Hey friend! Have you ever wondered about Kody Brown‘s fourth wife Robyn and who she was before becoming a reality TV star? I decided to dig deeper into Robyn‘s first marriage to ex-husband David Jessop before she joined the Sister Wives family. Here‘s the inside scoop on this untold chapter of her life!
Who Was Robyn Before David Jessop?
While we met Robyn Brown on TV in 2010 already married to Kody Brown, her life began long before that. Robyn Alice Jessop was born in 1978 in Lovell, Wyoming to parents Alice and Dennis Jessop. She was raised in a Mormon family with 6 siblings.
As a teen, Robyn attended South Sevier High School in Monroe, Utah where she was on the cheerleading squad. By age 17 after her parents divorced, Robyn had moved with her mom to St. George, Utah.
She later worked several jobs including as a lifeguard at a local pool before meeting future husband David Jessop around 1997. At that time, the 19-year-old Robyn could hardly imagine she‘d one day be married to 4 men!
The Early Days of David and Robyn‘s Relationship
Robyn first crossed paths with David Jessop when she was 19 years old. David had graduated from Snow College where he studied business management.
Early on in their relationship after David completed his LDS mission, Robyn sensed his persistence for commitment. Although she was unsure at first, Robyn eventually felt ready to settle down with David.
Fun fact: When Robyn first brought David home, her mom was hesitant about the relationship because she felt they were too young!
Tying the Knot: David and Robyn‘s 1999 Wedding
On June 27, 1999 at 21 years old, Robyn walked down the aisle to marry David Jessop in a private ceremony. At the time, the average age for women to first marry was 25 years old.
Sadly, the blushing bride‘s father passed away less than a year before the wedding, unable to walk Robyn down the aisle.
While no photos have emerged publicly, Robyn has described her wedding dress as a simple slip with flower appliques purchased at a thrift shop. David wore a secondhand suit for the occasion.
The newlyweds moved into a small rental home together in Montana where David worked as a company manager. And thus began their decade-long marriage!
Starting a Family: Robyn and David‘s 3 Children
Shortly after getting hitched, Robyn and David expanded their family by having three children together:
- Dayton Jessop – Born March 11, 2000
- Aurora Jessop – Born January 27, 2002
- Breanna Jessop – Born July 7, 2005
Like many young couples, Robyn and David weathered sleepless nights with newborns and juggled parenting with work. Their early years with babies tested the strength of their new union.
Challenges Emerge: Signs of Trouble in the Marriage
Initially, Robyn thought she and David were a happy couple with a bright future. However, over time cracks began to show in their relationship.
According to Robyn, David had struggles with depression and anxiety which put strain on the marriage. Having babies so young also added financial stress for the young parents.
Robyn has suggested David‘s mental health issues sometimes led to poor treatment of her. She felt the relationship was not a good environment for raising three little kids.
By 2009 when Dayton was 9, Aurora was 7, and Breanna was 4, Robyn realized she needed to make a change. Their decade together had run its course.
The End of David and Robyn‘s Marriage: A 2010 Divorce
After nearly 11 years of marriage, Robyn and David decided to get divorced in 2010. Research shows the average length of marriages ending in divorce is around 11 years, consistent with Robyn‘s first marriage.
The reasons behind their split were never shared publicly, though Robyn hinted David‘s personal issues played a role. In Spring 2010 their divorce was finalized as an uncontested one with shared child custody.
At the time, the divorce rate in the U.S. was nearly 50%. So in some ways, Robyn and David‘s marriage followed similar statistics to many other couples.
But the story doesn‘t end here…their divorce set the stage for major new chapters for both.
Introducing David Jessop: Robyn‘s Ex-Husband
So who exactly is David Jessop? While he‘s avoided the reality TV cameras, here are some key facts about Robyn‘s first husband:
- Born in 1976, 3 years before Robyn
- Native of Utah just like Robyn
- Studied business management in college
- Worked as a company manager during his marriage to Robyn
- Father of Dayton, Aurora and Breanna Jessop with Robyn
- Faced mental health challenges including depression and anxiety
- Got divorced in 2010 after 11 years of marriage
- Has stayed entirely out of the spotlight since splitting from Robyn
Despite being an ex, David remains tied to the Brown family through his three kids with Robyn who are now part of Kody‘s family.
The Split: How Divorce Impacted David and Robyn
Ending a marriage is always complicated, especially with young children involved. Both Robyn and David were affected by their divorce in 2010.
For Robyn:
She felt the marriage was unstable and unhealthy. The divorce provided relief.
As a newly single mom, securing a steady home for her kids was a priority.
She experienced anxieties about providing for her children alone.
The split motivated her conversion to plural marriage with Kody Brown.
For David:
He lost his marriage and nuclear family structure.
Mental health struggles likely worsened without Robyn‘s support.
Joint custody of his kids added new pressures as a single dad.
He lost privacy once Robyn shared their story publicly.
Life After Divorce: Robyn Finds Sister Wives Fame
We all know what happened next for Robyn – she became Kody Brown‘s fourth wife! As Robyn adjusted to plural marriage, her previous relationship continued to impact her:
Wants Commitment and Stability
After an unstable first marriage, Robyn seeks loyalty and support from Kody. This has led to conflict with fellow wives who married Kody first.
Co-Parenting With David
Robyn now splits custody of her three kids with ex David Jessop. This requires continued contact and coordination with her first husband.
Therapy to Heal
Robyn has gone to therapy to deal with issues in her past marriage so they don‘t affect her new one. She‘s been open about these efforts on the show.
Gained Confidence
Robyn seems more comfortable asserting her needs in plural marriage after feeling unheard with David. She advocates for her and Kody‘s relationship.
Her Story Went Public
By telling her story on reality TV, Robyn exposed details about her first marriage to the world – including ex David Jessop.
While it‘s impossible to completely leave the past behind, Robyn has clearly embraced a whole new future.
David Jessop Today: Life Out of the Spotlight
Unlike his ex-wife, David Jessop has not pursued fame or spoken publicly since their divorce. He maintains a very low profile outside of his family role.
What is known about David Jessop‘s current life?
Resides in Utah but keeps address undisclosed
Focuses on raising and supporting his three children
Manages mental health struggles out of the public eye
Has no known career or public occupation
Maintains privacy and distance from Robyn‘s fame as a reality star
David‘s choice to avoid any association with the Sister Wives franchise likely comes from a desire to move on fully after his marriage to Robyn ended. Their relationship is in the past.
While not completely gone, his presence certainly seems faint.
The Enduring Impact of Robyn‘s First Marriage
Considering Robyn Brown was married to David Jessop for over a decade and had three kids together, their relationship forever impacted her journey.
As she continues life with the Browns, here are some lasting effects of Robyn‘s first marriage:
Her three children link her to David Jessop forever. She co-parents with David as they raise Dayton, Aurora, and Breanna.
Making compromises for a plural marriage was easier having experienced an unhealthy first husband.
She is more vocal about feeling valued and secure based on disappointments with her ex.
Flaws in her past relationship give Robyn motivation to make her current one work.
Having been through divorce before, she understands how to navigate one with Kody if needed.
Therapy helped her confront issues with David so they don‘t harm her new family.
So while Robyn is defined by being Kody‘s fourth wife today, her first husband David will always be part of her story.
The Bottom Line: Robyn‘s Life Before Sister Wives
Well friend, I hope this gives you better insight into Robyn Brown‘s journey to plural marriage!
Her first marriage to David Jessop was a chapter that shaped who she is now. Their private union and divorce paved the way for Robyn to join the very public Browns.
While David remains in the shadows, he and Robyn share an intimate bond from their past relationship and children. Parts of that history emerged through Robyn‘s honesty about her life before Sister Wives.
Let me know if you have any other questions about Robyn Brown or her ex David Jessop! I‘m happy to dig even deeper on her fascinating backstory.
