Thomas B. Marsh
1800–1866 (65 years)
Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts
Biography
Thomas B. Marsh was the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, serving from 1835 until his apostasy in 1838. His departure is one of the most famous examples of a high-ranking leader leaving the church.
Marsh left during the Missouri conflicts, reportedly after a dispute involving his wife and cream strippings. While the “milk strippings” story may be apocryphal, he did sign an affidavit against Joseph Smith during the Missouri difficulties.
He was excommunicated in 1839 but later returned, being rebaptized in 1857. He came to Utah as a broken, impoverished man and served as an object lesson in conference talks about the consequences of apostasy. He died in Ogden in 1866.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (2)
Thomas B. Marsh was a celestial polygamist with 2 wives. Note these are sequential marriages — each previous spouse died before the next marriage, meaning no simultaneous living plural marriages.
2 wives · Lifespan: 1800–1866
8 children from 1 wives · Lifespan: 1800–1866
2 wives · Ages at marriage
| # | Name | Born | Died | Married | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 15, 1800 | May 23, 1857 | Nov 1, 1820 | 19 | 20 | 1 | 8 | |
| 2 | Oct 7, 1812 | Feb 11, 1901 | Oct 4, 1857 | 44 | 56 | 12 | 0 |
Children (8)
With Elizabeth Godkin (8 children)
- Edward Barton Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1821)
- James Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1823)
- Thomas Emerson Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1825)
- Thomas Emerson Marsh Jr. (b. Jan 1, 1827)
- Nephi Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1831)
- Jacob Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1833)
- Joseph Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1833)
- Mary Elizabeth Marsh (b. Jan 1, 1837)
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