William Tucker Hussey, son of Jonathan Hussey Jr. and Content Tucker, was born in 1792 in the hamlet of Charlton in the southeast section of Saratoga County, New York. Nothing is known of his childhood or youth.
On June 18, 1812, when the US Congress declared war on Great Britain, William enlisted as a private in the Nathaniel Harris Regiment of the New York Militia. The report may be bogus, for the name “William Hussey” is missing in the official regiment listing.[1]
In 1813, at age twenty-one William married eighteen year old Mary Ann Johnson in Palmyra. William supported his young bride as a hatter, although there is no record of his having a shop on Main Street. To their union were born five children, two living to adulthood.
William was not an enterprising young man. He never became a man of high standing in Palmyra. He had no obvious familial or social network. He never became an officer in the Palmyra village, a member of the Masonic Lodge, or a member of a church.
Pomeroy Tucker wrote of William Husey
In Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism, Pomeroy Tucker wrote of “notorious wags”:
[William T. Hussey and Azel Vandruver] were intimately acquainted with [Joseph] Smith. They called as his friends at his residence, and strongly importuned him for an inspection of the “golden book,” offering to take upon themselves the risk of the death-penalty . . . Of course, the request could not be complied with; but they were permitted to go to the chest with its owner, and see where the thing was, and to observe its shape and size, concealed under a piece of thick canvas. Smith with his accustomed solemnity of demeanor, positively persisting in his refusal to uncover it. Hussey became impetuous, and (suiting his action to his word) ejaculated, “Egad, I’ll see the critter, live or die!” And stripped off the protective canvas, a large tile-brick was exhibited. He claimed Smith’s fertile imagination was equal to the emergency. He claimed that his friends had been sold by a trick of his; and “treating” with the customary whiskey hospitalities, the affair ended in good-nature. [2]
Leader of a Mob
Lucy Mack Smith also wrote of William Husey:
As Joseph was about starting for Palmyra to draw the writings with Grandin, Dr. Mc.Intire came in and informed us that 40 men were collected in the capacity of a mob for the purpose of waylaying Joseph on his way thither; that they requested him as they had done once before, to take command of the company; and that upon his refusing to do so, one Mr. Huzzy a hatter of Palmyra proffered his services, and was chosen as their leader.[3]
Notice that “Huzzy a hatter” was not put forward by another to be the leader of the unruly men but “proffered his services.” It was after his suggestion that he was chosen.
Lucy Mack Smith wrote of her reaction to the message of Dr. Alexander McIntyre: “On hearing this, I besought Joseph not to go; but he smiled at my fears, saying, ‘never mind, mother, just put your trust in God, and nothing will hurt me to day.’” [4] Joseph was not concerned about any mob element led by William Hussey.
Lucy Mack Smith continued the story—
In a short time [Joseph] set off for Palmira: on his way there lay a heavy strip of timber, about half a mile in width; and beyond it, on the right side of the road lay a field belonging to David Jacaway. When he came to this field, he found the mob seated on the string of fence running along the road. Coming to Cap. Huzzy first, he took off his hat, and bowed good-naturedly, saying, “Good morning Mr. Huzzy. He then passed on to the next; whom he saluted in like manner; and the next, and so on till he came to the last. This struck them with confusion; and while they were pondering in amazement, he passed on leaving them perched upon the fence like so many roosting chickens, and arrived at Palmira without being molested. Here he met Grandin, and writings were drawn between them . . .
When Joseph returned from Palmyra, he said: “Well, mother, the Lord has been on my side to day; the devil has not overpowered me in any of my proceedings—did I not tell you that I should be delivered from the hands of all my enemies? they thought they were going to perform great feats—they have done wonders to prevent me from getting the Book printed—they mustered themselves together and got upon the fence & made me a low bow, and went home; and I’ll warrant you they wish they had stayed there in the first place—Mother, there is a God in heaven and I know it.”[5]
Death of William Hussey
Following the incident of “sitting on the fence,” William was listed in the 1830 US Federal Census as residing in Palmyra. Other than that, the next known historical fact is his death. William Hussey died on September 12, 1831 in Palmyra at age forty-one. He was buried three days later in the Palmyra City Cemetery.
His Widow becomes a Latter-day Saint
William Hussey is our only suspect whose immediate family were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His widow, Mary Ann Johnson Hussey, and his daughters, Margaret and Cordelia Hussey, became early converts of the Church.
Less than a year after the death of William Hussey, on November 1, 1832, the marriage of widow Mary Ann Hussey to John Brower was solemnized in the Episcopal Church in Palmyra. John Brower was born in Phelps, New York, just a few miles from Palmyra. He moved from Western New York to Geauga, Ohio where his wife Fanny Coates Brower died in 1831. Shortly after her death, John Brower journeyed back to New York. Before returning to Ohio, he married Mary Ann Johnson Hussey. They resided in Huntsburg Township in Geauga County.[6]
Family tradition purports in 1836, a debate took place between a Reverend Tracey and Joseph Smith in a schoolhouse across the road from the Brower home in Huntsburg Township. The question debated was, “Are prophets needed at the present time?” After the debate, twelve families joined the Church—including the Brower family.
Children of William Tucker Hussey and Mary Ann Johnson
1. Cordelia Ann Hussey (1816–1884). She married Joseph Brower (1812–1869) on April 11, 1833 in Huntsburg Township, Geauga County, Ohio.
2. Margaret Elizabeth Hussey (1820–1883). She married Ariah Coates Brower (1817–1884) on September 7, 1838 in Spring Point Township, Cumberland, Illinois.
3. Jonathan S. Hussey (1822–1823).
4. Phebe Maria Hussey (1823–June 1825).
5. William Henry Hussey (January 1825–November 1838).
[1] Current, Williams, and Freidel, American History: A Survey, p. 200.
[2] Smith, History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, p. 149; Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism, p. 19.
[3] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, pp. 157–158, in Joseph Smith Papers.
[4] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, pp. 157–158, in Joseph Smith Papers.
[5] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, pp. 157–158, in Joseph Smith Papers.
[6] Ariah Coates Brower Journal. Church History Library.