hands on my head, he said, "Sister Pulsipher, by the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the name of Jesus, I lay my hands on your head to bless you and to confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I say unto you, receive the Holy Ghost." He promised great blessings if I would be faithful. The Spirit of the Lord was there. We sang, prayed, and praised God together.It was not long before the news went all around that Brother and Sister Pulsipher were Mormons. Some would not believe it until they came to see us. We had plenty of visitors. Some came to try to convince us that it was all delusion. They thought they could reclaim us, but went away discouraged. Others came to inquire. They said if we had got something better, they wanted to know it. They would be baptized and go home rejoicing.I will mention one that came to see me, my brother-in-law, Joseph Chidester. He lived four miles from me. He was going to move away, but could not go without seeing me. I had belonged to the same church he did. He was a preacher. He said I was the last one he would have thought of as being led away with such heresy and delusions, as he thought it was. "Well," said I, "if this is what the world calls heresy, to worship my God, . . . I know in whom I believe." He said, "I think in about six months before you will see your error. I think Mormonism will be all down flat in that time." I said, "Joseph, I have not the least idea that it will. It will stand. But, if it does come down, I never could go to the Methodist or another church that I know of. It would be going right into darkness." He said, "I see I cannot convince you, but I have done my duty." He groaned and sighed and bid me farewell. I said, "I thank you for the kind feelings you have for me. Do not worry about me."I never saw him after that. He moved away, lived a few years and died very suddenly with heart disease. He had an appointment to preach the day he was buried. His wife, my sister, died soon after. I think they have heard the gospel preached before this time. Zerah and Joseph were great friends. He had not read the Book of Mormon nor heard a sermon preached. He judged before he heard, like too many others. If they would hear and read without prejudice, there would not be half so many cry out heresy, delusion and false prophets.Well, I began to gather with the church. I went to Kirtland. There I had my blessing from the first patriarch in this church, Father Joseph Smith. He said I should have my friends with me in this church, and that I would be the means of saving and redeeming them. I believed every word, but did not understand how it would come to pass. I never heard nor thought of being baptized for the dead. He said I had left all for the gospel, I should have a hundred fold in this world and in the world to come, life everlasting, with many more good blessings if I would be faithful.I am now almost 81 years old, have lived and enjoyed myself well with my children a long time. I expect the time will soon come when I must leave them. I have watched over them, tried to comfort them and instruct them right. I pray that they may live in peace, be united and keep all the commandments of God. If riches increase, set not your hearts on them, but lay up treasures in heaven. It is the only safe place that we can treasure up riches. I would like to have my children live near together to help and comfort one another. May God bless you all.

Mary Brown Pulsipher; Hebron, March, 1880.

Parents:

John Brown (1770 - 1845)

Sarah Fairchild Brown (1771 - 1855)

Spouse:

Zerah Pulsipher (1789 - 1872)

Children:

Almira Iona Pulsipher Burgess (1817 - 1868)

Almira Iona Pulsipher Pettit (1817 - 1868)

Mariah Pulsipher Burgess (1822 - 1892)

Sarah Ann Pulsipher Alger (1824 - 1909)

John Pulsipher (1827 - 1891)

Charles Pulsipher (1830 - 1915)

Mary Ann Pulsipher Terry (1833 - 1913)

William Pulsipher (1838 - 1880)

Eliza Jane Pulsipher Terry (1840 - 1919)

Fedelia Pulsipher (1842 - 1846)

Maintained by: L. Finley

Originally Created by: Robin Adair

Record added: May 21, 2004

Find A Grave Memorial# 8809249


Mary Ann Brown was born 22 Mar 1798 in Kent, Litchfield, CT, the daughter of John & Sarah Fairchild Brown. She married Zera Pulsipher 18 Aug 1815 in Sequehannah, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary Ann, Iona Almira, Nelson, Mariah, Sarah Ann, John, Charles, Mary Ann (2nd), William, Eliza Jane & Fidelia Pulsipher.

Mary died 7 May 1886 in Hebron, Utah at 88 years of age. __________________________

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARY BROWN PULSIPHER

My Grandfather and Grandmother Brown I knew but little about; they died when my father was quite young. They had three sons: Joseph, John and Jonathan. My Grandfather and Grandmother Fairchild I well remember. Grandmother died when I was four years old, in Connecticut. Grandfather then went to Pennsylvania and died there. I think they had five sons and two girls. The names that I can remember are: Samuel, Sherman, Stephen, Eunice and Sarah. Grandfather's name was Stephen, and grandmother's name was Eunice.My Father, John Brown, was born February 27, 1770. My mother, Sarah Fairchild was born March 6, 1771. Their children were: Juda Brown, born November 2, 1793. John Brown, born August 24, 1795. Eunice Brown, born August 4, 1794. Mary Brown, born March 2, 1799. Thirsa Brown, born July Il, 1802. Sally Brown, born February 27, 1805. Catherine Brown, born August 13, 1808. Loring G. Brown, born April 17, 1811.They were all born in Connecticut, but Catherine and Loring. They were born in Pennsylvania. My father moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania when I was six years old. My father's home was a home for the Methodist preachers and all other preachers when they came. I joined the Methodist Church when I was 13 years old. I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 to Zerah Pulsipher.My oldest child was born May 30, 1816. Mary Ann Pulsipher, born May 30, 1816. Died July 14, 1816. Almira Pulsipher, born September 8, 1817. Married Horace Burgess. Died March 8, 1868. Nelson Pulsipher, born March 28, 1820. Died May 7, 1824. Mariah Pulsipher, born June 15, 1822. Married William Burgess. Died 1893. Sarah Pulsipher, born November 2, 1824. Married John Alger. Died January, 1909. John Pulsipher, born July 17, 1827. First marriage: Rosella Huffaker. Second marriage: Ester Barnum. Died August 9, 1891. Charles Pulsipher, born April 20, 1830. Mary Ann Pulsipher, born November 20, 1833. Married Thomas S. Terry. Died September 17, 1913. William Pulsipher, born January 21, 1838. Married Esther Chidester. Died March 12, 1880. Eliza Jane Pulsipher, born July 26, 1840. Married Thomas S. Terry. Died May 6, 1919. Fidelia Pulsipher, born October 13, 1842. Died January 8, 1846.We lived in Pennsylvania seven years. Did a great deal of hard work there, then left and moved to New York State, in Onondaga County. There we heard the gospel preached for the first time by the Latter-day Saints. We went forth and were baptized in the year 1832 by Jared Carter. He baptized about twenty in that place. Then ordained my husband, Zerah Pulsipher, and left him to preside over the church. He baptized more there. We stayed there about two years, then moved twenty miles to Fabius; lived with a Doctor Newcome one-and-a-half years. Then we all moved to Kirtland, Ohio, together. Stayed there four years. Zerah was ordained there one of the first seven presidents by the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet.He helped build the [Kirtland] temple. Got his endowments in it, then we were driven from that place with the rest of the Saints. We started in July (the 15th) with a large [Kirtland] camp for Missouri. We all got there in the fall and went to Daviess County. My husband was one of the council that led the camp. We stayed in that place for one month; then we were driven from there by the mob. Then we went to Far West and stayed there through the winter. Then we had to go again. We started in March for Illinois. We stopped twenty-five miles from Nauvoo, in Bear Creek Woods.The winter we were in Far West, Missouri, we had to part with our good old Mother Pulsipher. She was sick one week, and then died. The day before she died, she lay looking up. I said, "Mother, what do you see?" She said, "Oh, don't you see that light?" I looked, but could not see any. The next day she saw it again over her bed. She said, "That is a light to light me through the dark folly of death." Then she fell asleep without a struggle or groan. I think she was eighty-five years old.We stayed in Bear Creek Woods mostly two years. Then the First Presidency had gotten out of prison and out of Missouri. The saints had begun to settle Nauvoo. They sent for us to move there. We went there and stayed, I think, five years. My youngest child, Fidelia, was born there. She was a very smart, promising child, but we could not keep her only four years and three months. We buried her there. We helped build the [Nauvoo] temple there, got our endowments in it--then we started with the rest of the church west to find some place where we could live in peace. We were two years, not forty, in going to Salt Lake. We lived there fourteen years and enjoyed great blessings there. We helped cultivate the barren desert and made it "blossom like the rose." My husband was one of the city council most of the time we were there.Then we were called to go south 300 miles and help cultivate another barren desert. We have lived ten years in this place, Hebron. We have enjoyed great blessings, lived in peace, none to molest or make afraid, although we have had to part with some of our dear friends here. Almira, my daughter, died in March, 1868, and John's wife, Rosella, and little boy, William Lewis, died. We lived here, enjoyed ourselves well with our children and grandchildren all around us until my husband was called away by death, in January 1, 1872. He lived to a good age, and then went down to the grave like a shock of corn, fully ripe. I am spared yet I hope to do a little good before I die.I used to say when my children were small that if I could live to see my children grow up to be honorable men and women it would be all I could ask for. I have lived to see them all settled with good families, all trying to do what good they can to build up the kingdom of God. I feel very thankful and much pleased with my children. I hope they will live and do much good, be agreed, united, and try to help each other and carry out the counsel their father and mother has given them. I write this after I am seventy-two years old for my children to look at. It is written very poorly. Perhaps you cannot read it.By request I write a little more history and experience. Eight years have passed away since I wrote the little sketch. I am yet here. I will begin by writing my first experiences in the Methodist Church. My parents taught me to be honest, industrious, and to kept the Sabbath Day. They were very strict Methodists. When I was about thirteen years old I thought I ought to join the Methodist Church. It was the only church I knew much about. The preachers came every two weeks to preach at Father's house. I told him I wanted to join the church and he said I could. I did not know but they would call for me to relate a great experience when I was converted, but I could not have told them. All they did was to put my name on the class paper for six month's trial. When six months was out the preachers said, "Here is Sister Mary. She is a good, faithful, worthy sister. I motion that she be taken in full fellowship." I was voted in.Perhaps one year passed away and not a word was said about baptism. I said to the preacher, "Do you believe baptism to be a duty for us to obey?" He said baptism was not a saving ordinance, just to answer a good conscience. I said, "I see by reading the New Testament, I consider it a duty--a command." "Well," he said, "it is your duty to be baptized. I said, "I want to be." He said, "What way?" I said there was only one way that looked to be right--to be immersed and buried in the water. He said, "The Savior set the example and he was not immersed. He went out into the water and knelt down and had some water poured on his head." He said he had seen it in history. We went to the water. He sang and prayed, then took me by the hand and led me to the water. He said, "Step in and kneel." I did. He dipped a little water, said over the ceremony, and poured it on my head, while he stood on the bank. He did not wet his feet. I thought if baptism was to answer a good conscience, I was not satisfied. It looked like mockery to me, but I had done my duty.I write this to let my children see the darkness and ignorance the world was then in. Surely the prophet could say darkness had covered the earth, and gross darkness, the people. I rejoice that we live in a day that the true light and true gospel was shining.I think I was in the Methodist Church about twenty years before I heard the true gospel. We happened to see the Book of Mormon. We borrowed it, read it, and believed it, but did not know anything more about it. We were very anxious to know more about it. It was not long before a Mormon preacher came. We had a great many questions to ask. He told us how the book was found and translated. He knew it to be a true record. We went to hear him preach. He said baptism by immersion was the only right way. It was for the remission of sins. I thought that looked right. In a short time some were ready to be baptized. I wanted to be at the first opportunity, but Satan thought he would hinder it. The night before baptism I was taken very lame with rheumatism or something else. I was so sick I could not get around much. As they were fixing to go, Brother Carter said to me, "Sister Pulsipher, if you will do your duty, you shall be healed." I took a cane and hauled to the water and went in. It was a very cold day, but I came out well, left my cane, and went away rejoicing.I was very ignorant, I had not heard anything about being confirmed, or receiving the Holy Ghost. The next evening I went to meeting and the six that were baptized were there. When he put his hands on my head, he said, "Sister Pulsipher, by the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the name of Jesus, I lay my hands on your head to bless you and to confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I say unto you, receive the Holy Ghost." He promised great blessings if I would be faithful. The Spirit of the Lord was there. We sang, prayed, and praised God together.It was not long before the news went all around that Brother and Sister Pulsipher were Mormons. Some would not believe it until they came to see us. We had plenty of visitors. Some came to try to convince us that it was all delusion. They thought they could reclaim us, but went away discouraged. Others came to inquire. They said if we had got something better, they wanted to know it. They would be baptized and go home rejoicing.I will mention one that came to see me, my brother-in-law, Joseph Chidester. He lived four miles from me. He was going to move away, but could not go without seeing me. I had belonged to the same church he did. He was a preacher. He said I was the last one he would have thought of as being led away with such heresy and delusions, as he thought it was. "Well," said I, "if this is what the world calls heresy, to worship my God, . . . I know in whom I believe." He said, "I think in about six months before you will see your error. I think Mormonism will be all down flat in that time." I said, "Joseph, I have not the least idea that it will. It will stand. But, if it does come down, I never could go to the Methodist or another church that I know of. It would be going right into darkness." He said, "I see I cannot convince you, but I have done my duty." He groaned and sighed and bid me farewell. I said, "I thank you for the kind feelings you have for me. Do not worry about me."I never saw him after that. He moved away, lived a few years and died very suddenly with heart disease. He had an appointment to preach the day he was buried. His wife, my sister, died soon after. I think they have heard the gospel preached before this time. Zerah and Joseph were great friends. He had not read the Book of Mormon nor heard a sermon preached. He judged before he heard, like too many others. If they would hear and read without prejudice, there would not be half so many cry out heresy, delusion and false prophets.Well, I began to gather with the church. I went to Kirtland. There I had my blessing from the first patriarch in this church, Father Joseph Smith. He said I should have my friends with me in this church, and that I would be the means of saving and redeeming them. I believed every word, but did not understand how it would come to pass. I never heard nor thought of being baptized for the dead. He said I had left all for the gospel, I should have a hundred fold in this world and in the world to come, life everlasting, with many more good blessings if I would be faithful.I am now almost 81 years old, have lived and enjoyed myself well with my children a long time. I expect the time will soon come when I must leave them. I have watched over them, tried to comfort them and instruct them right. I pray that they may live in peace, be united and keep all the commandments of God. If riches increase, set not your hearts on them, but lay up treasures in heaven. It is the only safe place that we can treasure up riches. I would like to have my children live near together to help and comfort one another. May God bless you all. -Mary Brown Pulsipher; Hebron, March, 1880.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 18 2020, 17:29:56 UTC


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Mary Ann Pulsipher's Timeline

1798
March 22, 1798
Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
1816
May 30, 1816
Choconet, Broome, New York
1817
September 8, 1817
Choconut, Broome, Pennsylvania, United States
1820
March 28, 1820
Choconut Center, Broome, New York, United States
1822
June 11, 1822
Susquehanna, Broome, NY, United States
1824
November 2, 1824
Spafford, Onondaga, NY, United States
1827
July 17, 1827
Stafford, Genesee, New York, United States
1830
April 20, 1830
Spafford, Onondaga, New York, United States
1833
November 20, 1833
Scott, Cortland County, New York, United States