James Fitzroy McLean (1843 - ?)
Albert McLean (1846 - aft 1870)
Annie Blanch McLean (1847-1872)
Mother: Ann Chidester
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Husband: Parley P. Pratt |
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Children with Hector McLean: James Fitzroy McLean (1843 - ?) Albert McLean (1846 - aft 1870) Annie Blanch McLean (1847-1872) | |
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Father: James Scott McComb Mother: Ann Chidester |
Eleanor Jane McComb was born 29 Dec 1817 in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) to James and Ann Chidester McComb. They were strict Presbyterians. While Eleanor was young the family moved to Greenville, Louisiana, near New Orleans. There she met and married Hector McLean in 1841. They had three children: Fitzroy, Albert, and Annie.
Hector began to drink heavily and was so abusive that she left him in 1844. She wrote him a brief letter that year summarizing her alternatives as still legally his wife:
Dear Hector:
Having used every persuasion in my power to no effect, I see but three alternatives all ending in misery if not in crime. First, to live a victim of the vice to you have a prey, 2nd to seek a home among strangers, or shall the smooth current of the Mississippi be the last page that any may read of my "Ill Fate?"
He responded on 31 Dec 1844 from Millikins Bend:
Nea, Ellen, neither of these shall ever be your lot. I will cease to grieve your gentle spirit, and we will live together so long is it is the will and good pleasure of a Heavenly Parent we should. We seek an asylum among the people of God (I care not what that may be) and by their good example and precept I am persuaded your own dear husband may cure. I must be saved and reformed--it is impossible to be either here. I have tried in vain to live soberly and righteously before God and men but cannot accomplish it.
Eleanor then returned to live with him again. They left New Orleans and moved to San Francisco to help Hector to reform. They took with them their three children. There they came into contact with the Mormon Church. Eleanor wanted to join, but was forbidden by Hector, to such an extent that he bought a sword and threatened to kill both her and the minister who baptized her. Nevertheless, Eleanor attended meetings as often as she could. One night as she was singing from a Mormon hymn book, Hector threw the book in the fire, beat her, and threw her out into the street and locked the door. The next day she filed a charge of assault and battery against him, planning to go with the saints to San Bernardino never to return. Even though she returned to him, she no longer considered herself to be his wife, stating about the night he threw her out, "I then declared that I would no longer be his wife however many years I might be compelled to appear a such for the sake of my children."
She accepted Mormonism in November 1851, but was not baptized until 24 May 1854, after Hector had finally given his written permission.
Parley P. Pratt was called to preside over the Pacific Mission arrived in San Francisco on 2 Jul 1854. They had few funds and were cared for by members of the Church, including Eleanor. She brought food, bedding and clothing and helped care for Parley's wife Elizabeth, who was sick. She told Parley of her home problems and he tried to reconcile with Hector, but the situation only worsened. On 27 Aug 1854 she had Parley baptize her sons Fitzroy and Albert. Shortly afterward, Hector decided that the only way to save his family from the Mormons was to have Eleanor committed to an insane asylum.
To counter this, Parley assigned John R. Young, a young missionary, to follow the Spirit to know how to save Eleanor from being locked up. He saw a sign in the McLean window advertising the need for a cook so he applied for that job and Hector hired him. Soon came time for the official examination of Eleanor and he was able to testify on her behalf, actually helping her to appear much more stable than Hector. The charge of insanity was dropped.
Shortly after this Hector sent the children to New Orleans to live with her parents. When she found out she went after them against his strict orders. She notified Parley in a brief note dated 5 Feb 1855 about her leaving. The children arrived on 13 Feb and she arrived on 2 March. She finally convinced her father to help her to go Salt Lake City, which she accomplished by working her way as a cook for a Mormon migration party. She arrived in Salt Lake on 11 Sep 1855.
Parley had returned from his mission on 18 Aug 1855, so Eleanor applied for a position with him as a school teacher of his children. One month later she became his twelfth and last wife on 14 Nov 1855. When he was called on a mission in the Eastern States on 24 Aug 1856, she asked to accompany him, so that she could go recover her children.
She went to her father's home and managed to get her two youngest children, Albert and Annie. Afterward she notified her father that she was now Mrs. Pratt and was taking the chilren to Utah. Hector soon got word and began in pursuit. He got word of Parley's itinerary and gathered a mob in St. Louis in order to kill him. When that failed he went after Eleanor and managed to get his two children back. He had Eleanor and Parley charged with larceny for stealing their clothing. The marshal asked her if she'd like to see Parley who was only 40 miles away. On the way there she saw Hector, her children, and his mob out to kill Parley. The marshall told her that they had Pratt in custody and the Hector was determined to kill him, but that he was bound to prevent that. He allowed her to see Parley, where she spoke rather formally to him, being in public. Then she stated to the onlooking crowd that she was also ready to die if needed.
At the trial at Van Buren, Arkansas, on Tue 12 May 1857 Eleanor was so convincing as a prisoner, that charges against her were dropped and she became a witness of Parley's trial. McLean spoke first and was able to stir up the five hundred spectators to rally for his cause. When Parley stood to respond, Hector drew his pistol and had to be restrained. At that time the judge postponed the trial until the next morning at 8 a.m. That was done to allow Parley to escape. Early on Wed 13 May 1857 Parley was provided with a horse, but Parley refused the knife and pistol for defense, saying he trusted in God.
At the hotel where she stayed in Van Buren, Eleanor learned that Parley had been shot. She learned that Hector was bragging about it at the bar, where he was gathering a crowd to lynch her. The hotel owner protected her and dispelled the mob with armed force. After Hector had left, she went to prepare Parley's body for burial, which occurred about 10 pm on Thu 14 May 1857. Before Eleanor left Van Buren, she composed a song at Parley's death which she sang to them. She also wrote an article for the Arkansas Intelligencer newspaper, which they promised to publish.
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There Eleanor stayed with the Pratt family and was called by Brigham Young to build a schoolhouse where she would teach the Pratt children as well as Brigham Young's children. She eked out a meager existence so doing, living on the tuition paid, which was also expected to pay for repairs on the schoolhouse. She was never really accepted by the Pratt family nor supported at all by them because they apparently blamed her for his death. In a family vote, they unanimously refused her a portion of inheritance as a wife, nor to pay any tuition for their children's education.
About 1866 she left with Abinadi Pratt, son of Parley and Belinda Marden, to teach school in the country. In 1870 she was back teaching at the schoolhouse. The 1870 Census Record shows that her son Albert had come to live with her, where he also taught school.
Eleanor died at 8 pm on Sat 24 Oct 1874 and is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
This account was mostly condensed from Steven Pratt's article "Eleanor McLean and the Murder of Parley P. Pratt" from the Jared Pratt Family Association.