General Notes

A search by Danielle Batson, Certified Genealogist, Salt Lake City, has resulted in James Poulson's "High Priest Genealogy" Document. He was ordained a High Priest in March 1876. [High Priest Genalogies, Salt Lake Stake Of Zion, Film 924617, Item #4]

A search of Poulsons in Utah Cemeteries reveals the following four Poulsons buried in spots A, 27, 1 through A. 27, 4:

Sophia E. Poulson 4 August 1887 - 23 December 1887
James O. Poulson 27 June 1826 - 21 April 1898
Ellen A. Poulson 20 May 1828 - 4 October 1891
Olina A. Poulson 3 December 1849 - 18 May 1912

It appears that Ellen A., as well as Olina A. Anderson, was a wife of James O. Paulson, while Sophia was a child. Since Ellen was approaching  the age of 60 at the time of Sophia's death, it is possible that Sophia was the child of Olina. The 1880 Census shows James and Ellen Poulsen living in West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah. There are no children in the household.

From the Bureau of Land Management, there is a record in 1870 of a James Poulson purchasing 80 acres of land in Cache County, Utah [Township 11N, 1E, Section 21, W 1/2NE]

I have discovered that Salt Lake County did not keep marriage records until around 1887. The Church probably kept records but when you look up the film number, you get a message saying that the records are not available unless you can prove a familial relationship and have a letter from your bishop. Is any chance that Michael Bonny can get the records?

Volume 17, pages 88-95, of Our Pioneer Heritage has an account of a man who was imprisoned in 1886 for having more than one wife. He was imprisoned with several other men, also held on the same charge. The Governor came to them in May 1886 and offered amnesty if only they would give up all of their wives except one. They unanimously declined and their statement to that effect and why was signed by all of the men, including a James O. Poulson.


The statement reads:

"To His Excellency, Caleb W. West, Governor of Utah

     Sir: On the 13inst you honored the inmates of the Penitentiary with a visit and offered to intercede for the pardon of all those enduring imprisonment on conviction under the Edmunds Law if they would but promise obedience to it in the future as interpreted by the courts.
     Gratitude for the interest manifested in our behalf claims from us a reply. We trust, however,that this will not be construed as defiance, as our silence already has been. We have no desire to occupy a defiant attitude towards the Government or to be in conflict with the nation's laws. We have never been even accused of violating any other law than the one under which we were convicted, and that was enacted purposely to oppose a tenet of our religion. We conscientiously believe in the doctrine of plural marriage and practiced it from a pure conviction of its being a divine requirement.
     Of the forty-none Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now imprisoned in this Penitentiary for alleged violation of the Edmunds Law all but four had plural wives from the time of its passage to thirty-five years thereto. We were united to our wives for Time and Eternity by the most sacred covenants, and in many instances numerous children have been born as a result of our union who are endeared to us by the strongest parental ties.
     What the promise asked of us implied, you declined to explain, just as the courts have done when appeals have been made to therm for an explicitly and permanent definition of what must be done to comply with the law. The ruling of the courts under the law have been too varied and conflicting heretofore for us to know what may be their future interpretations.
     The simple status of plural marriage is now made, under the law, material evidence in securing conviction of unlawful cohabitation, this independent of our acts, ruthlessly trespassing upon the sacred domain of our religious belief.
     So far as compliance with your proposition it requires the sacrifice of honor and manhood, the repudiation of our wives and children, the violation of sacred covenants; Heaven forbid that we should be guilty of such perfidy; perpetual imprisonment with which we are all threatened, or even death itself would be preferable.
     Our wives desire no separation from us, and were we to comply with your request they would regard our action as most cruel, inhuman and monstrous; our children would blush with shame and should deserve the scorn and contempt of all just and honorable men.
     The proposition you made, though prompted doubtless by a kind feeling, was not new, for we could all have avoided imprisonment by making the same promise to the courts. In fact, the penalties we are now enduring are for declining to promise, rather than for acts committed in the past. Had you offered us unconditional amnesty, it would have been gladly accepted; but dearly as we prize the greatest boon of Liberty, we cannot afford to obtain it by proving untrue to our conscience, our religion and our God.
     As loyal citizens of this great Republic, whose constitution we revere, we not only ask for, but claim our rights as free men, as if from neither local nor national authority we are to receive equity and mercy, we will make our appeal to the Great Arbiter of all human interest, who in due time will grant us the justice hitherto denied.
     That you may as the Governor of our important but afflicted Territory aid us is securing every right to which the loyal and peaceable are entitled, and find happiness in so doing, we will ever pray. And witness our hands:
Lorenzo Snow...
James O. Poulson (#10 of 49)..." [Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 17, pages 194-195]

James O. Paulson, his wives, Ellen and Olina, and four children appear in the Early Church Records. Put together with the birth and death dates of children and wife #1, plus the IGI Records at the FamilySearch.Org web site showing a marriage date between James and Olina in 1883, seem to indicate that James was, indeed married to Ellen and Olina at the same time, so he could have been the James O. Paulson who was jailed in 1886 for having more than one wife, the devoted wife who came with him from Sweden, and the younger wife with whom he had four children.


Research by Danielle Batson, Accredited Genealogist, has confirmed this supposition with he following information:

From "Church Chronology : A Record of Important Events Pertaining to the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Film 599327, Item 2], xxxvi, 259, 32, 204, James O. Poulson was, indeed, arrested on charges of "u.c." (unlawful cohabitation) Ms. Batson also included Newspaper Clippings of the Deseret News January 30, 1886, February 15, 1886, March 1, 1886 and September 4, 1886, all pertaining to the polygamy charges, James's arrest, imprisonment and release. In order the articles read:

"Jan 30, 1886  Within the past few days, J. W. Snell, S. F. Ball. Isaac Laughton, Hyrum Goff, Wm. J. Jenkins, Charles Livingston and J. O. Poulson were notified to be at the Federal Court Room at 9:30 sharp this morning, to be arraigned on indictments found against them by the grand jury. They were on hand at the appointed time, and after being kept in waiting for an hour and a half the court was opened... J. O. Poulson was also indicted three times and pleaded not guilty. Bail $3000."

February 15, 1886  The case [of the United States] against James O. Poulsen, of West Jordan, was taken up, and the jury in the Ball case retained to try it. The indictment in this case charged the offense to have been committed in 1884, the wives of the defendant being Ellen Poulson and Olina Andersen Poulsen.
The defendant went on the stand as a witness, acknowledged his wives, and stated that he had lived with them in 1884.
A verdict of guilty was given by the jury, and the two other the defendant continued.
Sentence will be passed March 1st."

"March 1, 1886  James O. Poulsen, of West Jordan, came next. He preferred to obey the law of God and meet the consequences, rather than crawfish, and was sentenced to the full term, with fine and costs appended."

"September 4, 1886 Releasing Prisoners.--This morning Brother Samuel F. Ball, who has served a six months' term in the penitentiary and 30 days' additional for the fine, for living with and acknowledging his wives, was released from custody. He took the required oath before Commissioner McKay previous to being set at liberty. He is enjoying good health and is in the best of spirits.
     Two others, James O. Poulsen, of West Jordan, and O.F. Due, of this city, should have been released to-day, but were not brought in from the penitentiary, and will have to remain in custody until Monday at least-two days longer than required by the law. The cause of this is that the Commissioner and his associates propose to change the order of business. In future instead of prisoners being brought in for examination the day after their imprisonment for the fees expire, they must remain at the penitentiary and make application to be released, when the Commissioner will set a day for the hearing. The reason assigned for following this method is that the Commissioner has been crowded as, for instance this week, when six were brought before him in one day, and only three being released, two days were spent on the habeas corpus proceedings for the others. Under this rule it seems probable that a delay will occur in most cases where those imprisoned are unable to pay the fine assessed against them."

"September 7, 1886  More Habeas Corpus Proceedings, Necessary.--Today Brothers Hyrum Goff, Wm. J. Jenkins and Jas. O. Poulsen were brought in form the penitentiary and taken before Commissioner McKay. The two latter were subjected to a rigid examination, but being possessed of a very small amount of property, which was invested in real estate, they were discharged in taking the  required oath. They have each served six months' imprisonment."

James and Ellen, his brother Paul and wife Catherine probably came to America in 1875 or later. All were baptized or confirmed in about 1875. Usually this was done prior to emigration. Daughter Betsy was born in Sweden in 1861 so they could not have left there prior to that date. She was also re-baptized in 1876.

In the Springville, Utah Cemetery Records, there is a Daughter "Polsen" born 9 July 1889 and died the same day. The parents are listed as "Jacob and Lena Polsen." The names are possibly misspelled and the dates do not work out with the birth dates of the other children.

There is no obituary for James in the Salt Lake City Herald. The news of the week is full of speculation on relations with Spain which has severed its relations with the United States and the Utah 24th Infantry has left for New Orleans from Rio Grande Depot.  There is an obituary in The Deseret News of April 23, 1898. It reads:
  "Died.  POLSON--At his home, East Jordan ward, on Thursday, April 32, 1898, James O, Polson, born at Malma, Sweden, July 7, 1828. Deceased was aged 71 years, 9 months and 14 days; and he died as he had lived, a true Latter-day Saint.
  Funeral from East Jordan meeting house, Sunday, April 24. Friends invited."

Danielle Batson, A.G., has searched the Naturalization Index and Court Minutes for Salt Lake and the only James Paulson which she has found who seems to match my data was naturalized on Saturday, February 25, 1878. She has provided me with a copy of the index and the Court Minutes of Vol. D, Page 709. No information on place or date of birth is given.