MORMON POLYGAMY IN THE JAMES/HATCH FAMILIES

Mormon Polygamy
in the James and Hatch families
(1851-1922)

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Joseph Henry James built separate homes for each of his wives on the three banks of a forked river. John Henry Standifird's two wives lived in different towns. Lorenzo Hill Hatch lived for a time with all his wives under one roof.	Only 2 percent of men in the Church practiced polygamy. Wives had to give their consent before a man could marry again. You've heard these statements about Mormon polygamy, but are they true?	From left, Zemira Palmer, William D. Kartchner (bottom) and Philemon C. Merrill. An overview of polygamy in the James and Hatch families in the context of general LDS history.
Just how did a married man handle courtships with other women? Lorenzo Hill Hatch gives a sketchy account in his journal. Other James and Hatch ancestors give even fewer clues. In the Church generally, methods varied widely.	Lydia Goldthwaite divorced her polygamous husband, while some other Hatch ancestors chose to live apart. Detail from George D. Watt's transcript of Brigham Young's October 8, 1864, discourse on divorce, "A Few Words of Doctrine."	Descriptions and reviews of books that explore polygamy in the LDS church.

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