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Patty Bartlett Sessions

January 01, 1970

Patty Bartlett Sessions (February 4, 1795 – December 14, 1892)[1] was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She was a plural wife to Joseph Smith and is celebrated for her work as a midwife for members of the church. One of her sons, Perrigrine Sessions, was the founder of Bountiful, Utah. She is best known for her diaries, which recorded the daily activities of the Latter-day Saints during the first year of the Mormon migration to the Salt Lake Valley, and the earliest days of their settlement there. These diaries document the physical, social, and religious circumstances of the settlers, especially of the women, and are frequently cited by historians. Her records are also a primary source of birth records for the Latter-day Saint community during this period, and are highly prized for documenting almost 4,000 births. Her journals are also important because they provide an inside look into Mormon polygamy.[2]

Sessions in later life

Life history edit

Patty Bartlett was born in Bethel, Maine, to Enoch Bartlett and Anna Hall.[3] At age 17 on June 28, 1812, Patty married David Sessions against her parents' wishes.[2] Immediately after the wedding they moved in with his parents.[2] It was there that Patty began her career at a midwife by arriving at an emergency birth before her mother-in-law, who was the midwife for the area.[2] A doctor came later, congratulated her, and commented on her natural skill in midwifery.[2] She subsequently continued delivering children.[3] Patty and David lived with his parents until, in 1813, they purchased and ran a farm in Ketcham, Maine.[2] Their marriage produced 8 children;[1] only three survived to adulthood.[2]

Sessions's upbringing wasn't religious;[2] she converted to the Methodist faith in her early adulthood.[1] In 1833, having met with missionaries, she converted to the Latter Day Saint church. In the interest of marital harmony she waited until 1834[1] to get baptized to allow her husband time to adjust to the change.[2] In 1835 her husband was baptized as well.[3] After attending a conference in 1836 where church leaders preached the importance of gathering the Saints, the Sessions family moved to Far West, Missouri,[2] until they were driven out by the Extermination Order. Leaving behind almost everything they owned, they traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois.[4]

On March 9, 1842, Sessions was sealed to Joseph Smith as one of his plural wives.

Sessions's diaries begin with a journal that she received from her daughter, Sylvia, on February 4, 1846.[5] Earlier diaries that she had kept since 1812 have been lost.[6] Her diaries provide daily record for over 20 years, and included every birth she attended.[7] After 1868, there are gaps in her record, but she continued to record entries in her diary until she was 94 years old, in 1888.[8] Her journal also included recipes for ailments.[9]

In 1846, Brigham Young instructed Latter-day Saints to head west, beyond the western frontier into what was then Mexico.[10] He instructed Patty Sessions to go with the pilot company to care for the sick and afflicted, as well as to serve as midwife.[11] She delivered nine babies on the banks of the Mississippi River, and many others on the pioneer trek.[12] She spent the winter of 1846–47 at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and on June 19, 1847, at 52 years old, Sessions left Winter Quarters for the West.[13] On September 24, 1847, she arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. About the journey she wrote, "I have drove my wa[g]on all the way but part of the two last m[oun]t[ain]s."[14]

When David died on August 11, 1850, Patty was left as a widow in a time where women struggled without a husband.[15] She wasn't single for long as she married John Parry on December 14, 1851.[15]

Within one year of arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Sessions delivered 248 babies. She recorded 3,977 births with only "two difficult cases".[12] She made an average of $2 per birth and continued to deliver babies until she was about 85 years old.[citation needed]

When she died on December 14, 1892, at the age of 97, she was survived by two sons, 33 grandchildren, 137 great-grandchildren, and 22 great-great-grandchildren.[1]

Family edit

Of the eight children that Patty produced with David Sessions only three survived to adulthood. The eldest, Perrigrine Sessions, kept journals and wrote various histories about his mother's life. These documents are used to clarify and to add to the journals written by his mother. Together, these documents produce a vivid picture of the life of one of the earliest members of the LDS Church.[2]

Her second child, Sylvia Lyon Clark (née Sessions), was also sealed as one of Joseph Smith's wives in 1842. Sylvia waited to cross the plains until 1854. When she reached Utah Territory, she bought a farm near her mother's home in Salt Lake City.[2]

Her youngest surviving child was named after his father, David.[2]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Sister Patty Session", Deseret Weekly, p. 7 [39], 1892-12-31, retrieved 2011-11-02
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Compton, Todd (2001). In Sacred Loneliness. United States: Signature Books. pp. 171–204. ISBN 1-56085-085-X.
  3. ^ a b c Turley Jr., Richard E.; Nash, Brittany Chapman (2011). Women of faith in the latter days. Turley, Richard E., Jr., 1956-, Nash, Brittany Chapman. Salt Lake City, Utah. ISBN 9781606410332. OCLC 751248881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Smart (1996), pp. 3-4.
  5. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. p. 32. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  6. ^ Temple (2001), p. 205.
  7. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife. Logan Utah: Utah State University Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  8. ^ Madsen (1999).
  9. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife. Logan Utah: Utah State University Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  10. ^ Rohrer, S. Scott (2010). Wandering Souls: Protestant Migrations in America, 1630-1865. The United States of America: The University of North Carolina Press. pp. 216–230. ISBN 978-0-8078-3372-8.
  11. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife: The 1846-1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  12. ^ a b Bushman, Claudia (1997). Mormon Sisters. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. pp. 51–55. ISBN 0-87421-233-2.
  13. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  14. ^ Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon Midwife. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. p. 99. ISBN 0-87421-274-X.
  15. ^ a b Sessions, Patty Bartlett (1997). Mormon midwife : the 1846-1888 diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions. Smart, Donna Toland, 1923-. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press. ISBN 9780874213270. OCLC 42854424.

References edit

Reviews:
  • Smart, Donna T. (1996), "Patty Bartlett Sessions (1795-1892), Pioneer Midwife", in Colleen Whitley (ed.), Worth their Salt: Notable but Often Unnoted Women of Utah, Utah State University Press, pp. 1–12, ISBN 9780874212068

External links edit

  • at Joseph Smith Papers Project website
  • Photograph of plaque quoting Sessions
  • Mormon Midwife: The 1846-1888 Diaries of Patty Sessions Utah State University Press catalog
  • Sessions, Patty Bartlett, Diaries and account book, 1846-1866; 1880, vol. 1., churchofjesuschrist.org
  • , Encounter Essay, Journal of Mormon History

January 01, 1970
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Patty Bartlett Sessions February 4 1795 December 14 1892 1 was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church She was a plural wife to Joseph Smith and is celebrated for her work as a midwife for members of the church One of her sons Perrigrine Sessions was the founder of Bountiful Utah She is best known for her diaries which recorded the daily activities of the Latter day Saints during the first year of the Mormon migration to the Salt Lake Valley and the earliest days of their settlement there These diaries document the physical social and religious circumstances of the settlers especially of the women and are frequently cited by historians Her records are also a primary source of birth records for the Latter day Saint community during this period and are highly prized for documenting almost 4 000 births Her journals are also important because they provide an inside look into Mormon polygamy 2 Sessions in later life Contents 1 Life history 2 Family 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife history editPatty Bartlett was born in Bethel Maine to Enoch Bartlett and Anna Hall 3 At age 17 on June 28 1812 Patty married David Sessions against her parents wishes 2 Immediately after the wedding they moved in with his parents 2 It was there that Patty began her career at a midwife by arriving at an emergency birth before her mother in law who was the midwife for the area 2 A doctor came later congratulated her and commented on her natural skill in midwifery 2 She subsequently continued delivering children 3 Patty and David lived with his parents until in 1813 they purchased and ran a farm in Ketcham Maine 2 Their marriage produced 8 children 1 only three survived to adulthood 2 Sessions s upbringing wasn t religious 2 she converted to the Methodist faith in her early adulthood 1 In 1833 having met with missionaries she converted to the Latter Day Saint church In the interest of marital harmony she waited until 1834 1 to get baptized to allow her husband time to adjust to the change 2 In 1835 her husband was baptized as well 3 After attending a conference in 1836 where church leaders preached the importance of gathering the Saints the Sessions family moved to Far West Missouri 2 until they were driven out by the Extermination Order Leaving behind almost everything they owned they traveled to Nauvoo Illinois 4 On March 9 1842 Sessions was sealed to Joseph Smith as one of his plural wives Sessions s diaries begin with a journal that she received from her daughter Sylvia on February 4 1846 5 Earlier diaries that she had kept since 1812 have been lost 6 Her diaries provide daily record for over 20 years and included every birth she attended 7 After 1868 there are gaps in her record but she continued to record entries in her diary until she was 94 years old in 1888 8 Her journal also included recipes for ailments 9 In 1846 Brigham Young instructed Latter day Saints to head west beyond the western frontier into what was then Mexico 10 He instructed Patty Sessions to go with the pilot company to care for the sick and afflicted as well as to serve as midwife 11 She delivered nine babies on the banks of the Mississippi River and many others on the pioneer trek 12 She spent the winter of 1846 47 at Winter Quarters Nebraska and on June 19 1847 at 52 years old Sessions left Winter Quarters for the West 13 On September 24 1847 she arrived in the Salt Lake Valley About the journey she wrote I have drove my wa g on all the way but part of the two last m oun t ain s 14 When David died on August 11 1850 Patty was left as a widow in a time where women struggled without a husband 15 She wasn t single for long as she married John Parry on December 14 1851 15 Within one year of arriving in the Salt Lake Valley Sessions delivered 248 babies She recorded 3 977 births with only two difficult cases 12 She made an average of 2 per birth and continued to deliver babies until she was about 85 years old citation needed When she died on December 14 1892 at the age of 97 she was survived by two sons 33 grandchildren 137 great grandchildren and 22 great great grandchildren 1 Family editOf the eight children that Patty produced with David Sessions only three survived to adulthood The eldest Perrigrine Sessions kept journals and wrote various histories about his mother s life These documents are used to clarify and to add to the journals written by his mother Together these documents produce a vivid picture of the life of one of the earliest members of the LDS Church 2 Her second child Sylvia Lyon Clark nee Sessions was also sealed as one of Joseph Smith s wives in 1842 Sylvia waited to cross the plains until 1854 When she reached Utah Territory she bought a farm near her mother s home in Salt Lake City 2 Her youngest surviving child was named after his father David 2 See also editOrigin of Latter Day Saint polygamyNotes edit a b c d e Sister Patty Session Deseret Weekly p 7 39 1892 12 31 retrieved 2011 11 02 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Compton Todd 2001 In Sacred Loneliness United States Signature Books pp 171 204 ISBN 1 56085 085 X a b c Turley Jr Richard E Nash Brittany Chapman 2011 Women of faith in the latter days Turley Richard E Jr 1956 Nash Brittany Chapman Salt Lake City Utah ISBN 9781606410332 OCLC 751248881 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Smart 1996 pp 3 4 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife Logan Utah Utah State University Press p 32 ISBN 0 87421 274 X Temple 2001 p 205 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife Logan Utah Utah State University Press p 186 ISBN 0 87421 274 X Madsen 1999 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife Logan Utah Utah State University Press p 76 ISBN 0 87421 274 X Rohrer S Scott 2010 Wandering Souls Protestant Migrations in America 1630 1865 The United States of America The University of North Carolina Press pp 216 230 ISBN 978 0 8078 3372 8 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife The 1846 1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions Logan Utah Utah State University Press pp 34 35 ISBN 0 87421 274 X a b Bushman Claudia 1997 Mormon Sisters Logan Utah Utah State University Press pp 51 55 ISBN 0 87421 233 2 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife Logan Utah Utah State University Press pp 84 85 ISBN 0 87421 274 X Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon Midwife Logan Utah Utah State University Press p 99 ISBN 0 87421 274 X a b Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Mormon midwife the 1846 1888 diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions Smart Donna Toland 1923 Logan Utah Utah State University Press ISBN 9780874213270 OCLC 42854424 References editBrodie Fawn 1946 No Man Knows My History The Life of Joseph Smith Alfred A Knopf Rugh Susan 1978 Patty Bartlett Sessions More than a Midwife in Vicky Burgess Olson ed Sister Saints Brigham Young University Press pp 303 322 ISBN 0 8425 1235 7 Sessions Patty Bartlett March 1996 An Olive Leaf We Blessed and Got Blessed PDF Sunstone Magazine 101 80 archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 21 retrieved 2008 06 28 Sessions Patty Bartlett 1997 Donna Toland Smart ed Mormon Midwife The 1846 1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions Utah State University Press ISBN 0 87421 227 8 Reviews Kimball Violet T Fall 1999 Mormon Midwife The 1846 1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions by Donna Toland Smart Journal of Mormon History 25 2 191 193 Madsen Carol Cornwall 1999 Review PDF BYU Studies 38 4 192 195 retrieved 2008 06 28 permanent dead link Rugh Susan Sessions Sessions Patty Bartlett Smart Donna Toland Richards Mary Haskin Parker Ward Maurine Carr Winter 1998 Mormon Midwife The 1846 1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions The Western Historical Quarterly 29 4 540 541 doi 10 2307 970427 JSTOR 970427 Temple Judy Nolte Fall Winter 2001 A Variety of Women s Voices Dialogue A Journal of Mormon Thought 34 3 amp 4 203 207 doi 10 2307 45226804 JSTOR 45226804 S2CID 254398728 retrieved 2008 06 28 Smart Donna T 1996 Patty Bartlett Sessions 1795 1892 Pioneer Midwife in Colleen Whitley ed Worth their Salt Notable but Often Unnoted Women of Utah Utah State University Press pp 1 12 ISBN 9780874212068External links editBiography at Joseph Smith Papers Project website Photograph of plaque quoting Sessions Mormon Midwife The 1846 1888 Diaries of Patty Sessions Utah State University Press catalog Sessions Patty Bartlett Diaries and account book 1846 1866 1880 vol 1 churchofjesuschrist org What is Patty Sessions To Me Encounter Essay Journal of Mormon History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patty Bartlett Sessions amp oldid 1222131093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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