In his diary, "A Mormon Chronicle," John D. Lee said: "About 6 o'clock evening I married my son John Alma Lee and Mary Ann Wms. [Williams], formerly Mary Ann Lee. She was the 16th woman that was sealed to me in the new and everlasting covenant. She for some cause became dissatisfied. I told her that if [I] could not make her happy that she should have her liberty and if there was any other man that she could be more happy with, to say so and I would use my endeavors to have her sealed to that man. She replied that she could love me and respect me as a father but not as a husband, and that she wanted my oldest son for her companion and that she loved him more than any other man that she ever saw. Upon reflection I answered that her request should be granted. Under those considerations I married them at the time above specified, and I gave them a sumptious (sic) supper and social party in my family hall to which I invited all the inhabitants of Harmony, who all participated in the rich festival."

The exact date of Lee's sealing to Mary Ann Williams has not been found, but in his Confessions, he said that the event took place in 1856. The girl was then only fourteen years old. Lee might have followed the custom, common at the time, of taking the marriage vow with the understanding that he would wait for the young bride to mature before she became his wife in fact. According to family tradition, Lee released Mary Ann from the union because she refused to allow him to consummate the marriage.

He married Mary Ann WILLIAMS 18Jan 1859 in Old Fort Harmony, Washington, Utah. She was born 11Sep 1844 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. She was the daughter of John WILLIAMS and Marcy LUCAS. Mary died 8Feb 1882 in Panguitch, Garfield, Utah, and was buried in Panguitch, Garfield, Utah.