Patty Bartlett Sessions was a sought after midwife and a leader among women of her day.  Her story is worth remembering.

She was born to Enoch and Martha Ann Hall Bartlett, in Bethel, Maine on February 4, 1795.  The oldest of nine children, she showed intelligence at a young age, and received a good education for her day.  She was head-strong, quick, bright, and always hard-working.  These attributes would benefit her throughout her life.

Marrying against her parent’s will, she chose as her life’s companion, David Sessions.  Many years later, her father would say on his deathbed, “O Patty, you made a good choice, better than I should have made for you.”

The young couple started their marriage with nothing but energy and ambition.  David set out to build a house and Patty took in weaving, which she was quite proficient at, and was greatly sought after for.

Her mother-in-law was very feeble, but would often be called upon to help with births, where she needed Patty’s help.  The first time this happened, Mother Sessions was called to two different homes at once.  Patty was forced to care for one of the women by herself, never having experienced this before.  But through pure instinct both mother and child were well taken care of.  When the doctor finally arrived, he declared Patty a natural, and urged her to continue in this profession.

Patty cared for her mother-in-law for many years.  One day, while pushing the wheelchair, Patty’s arm slipped and the elbow was pulled out of its socket.  She calmly settled her mother-in-law, went outside and pushed her socket back in.  Not wanting her mother-in-law to feel bad, she never told anyone what had happened.

The Sessions became quite well off over time.  They were blessed with seven children; however, only three remained living.  Settling into their life, they sought religion.  In 1834, the Gospel was carried to Maine where the Sessions immediately accepted baptism.  They sold their farm, their mill, their luxuries, and set off to join the Saints.

In Patty’s journal, every prominent member of the Church is mentioned in daily life.  It is from this journal that much history is marked and documented for us today.  As they set out west, Patty writes of several births that she attended along the way.  Upon leaving Mt. Pisgah, she recorded, “We leave many good brethren and sisters here, Sisters Horne, E. R. Snow, Zina D. and Emily P, and many more.”  Two days later she wrote, “Sister Horne sent on for me.  I went back to Mt. Pisgah and attended to her; she had a daughter.  I rode on horseback seven miles each way.”  Imagine that, in two days they traveled seven miles in covered wagon, and she had to cover double that distance all over again on horseback.

Along the way, U. S. troops enlisted the men of the wagon train to fight in the Mexican war, leaving the women to manage for themselves.  On another day, she writes of a sweet luxury:  her son, Peregrine “put some projection boards on to our new wagon.”  This gave them a little more sitting space.

Patty attended the first Relief Society meetings.  She mentioned when the Relief Society, lead by Emma Smith, signed a petition to send to the governor.  This petition was hand delivered by Emma and several of the women, and demanded that Joseph Smith be released from prison.  This was the first petition written by the Relief Society, and it was then quite an event in the history of women.  The Relief Society would write many more petitions in the future.

Being a woman among women, Patty is remembered for her service, her valiant testimony, her love for her sisters, and her great strength.

Her life history is recorded in the Woman’s Exponent, September 1, 1884.