Samuel Brannan was the son of Thomas Brannan and Sarah Emery Brannan. His siblings were Mary Ann Brannan (wife of Alexander R. Badlam), Thomas Brannan, Jr.,  Dan Brannan.

(1880 Census shows Alex R. Badlam 65, and Mary Ann Badlam 63, in San Francisco, CA.)

He started his adventuring early pushing into the wilds of Ohio where, at the age of seventeen, he purchased his time from a printer to whom he had been bound out and became a traveling printer and journalist. A publication failed him in New Orleans and another in Indianapolis. While living near Kirtland, Ohio at the home of his sister Mary Ann, thirteen years his senior, and her husband Alexander Badlam, who were devout members of the Latter-day Saint Church, he attended some of their meetings and was privileged to hear Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, speak. During this time he became acquainted with Harriet "Hattie" Hatch and after a short courtship they were married by Joseph Smith in the temple at Kirtland.. One child was born of this union, but the marriage proved `unhappy and soon ended in a separation.

He left her mid-1843, to serve a mission at Clinton County, in the care of her father and Mary Ann to nurse her delivery of their baby. (-as related by Sophie Brannan Haight to Reva Scott) (See: "there is not shred of documentary evidence to support the story that he had earlier married and abandoned one Harriet Hatch in Ohio" - see http://www.shipbrooklyn.org/brannan.html ) ("Brannan married, had a child with, and deserted a woman, Harriet Hatch, in Ohio. Despite this commonly told (and retold) tale, there is no hard evidence such a relationship existed." http://www.svn.net/artguy/brannantext.htm)

In the early 1840's, Samuel went to New York where he became associated with William Smith, brother of the Prophet and shortly thereafter was baptized a member of the Latter-day Saint Church by him. Soon he began the publication of a Church paper known as The Prophet. It was at this period in his life that he met Ann Elizabeth Corwin, daughter of Fanny Corwin, who later became his second wife.

Samuel Brannan married Ann Elizabeth Corwin (b. April 1, 1823 in Litchfield, Litchfield, Connecticutt).

Ann Elizabeth Corwin Brannan c. 1856

It is believed that following their divorce, Ann Elizabeth Corwin Brannan
dressed in mourning for the remainder of her life to lament her lost husband. - c. 1885

The Ship "Brooklyn"

In February 1846, under the leadership of Samuel Brannon, a controversial Elder of the Church of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon Church), 238 Mormons set sail from New York to San Francisco on board the Brooklyn. Ten would die -- and two would be born -- on the epic six- month journey around Cape Horn. (http://www.missionscalifornia.com/stories/apostate.htm)

Voyage of ship The Brooklyn from New York to San Francisco in 1846

http://www.shipbrooklyn.org/pass_picts/Page.html -Ship Brooklyn passenger roster and individual photos.

In 1882 Samuel Brannan, now 63, married the widow, 30+ year old Carmen De Llaguno of Guaymas, Mexico. The Catholic priest would not marry a Catholic to a non-Catholic wo they took the stage to Tucson, in the Territory of Arizona, to have a civil ceremony performed. (Reva Scott - page 433)

Samuel S. Brannan Sr.

NOTES:

"Sam Brannan and the California Mormons" by Paul Bailey 1943, Westernlore Press Publishers in Los Angeles, Distributed by Bookcraft, copyright 1842-1943 Improvement Era Magazine. 979.4 B155

 

Page 97
Samuel Brannan and Charles Smith made ready to cross the mountains in early April (1847)…one other young man was finally persuaded to share the adventure, and in the chill dawn of April 26, 1847, against the sober advice of Sutter and experienced mountaineers, the little party swung through the big gates of the fort and headed toward the east. Their outfit consisted of eleven head of horses and mules, provisions, emergency equipment, and the precious file of California Stars which Brannan intended for the eyes of Brigham Young.

Page 63 to 72

President Young shook off the arguments with a bland smile. He seemed little impressed by Samuel's fervid description of the California Eden, and countered with faith-nurtured opinion that a touch of the Lord's hand, coupled with the brawn of Saints, could make an Eden of almost any place.

Neither eloquence nor logic could dent the armor of conviction that the leader turned toward Brannan. But the California Elder had an unbending will of his own.  He felt he could well afford to be patient, when common sense was arrayed in his behalf. No man who had conquered the Sierras and drought-ridden deserts to defend so precious and far-reaching a cause must allow himself to become discouraged by first rebuffs of the leader.  There was still a reasonable certainty, after a glance at that sagebrush wilderness, Brigham Young would not risk approval of it as future home of the Saints. There was still the Hastings cut-off from the Great Basin to the coast. "On to California!" must surely become the cry.  And in joyous reunion, the Saints of the Brooklyn would yet greet the Saints from Nauvoo--and together they'd yet build to God's glory on the green and summered slopes of Pacific America.

On July 4, while still at Green River, twelve dust-begrimed soldiers rode into camp. To the happy surprise of all, they announced themselves as the advance guard of Captain Brown's invalided Pueblo detachment of the Battalion. In search of stolen horses, they had ridden into Brigham Young's camp quite by accident. And since both thieves and horses had been reported as being at Fort Bridger, it was in such direction their journey lay.  After another avid retelling of experiences, President Young and the Council requested volunteers to return, and if possible intercept Captain Brown's main command.  That day President Young wrote in his journal:

"The council decided that Sergeant Thomas S. Williams, one of the brethren of the Mormon Battalion who had overtaken the pioneers on Green River, should return to meet Capt. James Brown and the Battalion company from Pueblo, accompanied by Samuel Brannan; and inasmuch as they had neither received their discharge, nor full pay, Bro. Brannan should tender them his services as pilot to conduct them to California." (Brigham Young Journal, under date of July 4, 1847)

Calm with certainty of the eventual uniting of all segments of the Mormon pattern in the rich valleys of the Pacific, Samuel Brannan was happy to offer himself as guide to Brown's company--for the plan was to route the company on this westward journey by way of Great Salt Lake and thence on to the coast. After this reuniting with the pioneers in the Great Basin, it was likely all the Saints would continue westward. So, without delay, Brannan and Williams headed toward Pueblo by way of South Pass. By the middle of July they had successfully intercepted Captain Brown's command on its line of march toward the coast.

Meanwhile Brigham Young's pioneer company plodded its way across mountains and through valleys only dimly marked by the wheels and shovels of the previous Hastings party. And by July 24, 1847, Latter-day Saints were breaking ground in the sloping valley beside the great salten sea.

Before July had ended, Samuel Brannan, in company with Captain Brown and the lost hundreds of the Battalion's "sick detachment", likewise rode into the valley. The reunion of Saints was joyful enough, but no joy sat in Brannan's heart. His dark eyes looked aghast at what had happened. The worst he'd imagined had come to pass. Brigham Young not only had chosen to sojourn the Saints in the forbidding wilderness, but had actually marked out a city!

Acres of sun-baked earth had been creek-flooded and plowed. A fort and dwellings were under construction. Streets and town plats were being surveyed and marked. "Inheritances" were being dealt to the faithful.

Reluctantly, and with heavy heart, Samuel Brannan joined Brigham Young in a carriage inspection-tour of the vast terrain of sagebrush land that Latter-day Saints now must know as home.  Mentally he compared the sun-swept picture of blue desolation with the great land he felt to be of more certain promise to the west. He thought of California's wide, navigable rivers, and compared them with the puny creeks, and the brush-choked stream Brigham had named "The River Jordan". He thought of California's gentle climate and compared it to the blistering, dry mountain heat and the vicious winters and howling winds so surely a part of this wilderness. He thought of New Hope, with its bottomless black soil, its endless procession of wild life and game.  And like a sickening echo he heard the mournful wail of the coyote.

While the dusty carriage bumped its way along the prairie's weather-ruts, Samuel's heart grew dad and bitter. The trip had been useless. The promises he'd left behind must be refuted. In a frenzy of desperation he begged President Young to reconsider, and recounted to him again the manifold assets of a land which surely must some ay become the richest portion of America.  He listened irritably to the leader's calm explanation that God had made the choice--not Brigham Young. That the purpose and wisdom was His--not man's.

There was little conviction in Samuel's breast when the leader explained that Latter-day Saints too often had faced the guns and felt the lash of those who misunderstood their way of life.  That a land so desirable as Samuel had pictured California, must of necessity draw men as syrup draws flies, and no hope of Mormon peace and isolation was contained therein. That God's kingdom and the kingdom of the world could never grow in harmony side by side.  It was vain for Brigham Young to point out that in these arid vales Samuel so heartily detested, the Saints must fight to live--and because they must turn everlastingly to God for help, they would live. Ease, he was told, meant spiritual and physical death. That only by taking that which no other man wanted could they be freed from human rapacity and be reasonably certain of building the Mormon pattern of life unmolested. On one thing alone was Samuel quick to agree--that no enemy was likely to raise any claim to the land now chosen!

President Young likewise reminded Samuel that a number of his acts were neither acceptable in the Lord's sight nor to His Church.  The Benson and Kendall contract, which Samuel had executed in New York, had been rejected by the Council as a veritable covenant with death. [          ] The Saints, he was told, would rest their protection in the Lord above--not in a handful of "the most prominent demagogues of the country". (Journal History, Jan. 26, 1846. Letter of Brannan to Young.)

Samuel finished the carriage ride, smarting under defeat, and with black anger raging in his soul. Hurriedly he made preparation for the return to California--with the expectation of piloting the Battalion members from Pueblo west to join their comrades-in-arms on the coast.  The Battalion's time of enlistment had now expired, and it was anticipated that Brown's detachment must proceed to California for mustering-out and payoff. But unexpectedly President Young decided on a new course.  Following counsel with the leader, Captain Brown mustered out his Battalion command in Salt Lake Valley, and thereby released these brethren's willing hands to Zion's cause.  As to their pay, it was decided Brown should accompany Brannan west, and, as their senior office and attorney, collect for all soldiers remaining behind.

In final desperation, Samuel Brannan made still another attempt to convince Brigham Young of the folly of his choice. The encounter led to a bitter quarrel, and ended with deep distrust on the part of President Young for the arrogant, self-willed New York Saint.  Moreover, the leader entrusted Captain Brown with the Council's letters of instruction to the brethren on the coast--and Samuel considered this an open affront to his office as president of the California branch [of the Church]. To him it was stinging proof that President Young not only had lost confidence, but had rejected both him and his calling.

At the suggestion of Apostle Orson Pratt, Samuel busied himself instruction the brethren in the Mexican way of adobe construction while he nursed wounds and chafingly awaited Captain Brown's preparation for the coastal trek.  At last, on August 9, 1847, the little party of horsemen turned their backs on Zion.

In the turbulent, rebellious soul of Samuel Brannan seemingly there were no regrets. His farewell to Zion proved a final one.

[ends at Page 68]

[Page 69]

Samuel Brannan was thoroughly disheartened by his interview with President Young. The long journey had been one of extreme danger, and at a price of genuine sacrifice.  Except for that certain vague hope still beating within him, his efforts had proven barren of results.

Contrary to belief, however, Brannan did not return to his beloved California in throes of apostasy. True, he questioned Brigham Young's judgment and choice of location, he vociferously despised the Salt Lake Valley, he stoutly maintained California was the Goshen of modern-day Israel, but his acerbity had not yet reached the stage of an open renouncement of the faith. As he and his companion headed west once more, he nursed a conviction that time itself would prove his stand was right.

But the return journey was not without incident. Long before the little party of horsemen reached the eastern base of the Sierras, hot words had flared between Samuel Brannan and Captain James Brown.  By early September, after a bitter quarrel, they had parted company--Samuel Brannan and Charles Smith riding on ahead into the mountains.

Jealousy and injured feelings appear the basis of this unholy strife. Samuel had been promised the task of piloting the "sick division" of the Battalion into California. For reasons of his own, President Young suddenly had changed plans, disbanded the command, and instead, sent Brown on alone [without his Mormon soldiers]. Samuel had always considered himself

spiritual leader of the Latter-day Saints in Greater California--but now, in James Brown's possession were epistles of counsel and comfort to all Mormon soldiers at that place. His egocentric nature was not the kind to bear even imagined slights with complacency. And while Brown in no sense was responsible, he was the handiest target for Samuel's wrath.  The journey--with the men constantly chafed by one another's presence--brewed other causes for discord.  And, taken all together, Brannan considered them reasons sufficient for abandoning the company--to leave his friends to reach Sutter's Fort however well they might.

On September 6, 1847, Samuel Brannan and Charles Smith were miles ahead of Brown's group. That day, at a point in the Tahoe valley, they had the surprisingly good fortune to intercept the main body of the Mormon Battalion--recently discharged from service, and now headed east to meet Brigham Young and the pioneers. It was a day of rejoicing. News-hungry ex-soldiers pumped Samuel to wordless exhaustion in their eagerness to learn all possible regarding the loved ones they'd left at Council Bluffs over a year ago.  In turn, their own strange story was breathlessly poured out for his ears.  They were desperately anxious to acquaint themselves with the place President Young had chose as abode for the Saints--and Brannan's answer is tersely recorded by Daniel Tyler:

    "We learned from him [Brannan] that the pioneers had reached Salt Lake Valley in safety, but his description of the valley and its facilities was anything but encourage.  Among other things, Brother Brannan said the Saints could not possibly subsist in the Great Salt Lake Valley, as, according to the testimony of mountaineers, it froze there every month in the year, and the ground was too dry to sprout seeds without irrigation, and if irrigated with the cold mountain stream, the seeds would be chilled and prevented from growing, or, if they did grow, they would be sickly and fail to mature. He considered it no place for an agricultural people, and expressed his confidence that the Saints would emigrate to California the next spring. On being asked if he had given his views to President Brigham Young, he answered that he had. On further inquiry as to how his views were received, he said, in substance, that the President laughed and made some rather insignificant remark; "but,' said Brannan, "when he has fairly tried it, he will find that I was right and he was wrong."

    "He thought all except those whose families were known to be at Salt Lake had better turn back (to California) and labor until spring, when in all probability the Church would come to them; or, if not, they could take means to their families. We camped over night with Brannan, and after he had left us the following morning, Captain James Brown, of the Pueblo detachment, which arrived in Salt Lake on the 27^th of July, came up with a small party.  He brought a goodly number of letters from the families of the soldiers, also an epistle from the Twelve Apostles, advising those who had not means of subsistence to remain in California and labor, and bring their earnings with them in the spring." (Daniel Tyler, A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, page 315.)

Few mortals have loved California more fervidly than did Samuel Brannan. In his belief that the Saints eventually would go to the Pacific Coast, he labored stubbornly and long. Lacking the eyes and spiritual leanings of a prophet, he failed to sense that this day of hopes must come only after the fidelity of modern Israel had been tested with sword and sorrow; only after its strength had been tempered in the fires of hardship and adversity; and that California must bide a time of its own before it could be readied as a haven for the Saints. There was ample proof of President Young's contention, had he cared to observe, in the spiritual apathy of the Brooklyn colony--and it was but faint shadow of what destiny already was preparing.  A destiny soon to be thrust upon that green-valed earth's corner that would change it beyond the perception of man.  But Samuel Brannan sensed no error of judgment as he turned from the Battalion brethren to hurry on to Sutter's Fort.

His stop at Sutter's was brief, but while there he and Charles Smith projected a mercantile partnership destined later to become the foundation of an immense fortune. The beginning was humble enough. Agreeable to Captain Sutter, the two men leased a one-room adobe east of the fort. Possibly to avoid the store's being confused with the San Francisco's "Brannan & Company", the venture at Sutter's carried the name of the junior partner as "C.C. Smith & Company". But the Yankee settlers of the upper Sacramento were not fooled by the title. To them--and no doubt because of its cluttered miscellany--it was known as "Brannan's Shirt Tail Store". (Peter T. Conmy, Grizzly Bear, April 1939, Quoted from Journal of John A. Sutter.)

Samuel S. Brannan Sr., c. 1853

Samuel Brannan's Store

Children of Samuel S. Brannan Sr. and Ann Elizabeth Corwin Brannan

1 Samuel Brannan, Jr. Born: November 17, 1845 at New York, New York, New York Married: Died:

2 Adelaide "Addie" Brannan Born: c. November 1848 Blessed by Parley P. Pratt Married: Died:

Fanny Kemble Brannan Born: c. October 1850 California (named after an actress) Married: Howard Schuyler of New York c. 1875 Died:

Lisa Annette Brannan Born: Married: Mr. Gjessing 1887 Died:

Don Francisco Brannan Born: late 1852 2 years old Died: mid-June 1854 Yerba Buena, California

Sources:

Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org