Dates

• Existence: 1821 or 2-1881 - 1881

Biography

Martha Coray (1821 or 1822-1881) was a member of the first Board of Trustees for Brigham Young Academy and scribe for the history of Joseph Smith by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith.

Martha Jane Knowlton was born on June 3, 1821 or 1822, in Covington, Kentucky to Sidney Algernon Knowlton and Harriett Burnham. She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 1840 and married Howard Coray on February 6, 1841. After their marriage, Martha and Howard taught school together. They had twelve children. Martha Jane and her family reached the Salt Lake Valley in 1850 with the John Sharp Company. The Coray family lived in Salt Lake City for four years, until they moved to Tooele, Utah. In 1856, Martha Jane and her family moved to Provo, Utah, then they moved to Mona, Utah to homestead a tract of land, although they kept their home in Provo.

In October 1875, Martha Jane was selected by Brigham Young to serve as the first woman trustee for the Board of Directors of Brigham Young Academy. She served as trustee from 1875 until her death in 1881. Martha Jane was also appointed the first dean of students at Brigham Young Academy. She was the secretary of the first Relief Society organized in Salt Lake City, and wrote for the "Woman’s Exponent." Martha Jane also contributed greatly to the preservation of the history of the LDS Church, including preserving notes from sermons of Joseph Smith, which church historian Wilford Woodruff consulted when compiling a history of the Church. She also acted as scribe for the history of Joseph Smith as dictated by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith.

Martha Jane Knowlton Coray died on December 14, 1881, in Provo, Utah and is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Citation:

Wikipedia, May 2, 2018 (Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (June 3, 1821-December 14, 1881) was the only female member of the first Board of Trustees for Brigham Young Academy; she was born in Covington, Kentucky to Sidney Algernon Knowlton and Harriett Burnham; she joined the LDS Church in January 1840 and married Howard Coray on February 6, 1841; after their marriage, Martha and Howard taught school together; they had 12 children; she and her family reached the Salt Lake Valley in 1850 with the John Sharp Company; the Corays lived in Salt Lake City for four years, until they moved to Tooele, Utah; in 1856, Martha Jane and her family moved to Provo, Utah, then they moved to Mona, Utah to homestead a tract of land, although they kept their home in Provo; in October 1875, Martha Jane was selected by Brigham Young to serve as the first woman trustee for the Board of Directors of Brigham Young Academy; she served as trustee from 1875 until her death in 1881; she was also appointed the first dean of students at Brigham Young Academy; she was the secretary of the first Relief Society organized in Salt Lake City, and wrote for the Woman’s Exponent; Martha Jane also contributed greatly to the preservation of the history of the LDS Church, including preserving notes from sermons of Joseph Smith, which church historian Wilford Woodruff consulted when compiling a history of the Church; she also wrote the history of Joseph Smith as dictated by his mother, Lucy Mack Smith; she died in Provo, Utah and is buried in the Provo City Cemetery)

Find A Grave, via WWW, May 2, 2018 (Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; born 3 June 1822 in Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky; died 14 December 1881 in Provo, Utah County, Utah)

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