Louisa Barnes Pratt
Encyclopedia
Louisa Barnes Pratt was a prominent advocate for women's vote and other related causes in the 19th century as well as a Latter-day Saint missionary
.
Louisa Barnes was born in Warwick, Massachusetts
a daughter of Willard Pratt [should be Barnes] and his wife Dolly. When she was a fairly young child her family move to Quebec. Her father served in the British forces [documentation?] during the War of 1812
although in her autobiography she alleged he was a supporter of the United States. Barnes was raised in the Episcopalian faith, although she did not formally get baptized in that Church until age 14.
In her school studies after returning to Massachusetts one of her classmates was Rebekah J. Pratt. This eventually led to her meeting Rebekah's brother Addison. After being in Massachusetts for four years Louisa returned to Canada. After she had been in Canada for a year and a half Addison came to visit. They married on April 3, 1831 in Canada. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Buffalo, New York.
Pratt joined the LDS Church along with her husband Addison Pratt
in 1835. They were introduced to the Church by her sister Caroline Crosby and her husband Jonathan Crosby who stopped by their home in western New York on their way to Kirtland, Ohio
to gather with the body of the Latter-day Saints. In 1843 Addison left to serve a mission in Polynesia (originally intending to go to Hawaii
but actually ending up in Tahiti
). Pratt stayed behind at Nauvoo
to care for their four children, and was not reunited with Addison until after her arrival at Salt Lake City in 1848. She was set apart as a missionary to serve in French Polynesia
with her husband in 1849. While in Tahiti Pratt told a congregation that the Tahitians were descended from the Nephites. This is the first recorded statement to this effect, related to theories about Hagoth
's journey recorded in the Book of Alma
.
Pratt's Autobiography was published in a version edited by S. George Ellsworth
by Utah State University Press.
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
.
Louisa Barnes was born in Warwick, Massachusetts
Warwick, Massachusetts
Warwick is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 750 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
a daughter of Willard Pratt [should be Barnes] and his wife Dolly. When she was a fairly young child her family move to Quebec. Her father served in the British forces [documentation?] during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
although in her autobiography she alleged he was a supporter of the United States. Barnes was raised in the Episcopalian faith, although she did not formally get baptized in that Church until age 14.
In her school studies after returning to Massachusetts one of her classmates was Rebekah J. Pratt. This eventually led to her meeting Rebekah's brother Addison. After being in Massachusetts for four years Louisa returned to Canada. After she had been in Canada for a year and a half Addison came to visit. They married on April 3, 1831 in Canada. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Buffalo, New York.
Pratt joined the LDS Church along with her husband Addison Pratt
Addison Pratt
Addison Pratt was an early Latter-day Saint convert and missionary. Pratt preached in French Polynesia from 1844 to 1848 and from 1850 to 1852, and is recognized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the first Mormon missionary to preach in a language other than English.-Life:Pratt...
in 1835. They were introduced to the Church by her sister Caroline Crosby and her husband Jonathan Crosby who stopped by their home in western New York on their way to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
to gather with the body of the Latter-day Saints. In 1843 Addison left to serve a mission in Polynesia (originally intending to go to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
but actually ending up in Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
). Pratt stayed behind at Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
to care for their four children, and was not reunited with Addison until after her arrival at Salt Lake City in 1848. She was set apart as a missionary to serve in French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
with her husband in 1849. While in Tahiti Pratt told a congregation that the Tahitians were descended from the Nephites. This is the first recorded statement to this effect, related to theories about Hagoth
Hagoth
According to the Book of Mormon, Hagoth was a Nephite ship builder who lived in or around 55 BC. At least two of the ships he built were lost. The occupants of one ship were presumed drowned...
's journey recorded in the Book of Alma
Book of Alma
The Book of Alma is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. The full title is The Book of Alma: The Son of Alma. The title refers to Alma the Younger, a prophet and "chief judge" of the Nephites.-Historical Outline:...
.
Pratt's Autobiography was published in a version edited by S. George Ellsworth
S. George Ellsworth
Samuel George Ellsworth was an American historian specializing in Western United States history and the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a founding editor of the Western Political Quarterly....
by Utah State University Press.