Mary McRee Black Brown

Profile

BIRTHDATE: 28 Oct 1820, Copiah Co., Mississippi

DEATH: 1 Nov 1907, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah

PARENTS: Charles William McRee & Mark Corkins

PIONEER COMPANY: Mormon Battalion Sick Detachment

ARRIVAL DATE: 29 July 1847

SPOUSE #1: George Black

MARRIED DATE: Before 1838, Copiah Co., Mississippi

DEATH OF SPOUSE #1: Aug 1845

CHILDREN:

Isabella, 6 Oct 1838

George David, 18 Feb 1840

Melissa, 8 Mar 1841

Elizabeth, 12 Apr 1842

Rebecca, 1 Aug 1844

SPOUSE #2: Captain James Brown, Jr.

MARRIED DATE: 16 Jul 1846, Probably Nauvoo, Illinois

DEATH OF SPOUSE #2: 30 Sep 1863, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah

CHILDREN:

Mary Eliza, 8 Nov 1847

Margaret, 17 Dec 1849

Mary Ann “Polly”, 5 May 1852

Joseph Smith, 4 Jan 1856

Josephine Vilate, 8 Jan 1858

Mary McRee was born in 1820 in Mississippi. Her parents were of Scottish descent. Her father was a wealthy plantation owner and a doctor of medicine. In her youth, Mary had every comfort and luxury available, even a personal maid. When she was very young her mother died. Later, her father married a life-long friend of his deceased wife, Mary Warnock, who was a very devoted and wise stepmother. Mary was taught well in sewing and in the scriptures. Her father was the owner of 100 slaves, but as soon as it was possible to do so, he gave all his slaves their freedom and retained them at a wage to work on his large plantation. He provided for them well.

Mary married George Black before 1838. In 1841, Mary and George joined the L.D.S. Church having been converted by Daniel Tyler. Her conversion angered her family, who disowned her. In 1843, Mary and George moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, leaving their home, family, friends and property. Mary had a half-section of valuable timber land which her father had given her as a “gift of love” at the time of her marriage. Later, this was sold for taxes. After arriving in Nauvoo, Mary’s husband worked on the Nauvoo Temple for two years and later engaged in the mercantile business. He took a partner, Mr. Gully, in with him and was very successful until his health failed. He died of malaria in 1845. Gully defrauded Mary of every cent that was invested in the business.

During all these years, Mary had heard nothing from her parents. She had buried three little girls and the death of her husband was a severe trial for her. Failing in health and destitute, she did not know what to do. Her husband’s folks in Mississippi, who had joined the Church, wanted her to come there. On his death bed, Charles begged her not to go. She refused to go, although doctors had warned her she must leave Nauvoo climate or die. She became bvery ill, so she sent for the Prophet Joseph Smith, who came with Brigham Young. He blessed he and told her to go to her husband’s people and she would et well and do much good in her life.

Mary went to Mississippi and while there she visited her father and step-mother, both of whom had softened toward her. He last daughter died, leaving her son, George David who was five years old. In the spring, David Tyler and other Saints in Mississippi too Mary and George back to Nauvoo. George contracted malaria and almost died, but Brigham Young administered to him and baptized him in the river, sealing against all diseases for the rest of his life. He died later from an accident.

Mary was in Nauvoo when the Prophet Joseph Smith was murdered. At a conference of the Church, to choose a new leader, Mary exclaimed with other Saints, as Brigham Young walked up the aisle, “The Prophet has come back.” She testified many times that Brigham Young looked and talked just like the Prophet Joseph.

When the Saints left Nauvoo for the Rocky Mountains, James Brown invited Mary and her son to join his company. Later he proposed to her and they were married in 1846. Mary was James Brown’s sixth wife. While at Council Bluffs, Iowa, the government drafted 500 men for the war with Mexico. James Brown was Captain of Company C. Mary served as laundress for the company. She endured all the hardships in that long march. James lead the sick detachment which left the Battalion in Santa Fe, New Mexico and wintered in Pueblo, Colorado. The detachment reached Salt Lake Valley five days after the Brigham Young Company arrival on 19 July 1847. They made their home in the fort which stood where Pioneer Park now is located.

They later moved north to Ogden. Their home was primitive and their only food was meat, milk and butter.

James died suddenly in 1863. Mary then moved to Oxford, Idaho to be near her son, George Black. Later she moved back to Ogden to live with her daughter, Josephine. When Josephine died, she went to live with her daughter Mary Eliza Critchlow.

When Mary was just about ninety years old, quite suddenly, her daughter, Mary Eliza died with pneumonia. Mary’s two sons, George Black and Joseph Brown were on their way to their sister’s funeral, when they had a train change and lay-over in Idaho Falls. They went uptown while waiting. David went back to the depot, but Joseph stayed in town longer and on his way back to the depot was shot and killed. David did not want to add to his mother’s grief so he took Joseph back to his home.

Such courage and faith and acceptance of trail in the face of this double bereavement was another indication of Mary’s wonderful character. She lived to be a little over 90 years old.

Source: Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude , page 392.

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