Parley Parker Pratt

Birth Date
On 1807 April 12 (Born)
Death Date
On 1857 May 13 (Died)
Gender
Male

Parley Parker Pratt, farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823. Affiliated with Baptist church, ca. 1825. Lived in Ohio, 1826–1827. Married first Thankful Halsey, 9 Sept. 1827, at Canaan, Columbia Co., New York. Converted to reformed Baptist (later Disciples of Christ or Campbellite) faith by Sidney Rigdon, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ordained an elder by Oliver Cowdery, 1 Sept. 1830, at Seneca Lake, Seneca Co., New York. Served mission to unorganized Indian Territory and Missouri with Oliver Cowdery and others, 1830–1831. En route, stopped at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, and vicinity; missionaries baptized some 130 individuals. Returned to Kirtland, 3 Apr. 1831. Ordained a high priest by Lyman Wight, 4 June 1831. Served mission to western U.S., 7 June 1831–May 1832. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri, summer 1832. Appointed president of Elders School in Jackson Co. Left to serve mission to eastern U.S., Mar. 1834. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Moved to Kirtland, Oct. 1834. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by JS, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery, 21 Feb. 1835. Served mission to eastern U.S., spring–28 Aug. 1835. Served mission to Canada, Apr.–June 1836. Stockholder in Kirtland Safety Society. Wife died, 25 Mar. 1837. Married second Mary Ann Frost Stearns, 14 May 1837, at Kirtland. Left to serve mission to New York City, July 1837. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, Apr. 1838. Participated in skirmish at Crooked River, near Ray Co., Missouri, 25 Oct. 1838. Jailed at Richmond, Ray Co., and Columbia, Boone Co., Missouri, 1838–1839. Reunited with family, 11 July 1839, in Illinois. Served mission to England, 1839–1842. First editor of Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, published in Manchester, Lancashire, England, 27 May 1840. President of British mission, 1841–1842. Arrived at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 7 Feb. 1843. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844. Participated in plural marriage during JS’s lifetime. Directed affairs of church in New York City, 1844–1845. Moved to what became Mount Pisgah, Clarke Co., Iowa Territory, 1846. Left to serve mission to England, 31 July 1846. Arrived at Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (later in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), 8 Apr. 1847. Arrived in Salt Lake Valley, 28 Sept. 1847. Led exploration party into southern Utah Territory, Nov. 1849–Feb. 1850. Served mission to Chile and California, 16 Mar. 1851–18 Oct. 1852. Served mission to eastern U.S., beginning Sept. 1856. Murdered at Van Buren, Crawford Co., Arkansas.

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Born in Burlington, Otsego, New York, United States

1807 April 12
Mother
Charity Dickinson
Father
Jared Pratt

Date Details

Occurred On 1807 April 12

Married Thankful Halsey

1827 September 9 (Age 20)

Baptized by Oliver Cowdery

1830 September 1 (Age 23)

Ordained Elder

1830 September 1 (Age 23)

Ordained an Elder by Oliver Cowdery

Date Details

Occurred On 1830 September 1

Served in Lamanite Mission

1830 October – 1831 (Age 23) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Accompanied Oliver Cowdery and others

Priesthood Office
Elder
Residence When Called
New York
Location Served
New York and Far West

Date Details

Started On 1830 October
Departed from Home
Ended On 1831
Arrived at Home

Served in Early Church Mission: North America

1831 May 7 – June (Age 24) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Accompanied Sidney Rigdon and Leman Copley

Priesthood Office
Elder
Residence When Called
Kirtland, Ohio
Location Served
Cleveland, Ohio

Date Details

Started On 1831 May 7
Departed from Home
Ended On 1831 June
Released

Called to Preach Gospel to the Shakers

1831 May 7 (Age 24)

D&C 49:1 at Kirtland, Ohio

Date Details

Occurred On 1831 May 7

Ordained High Priest

1831 June 4 (Age 24)

Ordained High Priest by Lyman Wight

Date Details

Occurred On 1831 June 4
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Traveled with his brother, Orson Pratt

Priesthood Office
High Priest
Residence When Called
Kirtland, Ohio
Location Served
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri

Date Details

Ended On 1831
Released
Started On 1831 June 7
Departed from Home

Served in Early Church Mission: North America

1832 January 26 – 1833 (Age 24) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
High Priest
Residence When Called
Independence, Jackson, Missouri
Location Served
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio

Date Details

Started On 1832 January 26
Departed from Home
Ended On 1833
Arrived at Home
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Journal History July 31, 1832

Priesthood Office
High Priest
Location Served
Kirtland, Ohio to Missouri

Date Details

Started On 1832 July
Departed from Home
End Date Not Found
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Assisted Joseph the Prophet

Priesthood Office
High Priest
Location Served
Clay, Missouri to Kirtland, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania

Date Details

Started On 1834 January
Departed from Home
Ended On 1834
Released
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Office
High Priest
Location Served
Clay, Missouri

Date Details

Ended On 1834
Released
Started On 1834 July
Departed from Home

Served in Early Church Mission: North America

1835 January 6 (Age 27) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Worked with fellow Apostles

Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Location Served
Pennsylvania, New York, Canada

Date Details

Started On 1835 January 6
Departed from Home
End Date Not Found

Ordained member of the Quorum of the Twelve

1835 February 21 (Age 27)

Ordained member of the Quorum of the Twelve by Joseph Smith, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery

Date Details

Occurred On 1835 February 21

Married Mary Ann Frost

1837 May 9 (Age 30)

Served in Eastern States Mission

1837 July (Age 30) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Published a book, "Voice of Warning"

Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Location Served
Canada and New York

Date Details

Started On 1837 July
Departed from Home
End Date Not Found

Served in Eastern States Mission

1839 August 29 – 1841 April 21 (Age 32) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Commerce, Illinois
Location Served
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,and Great Britain

Date Details

Started On 1839 August 29
Departed from Home
Ended On 1841 April 21
Arrived at Home

Member of the Twelve

1841 January 19 (Age 33)

D&C 124:129 at Nauvoo, Illinois 

Date Details

Occurred On 1841 January 19

Called as President to British Mission

1841 April 21 – 1842 October 29 (Age 34) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Presided over British mission after Brigham Young left in 1841.

Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Served With
Location Served
Great Britain

Date Details

Started On 1841 April 21
Called
Ended On 1842 October 29
Departed from Field

Served in Eastern States Mission

1843 – 1844 July 10 (Age 35) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Illinois
Location Served
Massachusetts

Date Details

Started On 1843
Departed from Home
Ended On 1844 July 10
Arrived at Home

Married Elizabeth Brotherton

1843 July 24 (Age 36)

Married Mary Wood

1844 September 9 (Age 37)

Married Hanna Hette Snively

1844 November 2 (Age 37)

Married Belinda Marden

1844 November 20 (Age 37)

Called as President to Eastern States Mission

1844 December 2 – 1845 August (Age 37) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Illinois

Date Details

Started On 1844 December 2
Departed from Home
Ended On 1845 August
Arrived at Home

Married Sarah Houston

1845 October 15 (Age 38)

Married Phoebe Elizabeth Soper

1846 February 8 (Age 38)

Served in British Mission

1846 October 14 – 1847 January 19 (Age 39) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Location Served
England

Date Details

Started On 1846 October 14
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1847 January 19
Departed from Field

Married Ann Agatha Walker

1847 April 28 (Age 40)

Married Martha Monks

1847 April 28 (Age 40)

Served in Early Church Mission: South America

1851 March 16 – 1852 March 2 (Age 43) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Charged "to open the door and proclaim the Gospel in the Pacific Islands, in Lower California and in South America." Served in California then Chile.

Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Location Served
Chile

Date Details

Started On 1851 March 16
Departed from Home
Ended On 1852 March 2
Departed from Field
Mission Type
Other
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Tenor

Date Details

Started On 1852
Set Apart
Ended On 1857
Released

Called as Captain to Parley P. Pratt Company (1852)

1852 September 14 – October 18 (Age 45) Pioneers in Company
Roles
Captain

Date Details

Started On 1852 September 14
Joined Company
Ended On 1852 October 18
Company Arrived

Married Keziah Downes

1853 December 27 (Age 46)

Called as Captain to Parley P. Pratt Company (1855)

1855 June 20 – August 18 (Age 48) Pioneers in Company
Roles
Captain

Date Details

Started On 1855 June 20
Joined Company
Ended On 1855 August 18
Company Arrived

Married Eleanor Jane McComb

1855 November 14 (Age 48)

Served in Eastern States Mission

1856 September 11 – 1857 May 13 (Age 49) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Location Served
United States

Date Details

Started On 1856 September 11
Departed from Home
Ended On 1857 May 13
Released

Died in Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States

1857 May 13 (Age 50)
Media
Parley Parker Pratt Sr. (1807 - 1857)
Parley Parker Pratt Sr. (1807 - 1857)
Parley Parker Pratt Sr. (1807 - 1857) Profile
Parley Parker Pratt Sr. (1807 - 1857) Profile

Sources

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Mission

Pioneer