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Show Page 204 Chapman had already collected the names of some two thousand Pratt descendants in the United States. Orson excitedly forwarded him every name he could think of, and promised Chapman he would personally scour the parish records of England to carry William Pratt's family line back as far as he could. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful correspondence which led ultimately to a wonderfully definitive book on the Pratt family in o c. America, published in 1864. Orson Pratt also became, by this providential stroke, the first Mormon to research his own lineage on a systematic level. In modern times, this work has expanded throughout the world, as the Mormon Church attempts to record as many genealogical documents in as many countries as possible, and now maintains the largest genealogical library in the world. During the summer of 1853, Orson made a quick trip to Liverpool, hoping partially to fulfill his promise to Chapman. He also disseminated copies of The Seer and was greeted with a new, second edition of his mission tracts. From America he carried a remarkable manuscript he had obtained from agents of the now dissident Smith family - a biography of Joseph Smith written by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, who was then only three years from death. An energetic, conversational work, Orson thought it delightful, and arranged in Liverpool to have it edited and published by Church printer Samuel W. Richards. When he received the manuscript, Orson believed it to have been written under the Prophet's supervision. It was to give him no end of trouble in the future. The apostle also stopped at Birmingham long enough to wed convert Sarah Louise Lewis 37 - wife number seven, Sarah number two. Orson stayed only a few weeks in Liverpool, and on his return to Washington found he had been appointed to head up the entire program of emigration for the coming season. This meant endless preparations, along |
