JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. F-1, created 9 Apr.–7 June 1856 and 20 Aug. 1856–6 Nov. 1856; handwriting of and Jonathan Grimshaw; 304 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the final volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This sixth volume covers the period from 1 May to 8 Aug. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1 through E-1, go through 30 Apr. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838-1856, volume F-1, constitutes the last of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 May 1844 to the events following his 27 June 1844 death, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in 1856.
The material recorded in volume F-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin, and also assistant church historian . Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the volume and creating a set of draft notes, which Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks. Woodruff gathered additional material concerning the death of Joseph Smith as a supplement to George A. Smith’s work recording that event. Jonathan Grimshaw and , members of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed the draft notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents.
According to the Historian’s Office journal, Jonathan Grimshaw initiated work on the text of volume F-1 on 9 April 1856, soon after Robert L. Campbell had completed work on volume E-1. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.) Grimshaw’s scribal work begins with an entry for 1 May 1844. Unlike previous volumes in which the numbering had run consecutively to page 2028, Grimshaw began anew with page 1. He transcribed 150 pages by June 1856, and his last entry was for 23 June 1844. Though more of his writing does not appear in the volume, he continued to work in the office until 2 August, before leaving for the East that same month. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 and 10 Aug. 1856.)
assumed the role of scribe on 20 August 1856. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 20 Aug. 1856.) He incorporated ’s draft notes for the period 24–29 June 1844 on pages 151–189, providing an account of JS’s death and its immediate aftermath. He next transcribed a related extract from ’s 1854 History of Illinois on pages 190–204. Pages 205–227 were left blank.
provided the notes for the final portion of the text. This account begins with an entry for 22 June 1844 and continues the record through 8 August 1844, ending on page 304. (The volume also included ten pages of addenda.) The last specific entry in the Historian’s Office journal that captures at work on the history is for 6 November 1856. A 2 February 1857 Wilford Woodruff letter to indicates that on 30 January 1857, the “presidency sat and heard the history read up to the organization of the church in , 8th. day of August 1844.” (Historian’s Office, Journal, 6 Nov. 1856; Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 2 Feb. 1857, Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 410; see also Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich, 28 Feb. 1857, Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, pp. 430–431.)
The pages of volume F-1 contain a record of the final weeks of JS’s life and the events of the ensuing days. The narrative commences with and arriving at , Illinois, on 1 May 1844 from their lumber-harvesting mission in the “” of Wisconsin Territory. As the late spring and summer of 1844 unfold, events intensify, especially those surrounding the suppression of the Nauvoo Expositor in mid-June. Legal action over the Expositor leads to a charge of riot, and subsequently JS is charged with treason and is incarcerated at the jail in , Illinois. The narrative of volume F-1 concludes with an account of the special church conference convened on 8 August 1844 to consider who should assume the leadership of the church.
<June 25> before me, to answer unto the said complaint and be further dealt with according to law.
“Given under my hand and seal this 24th day of June 1844
Seal
R. F. Smith J. P.”
8½. A. M. called all the troops, and ordered them to form a hollow square, on the public ground near the Court House; and when formed, he [HC 6:562] mounted an old table and addressed them in a most inflammatory manner, exciting the feelings of indignation against Generals Joseph and , which were already burning in their breasts, occasioned by the falsehoods and misrepresentations that were in circulation; giving his assent and sanction to the rumors that had gathered them together, and stating that although they were dangerous men in the community, and guilty of all that they might have alleged against them, still they were in the hands of the law, which must have its course. He continued speaking some 20 or 30 minutes. -[]-
9 ¼ A. M. The came and invited Joseph to walk with him through the troops. Joseph solicited a few moments private conversation with him; which the refused. While refusing, the looked down at his shoes, as though he was ashamed. They then walked through the crowd with Brigadier General and to ’s head quarters. The people appeared quiet until a company of Carthage Greys flocked round the doors of in an uproarious manner, of which notice was sent to the . In the meantime the had ordered the troops to be drawn up in line for Joseph and to pass in front of them, they having requested that they might have a clear view of the Generals Smith. Joseph had a conversation with the for about 10 minutes, when he again pledged the faith of the that he and his friends should be protected from violence.
, the postmaster, said on report of Martial Law, being prolamed in he had stopped the mail and notified the Postmaster General of the State of things in .
From the ’s quarters Joseph and went in front of the lines, in a hollow square of a Company of [HC 6:563] Carthage Greys; at 7 min. before 10, they arrived in front of the lines, and passed before the whole, Joseph being on the right of , and on his left; Elders , and following. Joseph and were introduced by , <> about twenty times along the line, as Gen. Joseph Smith and Gen. ; the walking in front on the left. The Carthage Greys refused to receive them by that introduction, and some of the officers threw up their hats, drew their swords, and said they would introduce themselves to the damned Mormons in a different style. The mildly intreated them not to act so rudely, but their excitement increased: <> the , however, succeeded in pacifying them by making a speech, and promising them that they should have“ full satisfaction.” Gen. Smith and party returned to their lodgings at 5 min. past 10.
10.30. News reached Joseph at the , that the Carthage Greys had revolted, and were put under guard by . Joseph told all his friends to stay in the two rooms occupied by them in the . [p. 156]