Ann Eliza Webb
Born 13 Sept. 1844 at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois.[1] Daughter of Chauncey G. Webb and Eliza Jane Churchill.[2] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the Brigham Young pioneer company, arriving by 24 Sept. 1848.[3] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Seth Taft, 21 May 1853, in Salt Lake City.[4] Married first James Leech Dee, 4 Apr. 1863, in Salt Lake City; two children.[5] Divorced 23 Dec. 1865.[6] Married second Brigham Young, 7 Apr. 1868, in Salt Lake City.[7] Sued Brigham Young for divorce and alimony, 1873–1877.[8] After appeals, the court ruled that the marriage was not legal, therefore no divorce nor alimony could be granted, Apr. 1877.[9] Gave antipolygamy lectures throughout the U.S., 1873–1883.[10] Spoke in Salt Lake City, 7 Sept. 1874; EBW commented on the lecture.[11] Wrote a book about her experiences as a plural wife, 1875.[12] EBW commented on her efforts to discredit the church, 7 Mar. 1879.[13] Married third Moses R. Deming, 19 May 1883, in Medina Co., Ohio.[14] Lived in Montezuma, Summit Co., Colorado, by 1900.[15] Republished her book with revisions, 1908.[16] Moved to Sparks, Washoe Co., Nevada, by 1910.[17] Died 7 Dec. 1917 in Sparks; buried in Reno, Washoe Co.[18]
[1] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. C, 26 Mar. 1857–20 Apr. 1861, p. 126, line 3, Ann Eliza Webb, 18 July 1860, microfilm 1149525, DGS 7226466 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 27 Jan. 2020), Ann Eliza Webb (KWVC-B56).
[2] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. C, 26 Mar. 1857–20 Apr. 1861, p. 126, line 3, Ann Eliza Webb, 18 July 1860, microfilm 1149525, DGS 7226466 (restricted access), FHL. Ann Eliza Young, Wife No. 19, or, The Story of a Life in Bondage, Being a Complete Exposé of Mormonism, and Revealing the Sorrows, Sacrifices and Sufferings of Women in Polygamy (Hartford, CT: Dustin, Gilman, 1875), 33, 35.
[3] “Ann Eliza Webb,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 22 Jan. 2020). Camp of Israel Schedules and Reports, 1845–1849, Brigham Young’s 1848 Emigration Division, First 100, Report, June 1848, MS 14290, image 3/6, CHL.
[4] Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Ninth Ward, Part 1, 1907–1941, p. 176, CR 375 8, image 182/772, CHL.
[5] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 22 Nov. 1861–29 Dec. 1866, p. 205, line 5802, James Leech Dee and Ann Eliza Webb, 4 Apr. 1863, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL. Ann Eliza Young, Wife No. 19, or, The Story of a Life in Bondage, Being a Complete Exposé of Mormonism, and Revealing the Sorrows, Sacrifices and Sufferings of Women in Polygamy (Hartford, CT: Dustin, Gilman, 1875), 403, 405.
[6] Ann Eliza Young, Wife No. 19, or, The Story of a Life in Bondage, Being a Complete Exposé of Mormonism, and Revealing the Sorrows, Sacrifices and Sufferings of Women in Polygamy (Hartford, CT: Dustin, Gilman, 1875), 410.
[7] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. E, 1 Jan. 1867–16 Aug. 1869, p. 126, line 10928, Brigham Young and Ann Eliza Webb, 7 Apr. 1868, microfilm 1149515, DGS 7226456 (restricted access), FHL.
[8] “The Divorce Suit,” Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 1873, 2. “Ann Eliza vs. Brigham Young,” Santa Cruz (CA) Weekly Sentinel, 6 Mar. 1875, 2.
[9] “Young vs. Young,” Salt Lake Daily Herald, 28 Apr. 1877, 3.
[10] “From Salt Lake,” Helena (MT) Weekly Herald, 4 Dec. 1873, 2. “A Woman’s Mission,” St. Alban’s Semi-weekly Advertiser (St. Albans, VT), 17 Oct. 1876, 3. Daily Star Gazette (Green Bay, WI), 1 Mar. 1897, 4. “Amusements,” Messenger and Examiner (Owensboro, KY), 26 Apr. 1881, 3.
[11] “My Life in Bondage,” Salt Lake Daily Herald, 8 Sept. 1874, 3. EBW, Diary, 7 Sept. 1874.
[12] Ann Eliza Young, Wife No. 19, or, The Story of a Life in Bondage, Being a Complete Exposé of Mormonism, and Revealing the Sorrows, Sacrifices and Sufferings of Women in Polygamy (Hartford, CT: Dustin, Gilman, 1875).
[13] EBW, Diary, 7 Mar. 1879.
[14] Medina Co., OH, Probate Court, Marriage Records, 1818–1965, p. 149, Ann E. Dee and Moses R. Deming, microfilm 423822, DGS 4257839, image 109/274, FHL. Butler (PA) Citizen, 4 June 1883, 1.
[15] 1900 U.S. Census, Montezuma, Summit Co., CO, ED 152, p. 4A, Anna E. Denning.
[16] Ann Eliza Young, Life in Mormon Bondage: A Complete Exposé of Its False Prophets, Murderous Danites, Despotic Rulers, and Hypnotized, Deluded Subjects (Philadelphia: Aldine Press, 1908).
[17] 1910 U.S. Census, Sparks, Washoe Co., NV, ED 77, p. 13B, Anna E. Denning.
[18] “Nevada Death Certificates, 1911–1965,” Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/, accessed 22 Jan. 2020), Annie E. Denning. “Ann Eliza Webb Denning Young Dee,” Mountain View Cemetery, Reno, Washoe Co., NV, Find a Grave, posted 7 Aug. 2011, memorial no. 74547270 (http://findagrave.com, accessed 22 Jan. 2020).