Willard Richards
1804–1854 (49 years)
Hometown: Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Biography
Willard Richards was an apostle from 1840 until his death in 1854 and served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency under Brigham Young. He was present at Carthage Jail when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed and miraculously escaped unharmed.
Richards practiced polygamy extensively with 14 wives. He served as Church Historian and was instrumental in preserving early church records and history.
His survival at Carthage, where he escaped without a scratch while Joseph and Hyrum were killed and John Taylor was wounded, was seen as miraculous and featured in a revelation by Joseph Smith.
Served Under
Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:
Wives (16)
Willard Richards was a polygamist with 16 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 1 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.
16 wives · Lifespan: 1804–1854
23 children from 10 wives · Lifespan: 1804–1854
16 wives · Ages at marriage
| # | Name | Born | Died | Married | Her Age | His Age | Age Diff | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 21, 1817 | Jul 9, 1845 | Sep 24, 1838 | 21 | 34 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2 | Feb 19, 1826 | Jan 26, 1858 | Jan 25, 1843 | 16 | 38 | 22 | 4 | |
| 3 | Jan 1, 1808 | Jan 1, 1872 | Jun 12, 1843 | 35 | 38 | 3 | 0 | |
| 4 | Dec 25, 1815 | Dec 12, 1900 | Dec 22, 1845 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 0 | |
| 5 | Apr 16, 1825 | Feb 23, 1851 | Dec 22, 1845 | 20 | 41 | 21 | 1 | |
| 6 | Oct 21, 1827 | Sep 10, 1905 | Jan 27, 1846 | 18 | 41 | 23 | 4 | |
| 7 | Jun 28, 1825 | Feb 28, 1896 | Jan 29, 1846 | 20 | 41 | 21 | 2 | |
| 8 | Mar 28, 1816 | Dec 23, 1891 | Jan 29, 1846 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 0 | |
| 9 | Aug 9, 1806 | Apr 1, 1847 | Jan 29, 1846 | 39 | 41 | 2 | 0 | |
| 10 | Aug 6, 1818 | Aug 1, 1882 | Jan 29, 1846 | 27 | 41 | 14 | 2 | |
| 11 | Feb 18, 1826 | Dec 10, 1849 | Jan 31, 1846 | 19 | 41 | 22 | 0 | |
| 12 | Mar 5, 1792 | Apr 18, 1872 | Feb 6, 1846 | 53 | 41 | 12 | 0 | |
| 13 | May 22, 1820 | Mar 26, 1898 | Mar 29, 1846 | 25 | 41 | 16 | 2 | |
| 14 | Apr 15, 1828 | Jan 7, 1911 | Jun 25, 1846 | 18 | 42 | 24 | 3 | |
| 15 | May 31, 1812 | Apr 17, 1891 | Dec 22, 1847 | 35 | 43 | 8 | 1 | |
| 16 | Apr 19, 1830 | Nov 19, 1881 | Nov 30, 1851 | 21 | 47 | 26 | 1 |
Children (23)
With
Jennetta Richards
(3 children)
- Eber John Richards (b. Jan 1, 1839)
- Dr. Heber John Richards (b. Jan 1, 1840)
- Rhoda Ann Jennetta Richards (b. Jan 1, 1843)
With
Sarah Longstroth
(4 children)
- Willard Brigham Richards (b. Jan 1, 1847)
- Joseph Smith Richards (b. Jan 1, 1848)
-
Sarah Ellen Richards
(b. Jan 1, 1850)
- Paulina Richards (b. Jan 1, 1853)
With Amelia Elizabeth Pierson (1 child)
- Richards (b. Jan 1, 1851)
With
Mary Thompson
(4 children)
- Phoebe Amelia Richards (b. Jan 1, 1851)
- Jennetta Richards (b. Jan 1, 1854)
- Jenetta Richards (b. Jan 1, 1852)
- Levi Willard Richards (b. Jan 1, 1853)
With Alice Longstroth Parker (2 children)
- Alice Ann Richards (b. Jan 1, 1849)
- Mary Asenath Richards (b. Jan 1, 1850)
With Susannah Lee Liptrot (2 children)
- Mary Ann Richards (b. Jan 1, 1851)
- Sarah Jane Richards (b. Jan 1, 1853)
With Phebe Foss (2 children)
- Calvin Willard Richards (b. Oct 7, 1852)
- Franklin Willard Richards (b. Jan 1, 1854)
With
Nanny Lynn Longstroth
(3 children)
- Alice Ann Richards (b. Jan 1, 1849)
- Mary Asenath Richards (b. Jan 1, 1850)
- Stephen Longstroth Richards (b. Jan 1, 1853)
With
Susanna Bayliss
(1 child)
- Mary Ann Richards (b. Jan 1, 1851)
With
Rhoda Harriet Foss
(1 child)
- Calvin Willard Richards Sr (b. Jan 1, 1852)
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