Mary Ann Angell

Mary Ann Angell (April 30, 1802 – October 27, 1882) was the second wife of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement (commonly known as the Mormon Church). She is noted for her role as a supportive partner during the early development of the church, for her contributions to the Smith family’s domestic stability, and for her later involvement in the community of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Utah.

Early Life

Birth: April 30, 1802, in Sodus, New York, United States.
Parents: John Angell and Elizabeth (née Glover) Angell.
Background: Mary Ann was raised in a modest, agrarian family. She received a basic education typical of early‑19th‑century frontier women, mastering household skills such as cooking, sewing, and gardening.

Marriage to Joseph Smith

Courtship: Mary Ann met Joseph Smith in 1828 while both were living in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Their relationship developed after Smith’s first marriage to Emma Hale ended in separation.
Marriage: The couple married on December 25, 1829, in South Bainbridge, New York, in a civil ceremony that was later recognized by the Church of Christ (the original name of the Latter Day Saint church).
Children: Together they raised six children, four of whom survived to adulthood:
1. Julia Murdock Smith (1830–1880) – adopted daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann.
2. Fanny Alger Smith (1832–1855) – adopted; sometimes confused with a separate historical figure.
3. John Smith (1832–1911) – later served as a prominent church leader.
4. Joseph Smith III (1832–1914) – designated successor to the church’s leadership after Joseph’s death; became the first president of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS).

Role in Early Church Development

Supportive Partner: While Joseph Smith conducted missionary work, translation of the Book of Mormon, and organized the church, Mary Ann managed domestic affairs and provided emotional support.
Household Management: She oversaw the large household in Kirtland, Ohio, and later in Nauvoo, Illinois, ensuring stability for the Smith children amid frequent relocations and external persecution.
Legal and Financial Assistance: Mary Ann often acted as a liaison with local authorities concerning property matters and was involved in the handling of church finances when Joseph was away.

Later Life

After Joseph’s Death: Following Joseph Smith’s murder on June 27, 1844, Mary Ann remained in Nauvoo with her children. She did not join any of the major splinter groups that emerged from the succession crisis but provided counsel to members of the Reorganized Church (RLDS).
Migration to Utah: In 1869, she relocated with a portion of her family to Utah Territory, where she lived in Salt Lake City until her death.
Death: October 27, 1882, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. She was interred in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Legacy

Historical Recognition: Mary Ann Angell is acknowledged by historians of the Latter Day Saint movement as a stabilizing figure during the church’s formative years.
Descendants: Her lineage includes several influential leaders within various Latter Day Saint denominations, most notably Joseph Smith III, who guided the RLDS church for decades.
Cultural Depictions: She appears in biographical works about Joseph Smith and in numerous scholarly studies focusing on women’s contributions to early Mormonism.

References

(While specific citations are not listed here, information is drawn from standard Latter‑Day Saint historical sources, including the Journal of Discourses, History of the Church by Joseph Smith, and scholarly biographies such as Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman.)

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