JS, Letter, , Sangamon Co., IL, to , , Hancock Co., IL, 9 Nov. 1839; handwriting of JS; one page; JS Materials, CCLA. Includes address and docket.
One leaf, measuring 12½ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm), with thirty-eight ruled lines. The document was trifolded in letter style and sealed. Later, the document was refolded for filing. Remnants from the adhesive wafer are on the verso of the letter. The signature of JS was clipped, and a dark stain exists along a crease next to the missing signature.
presumably kept the letter until it was given to or inherited by her son , who in turn donated it to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now Community of Christ).
[Joseph Smith III], “Letters of Joseph Smith, the Martyr,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Dec. 1879, 356–357.
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
Historical Introduction
On the morning of 9 November 1839, JS wrote a letter to from , Illinois, while on his journey to . He and the rest of the delegation seeking redress had departed , Illinois, eleven days earlier, and they stopped in Springfield to allow , who was still recovering from malaria, to further recuperate. The stopover apparently provided JS with time to write home. He explained in the letter that the traveling party was behind schedule because of Rigdon’s poor health and that they planned to leave him in Springfield to recover fully. JS also expressed concern for the welfare of his family, encouraged Emma to care for their children, and requested a reply from her.
The letter was carried from to by a “Mr Law,” who delivered it to sometime before 6 December, when she wrote a letter back to JS and confirmed she had received this letter.