Belinda (Marden) Pratt (1820 - 1894)

Born 24 Dec 1820 in Chichester, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Parley Parker Pratt Sr — married 20 Nov 1844 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Feb 1894 at age 73 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Anita Jackson [send private message] and Steve Robison [send private message]

Autobiography

Coleman, Arthur D., Wives and Daughters of the Pratt Pioneers of Utah, pp.70-76:

Written at Salt Lake City, Utah, February 17, 1884:

I, Belinda Marden Pratt, born in Chichester, Merrimack Co., State of New Hampshire on Dec. 24, 1820, was the youngest child of my parents John Marden and Rachel Shaw Marden, was the fourteenth child, there being seven boys and seven girls. My parents were strictly moral and members of the Congregational Church. My father died just before I was 14 years old, age 61 years. My mother lived to the age of 83.

At 19 years of age I was married to Benjamin Abbot Hilton. We were married in Nashua, New Hampshire, a baptist minister named Pratt performing the ceremony. Our first home was in Amoskeag, then Manchester and from there we moved to the city of Boston.

My husband was an infidel and unbelieving in most things pertaining to religion; while I was continually ambitious to find the right kind of religion, never feeling assured that those I was acquainted with were right.

In the winter of 1843 we were attracted by a hand bill stating that a Mormon preacher would hold three meetings in the Boylston Hall. Not having any particular thing to hinder, we thot we would go in and hear him. The Elder was at prayer and such a prayer! We stood in the isle till he finished. I think the light of heaven rested down upon me for the joy and peace I experienced was unexpressible. We attended the three meetings morning, afternoon and evening. I had an overwhelming testimony that what he preached was true and was so rejoiced that I seemed to myself light as air, as tho my feet scarcely touched the ground. Mr. Hilton felt different--that it was a splendid doctrine to whip the sectarians but said I was too enthusiastic. I prayed often and much and felt great concern because my husband took so different a view of it from what I did. I wrote to my sisters, they all opposed me and all I could do was to continually cry to the Lord. We continued to attend the meetings and one day in March my husband came home at an unusual hour and told me he was so wrought upon that he could not work or sleep and he would have to go and get baptized. Didn't my heart rejoice! Then I could go and oh what joy! We were baptized in Boston. It was so cold the ice had to be broken and held back with poles while we went in. I think it was near the last of March 1843. Don't know the exact date.

Everything went on well for a time but it was not long before my husband began to doubt and to feel ill toward the church and the brethren. He and some of his associates joined the Odd Fellows and he thought that was better than Mormonism.

We were baptized by Elder Ira P. Magin and I think, confirmed by the same. I had a sorrowful heart all the time as Mr. Hilton got more and more bitter toward the Church. I was so conversant with the scriptures that with the testimony of the Spirit I knew the doctrine preached by the elders was true and I so much wished I could gather with the Saints at Nauvoo.

In the spring of 1844 there were quite a number of the elders from Nauvoo and the branch then in Boston was quite large. Parley P. Pratt, Erastus Snow, George J. Adams and others were there. I did not mingle much with the Saints for fear of displeasing my husband. In the month of June eight of the Twelve Apostles came east to electioneer for Joseph Smith for president of the U. S. They were Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, and Lyman Wight. The rest I do not remember. An elder invited Brigham Young to come and see me, telling him my husband had apostatized. He came and I told him I was about to go and visit for some weeks in the country to see my husband's relatives and mine also. He said "When you go, go to the clerk of this branch and get a letter of recommendation and I will call and see you again." This was some time in July. He did not call again for they, the twelve, got news of the death of Joseph Smith and Hyrum and made immediate arrangements to go home to Nauvoo.

I went according to the counsel of President Young, fearing and trembling for fear Mr. Hilton would know it for he had gotten so bitter and so filled with the spirit of persecution he let me have no peace day or night; forbid me going to meetings or having any association with the Mormons as he chose to call them. I did not know what I was going to do or how I could live under the pressure for all my relatives were as bitter as he was. All I could do was to pray continually to the Lord and he surely heard my prayers.

Without the thot ever having entered my head to leave my husband I went to the clerk for my letter of recommendation altho I could not see what good it would do to get it when I was just going on a visit but to be obedient to the councel of President Young I went. Now see God's hand.

The clerk proceeded to write and turned around and asked me how Mr. Hilton felt now about Mormonism. I told him he was going to have his name taken off the books as he did not believe anything in it, etc. Lyman Wight stood by and heard the conversation and turning to me said privately, "Why don't you go to Nauvoo?" I said "How can I?" He said "We, that is the Twelve, start in the morning. You can go with us." I said my husband would not let me and I was not going to start for the country till the next day after. I said, too, I should not have money for as long a journey. Lyman Wight finally told in the name of the Lord God of Israel if I would leave I would never see the day I would be sorry for it. I said I would go. He told me there was a sister in Utica, New York he thot would help me to money for my journey. He would go there if he could, if not he would write to her. He gave me her address and I accordingly got my letter; went home and began my preparations to leave.

When the morning came for me to start on my visit Mr. Hilton went with me to the depot and waited till the train started. Of course I had to start north instead of west to visit our friends. When I found myself alone at the first station I ordered my trunk and told the conductor I would have to go back to Boston. When I got back it was only 9 o'clock and I took a carriage and went to the United States Hotel because this was the nearest to the western depot. I found I would have to wait until 5 p.m. before the western train started. I had not the least conviction of conscience or one that I was doing wrong in leaving my husband. My heart was filled with joy and thanksgiving for I never doubted for one moment but what I should get along alright and that God would bless me. All the sorrow I had was for him and I pitied him more than I can express on paper.

(22 July 1844) At 5 o'clock I started in a second class train thinking to save money by it but a drunken man was so insulting I was obliged to call the conductor and get on a first class car and pay full price. Got to Springfield, Mass. the first night and stayed at a hotel. At 7 a.m. started for Utica arriving about 7 p.m. Took a carriage and drove to Sister Monroe's as Brother Lyman directed. He was not there but had written to her asking her to help me to means to prosecute my journey to Nauvoo.

I found her and her daughters and sisters a very agreeable family and we had a night of rejoicing but I never told them I had been married; neither my right name for I feared I might get into trouble if I did. I never at any time made a confidant of any person so no one would say I told them anything and so give a clue that my husband or relatives could trace me.

Sister Monroe was a widow and said she had no immediate means she could spare. I told her I was a dressmaker and she set me plenty of work. I made dresses and satchels for two months and then her sister, now Sister Ruth Kimball, and I started on out journey alone about 1500 to Nauvoo. I need not say we had many adventures travelling as we were alone without a protector and some not very pleasant ones but the Great Father protected us and we accomplished our journey in safety arriving in Nauvoo the last of September. James Monroe came for us and escorted us to Sister Blasorous who was a sister to Ruth Reese.

I soon found employment in dressmaking and many kind friends. President Young welcomed me and blessed me. In my mind I had accepted all the revelations of God, polygamy included, but on account of the sayings and doings of some of the brethren and sisters I suffered the temptations of Satan to nearly overcome me so far that I would have nothing to do with it--I mean polygamy. A good sister where I was staying called in President Young to talk to me. He instructed me in the principle and desiring with all my heart to understand the truth I testify that the Holy Spirit rested down upon me and it was made plain to my understanding that it was a divine principle and with great joy of heart I accepted it and never from that time to this (1889) has there been a doubt in my mind concerning it.

My husband, Mr. Hilton, obtained a divorce from me by the false swearing of apostates.

I was sealed to Parley P. Pratt on or about the 20th of Nov. 1844 in one of the chambers of the house of Erastus Snow. I was sealed to this, one of the first twelve apostles of this dispensation by Pres. Brigham Young for time and all eternity. There was but one witness, Brother Erastus Snow.

On or about the first of December Mr. Pratt was appointed and set apart for a mission to the Eastern States to take charge of the churches in the Atlantic States. As I was without home or relatives in this part of the country he wished me to follow him. I will not attempt to tell the joy that filled my heart. I had never expected to have so great a priviledge. He gave me means to go and accordingly I started a day or two after he did. After arriving at St. Louis, went on the same boat with him to Pittsburg and Wheeling, Virginia. From there we crossed the Alleghany Mountains by stage to Wilmington; from there by rail to Philadelphia. Here we were obliged to wait a few days for money then we went in to the city of New York by rail and arrived on Christmas Eve--he to visit some of the saints and I to find a boarding place among strangers for it was not known that the sealing power was practiced except by a few of the saints.

I found a boarding place and paid my expenses sewing. After a short time I rented a house and Mr. Pratt boarded with me. I commenced dressmaking and knitting baby socks which I sold by the dozen, earning from fifty cents to a dollar a day nearly all the time I was there besides my house work and washing.

Mr. Pratt was called home to Nauvoo August 18, 1845 and I started with him. We came home by the Erie Canal and lakes journeying from Chicago to Nauvoo by land. I went to Mr. Beach's tavern to board while Mr. Pratt went to his home. After a while it was arranged for his wife Mary and I to commence housekeeping in rooms upstairs in Mr. Pratt's house.

The Temple was completed so far as to give endowments therein and some time in December I received my endowments and blessings therein and was again sealed over the altar.

On January 1st, 1846 I had a son born who was named Nephi by his father. Sometime in this month of the 1st of February I received my second anointing in the Temple.

The persecution of the saints became so great that the authorities of the church and many of the saints had to bid farewell to their homes in February and we crossed the Mississippi River about the 14th of this month. It was extremely cold and my babe only 6 weeks old. I had not recovered my strength but a merciful Providence sustained me and by degrees I gained strength.

It was a terrible journey from Nauvoo to the Missouri River. It stormed almost continually, snow and rain and the earth was soaked. The poor horses and cattle could drag us but a few miles in a day. We arrived in July to the Missouri river near Council Bluffs and camped for several weeks.

Sources

• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLFG-JNL :

11 February 2018), Benjamin A. Hilton and Belinda C. Marden, 27 May 1840;

citing Nashua, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,265.

• #S-2009482853 Page: Ancestry Family Trees Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=15949597&pid=1149774080

• Despain, Carrie Robison and Garner, Melba Despain. History & Genealogy of the Franklin Alonzo Robison Family, p. 16.

• Archives of Genealogy Library in Salt Lake City.

• Pratt, Parley Parker. Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, pp. 457-471.

• Black, Susan W. E. Early LDS Membership Data (Infobases, 1995):

Comments: Bought stock in a flour mill. Activities as president in Fillmore. Relief Society, 1877-79. Gap: January to December 1878. Mass meeting to protest antipolygamy activities of gentile women in Salt Lake City, 1879. Quilting. Gap: January 1879 to April 1881. President of Millard Stake Relief Society, 1881. Poor health. Dreamed that her husband, Parley P. Pratt, came to her and told her to stay with Relief Society but to give up tasks of lesser importance. ("In reading 'our Exponent' of the 1st of this month I could only give expression to my feelings in tears. What an age we are living in! How great the responsibilities of the Sisters of the Church. What a work they are accomplishing.") Visited Relief Societies in outlying settlements, as well as YLMIA, 1881. Gap: February 1882 to March 1883, with a few entries in September and October 1882. Moved to Salt Lake City. Pratt family reunion, 1884.

• Day, Stella H., ed. Builders of Early Millard, p. 603.

• Lichfield, Beulah Menlove. Cemetery Records, Fillmore, Millard Co., Utah, p. 57.

• The Progress-Review, Vol. 19, No. 17, Fillmore, Utah, Friday, 26 Apr 1912, p. 1, Obituary: Robison, Isabel Eleanor Pratt

• Call, Michel L. The Royal Ancestry Bible, Condensed Edition, Appendix, p. 31

Belinda B. Marden

• WikiTree profile Marden-37 created through the import of Ancestors of PBHowe.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Buck Howe. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Buck and others.

• Source: S-2009482853 Repository: #R-2009482618 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

• Repository: R-2009482618 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com