The New York herald., 1873-12-20
BRIGHAM'S WIVES.
Who Was HIS First and How Many are
There :-An Interesting Inquiry by an
English Plumber and Glnxicr.

Who Was HIS First and How Many are
There .-An Interesting Inquiry by an
English Plumber and Glnxicr.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
hope you will excuse the liberty take In writ
ing TO you but after reading and thinking OF the
enterprising spirit you displayed in sending Mr..
Stanley 10 search for DR.. Livingstone, and knowing
he was successful in his mssion-nlling the world
with wonder at his skill and energy in finding
out DR.. Livingstone, one or Gods true heroes.
whom the world had begun TO think was
lost-I write this to you to see II you-will
be SO kind as TO take an interest in another
AFFAIR 1t is not similar to the Livingstone expedl-
ton, hut II my conjectures are right and you are
successful in bringing to light the proofs OF this
am about TO WRITE 1t will astonish the public here
ana in America ana at the same time do great
deal to expose one OF the greatest religious mpos-
lures that ever disgraced humanity, and that Is
Mormonism. Joe Smith, Its founder, was bad
man and great impostor, and he came to an un-
timely end: but 1t is his successor, Brigham Young,
that wish TO write about. To begin, then, will
ask the question, Who is Brigham Young9 Where
did he come from 2 What age Is he and can you
procure his present likeness and a likeness Of HIM
taken years ago9 The farther back the better, for
shall go back 40 years. should like to have, II
possible some OF his photographs taken at intervals
A few days ago was visiting an old friend in
the Almshouse at Stockton-on- Tees, county or
Durham, and cannot do better than to tell you
little OF her history. This friend, Mrs. Brigham
by name has been intimate with our family since
sne was a little girl. This makes me take an IN
terest in her welfare. She was bred and born in
later q man married her in the name OF William
Brigham, cooper and lath splitter, who had
the name Of George Allen by trade cooper ana
lath splitter, In Paradise row, Stockton-on-Iees,
IN me Durham a r rhe sa,a Ssoge
William Brigham. up as child and taught him his
trade but the said William Brigham was an lille.
his marriage was known by the name OF Allen;
but on his marrying his guardian, George Allen,
namely nam W Brigham; m his fathers name was Young.
will now pass swiftly on After q few years the
saa Wam " oemefy s 1y
Mrs. Brigham. now living at Stockton on. Tees
leaves her and her children, and they became
father, Thomas Kirtley, bred and born at Norton,
near stockton, was living in London, and searched
iather, who was tailor, was working In London,
and, finding out Brigham. believe, working at the
a0a % as e % so the
wife and children up to London. and believe
they lived together again ,er about .Tree
and then the said w. Brigham again leaves
his vile and tour children, his wife peing
fighting and severe struggles is still living with
her children, grandchildren and great grand
40 years ago since ne lett his family the last time.
and they could never make out what became OF
hum until lew weeks ago. MIS- brigham es.a came 70
Young was her husband, and this is her reason Tor
thinking so. One night short time ago one OF her
granddaughtersi husbands was in public house.
and IN the company there was q stranger and the
conversation happened to turn uponishe Latter Day
knew HIM very we'll, he worked with him in Lon.
don as q cooper before ne went to America and
satIon. through the young man hearing it acci-
dentally, he told to his wife and then to Mrs.
Brigham, who, knowing her husband had worked
in London cooper, came TO the conclusion
that Brigham Young IS her husband that left her
40 years ago. ! asked her Il she thought she
recognize him by anything. might just say here
that she is now IN perfect good health and sti an
Brigham sGs 0 was M dve Yea Years 1s younaer. She saws
he viii be 76 next Valentines Day, the l4th Of
Februsry 1874 he WAS was man nan St StronIy on I Sut & aad
mole on behind his shoulder, and on one OF his
fingers he had mark or 9 cut he got when boy.
When = boy, while standing beside a table where
his master, G. Allen, was preparing the food for
his birds, namely-cutting up q nard-boiled egg
Sne caught MS nSer ena and cut Il deep
and his nan grew in an outward dlrection. just
but it was hasty visit paid Mrs. Brigham !
had gone TO see my own mother, who lives at
is dead, SO is G. Allen. / think / have now told
you sufficient TO satisfy you that we are right In
thinking that Brigham Young mas Wle living IN
this country. II so. where will the 18th vile be IN
her divorce casep Perhaps she could tell US OF his
marks and figure. In fact, where are all his wives
wnen the first appearsy Perhaps they all can give
o little information II he il the right man he
might 90 something Tor his first wife and children,
they having the first claim him. But If he
were here the authorities would and could
punish HIM for bgamy and neglect OF vile
and family. II 1t is the man in question
he Is hardly worth powder and shot; butt
for the sake OF truth and justice and the exposure
OF vany, IL Is worth finding out Also, have IL
from good authority, @ first class English work
man, that Brigham Young was an English Nor
mon, making IL appear more likely to be the same
man. | should like TO know if you could send his
likeness and any further particulars respecting
some OF these things have written about you
possibly might establish. our supp0sition is here
that he has changed his name from W. Brigham
to Brigham Young, his mothers and fathers
likeness OF HIS one Of the old style, just
showing the outlines. / mean to get 1t copied,
II can the next time ! 90 TO stockton.
1t might be OF some service. II you can do any
thing in Hndlng out that our suspicious right in
reference to Brigham Young IL VIII be great salts
faction TO US here, and perhaps some good will
result In my writing this. l would ike 10 know
the age OF Brigham Young, that he processes to be.
and his birthday. Some one in Utah will tell Us,
should think, something which might be oil use. l
shall be happy TO give any further information that
lies in my power. would like TO hear you have
received this and taken the trouble TO read 1t.
Not knowing what the result Will be, hope you
will pardon me Tor trespassing so much on your
time remain yours, respectfully, j. X.
WEsTGATE, GUIsBRo, Yorkshire, England.