Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 September 1842

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Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 September 1842
Source Note

Parley P. Pratt
12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....
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and
Amos Fielding
16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...
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, Account and Pay Order,
Liverpool
Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...
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, Lancashire, England, to JS,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, 16 Sept. 1842; handwriting of
Thomas Ward
9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...
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; signatures of
Parley P. Pratt
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and
Amos Fielding
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; witnessed by
Thomas Ward
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and
Hiram Clark
22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...
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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL.

Single leaf, measuring 9⅛ × 7⅜ inches (23 × 19 cm). The leaf is cut along the right side of the recto, suggesting that it may have originally been part of a larger sheet. The leaf was folded to pocket size, possibly for personal delivery.

The document was apparently received by JS in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, and became a part of church records, presumably having remained in continuous institutional custody. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
1
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Footnotes
[1]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
On 16 September 1842,
apostle
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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Parley P. Pratt
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and
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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emigration agent
Amos Fielding
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wrote an account and a pay order in
Liverpool
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, England, and addressed them to JS in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois. Pratt and Fielding sent the account and order to request payment for goods Fielding had transported from Liverpool to Nauvoo earlier that year. Because perishable goods cost less in the
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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, British sea merchants contracted with Pratt and Fielding around March 1842 to purchase flour and wheat that could then be used to supply their ships for the following fall and winter.
1
According to Pratt, the cost of provisions in Nauvoo was, on average, one sixth the cost of provisions in England in the early 1840s. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.)
In exchange, the merchants advanced $3,000 in gold to Pratt and Fielding. The two men used $2,000 to purchase “Wollens, Merinoes, Delanes [delaines], Muslins, and the most sale[a]ble goods . . . in the
Manchester
City in northwest England, located on River Irwell. Noted for manufacture of cotton, linen, and silk goods. Population in 1831 about 187,000. Some early church publications for British Saints, including a hymnal and Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, published...
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Market” that could then be exchanged for flour and wheat in Nauvoo.
2
Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842.
They may have used the remaining $1,000 to finance the shipping of these goods and other supplies to Nauvoo. Fielding transported the goods as he traveled with a group of emigrating Latter-day Saints, arriving in Nauvoo in spring 1842.
3
Fielding and a group of approximately 230 emigrants left Liverpool on the Hanover on 12 March 1842 and arrived in Nauvoo on 14 May. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842; “Emigration,” Millennial Star, Mar. 1842, 2:176; JS, Journal, 14 May 1842.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
Following a short stay, he returned to Liverpool in early September, presumably with the purchased flour and wheat.

Once
Fielding
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returned to
Liverpool
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, he and
Pratt
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made out the following account and pay order for JS, as church
president
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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, detailing the transportation costs of bringing the purchased goods to
Nauvoo
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for barter and trade. The order requested that most of the payment be made in stock in the
Nauvoo House
Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...
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.
4
A 19 January 1841 revelation instructed the Saints to construct a building to be known as the Nauvoo House that could function as a boardinghouse “for the weary traveller.” The revelation provided for the establishment of a “quorum” composed of George Miller, Lyman Wight, John Snider, and Peter Haws, who were authorized to sell stock in the house. On 23 February 1841, the state of Illinois passed a law incorporating the “Nauvoo House Association,” authorizing the organization to sell stock subscriptions for the house to the amount of $150,000. The establishment of such houses and associations was common among other Illinois towns of the period. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:60, 62]; An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, sec. 3; see also An Act to Incorporate the Commerce Hotel Company [28 Feb. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 152–154; An Act to Incorporate the New Greenfield Hotel Company, in Greene County [1 Mar. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 180–183; and An Act to Incorporate the Greenville Hotel Company [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], pp. 132–134.)
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois; Passed at a Session of the General Assembly, Begun and Held at Vandalia the 6th Day of December, 1836. Vandalia, IL; William Walters, 1837.
Fellow British mission leaders
Thomas Ward
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and
Hiram Clark
22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...
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witnessed the document, affirming the truthfulness of the information therein. The lack of addressing suggests that the letter traveled to Nauvoo by means of a courier or that the letter originally was enclosed in a wrapper or envelope that is no longer extant. The letter likely was sent to Nauvoo in the care of one of the three emigrating companies that left Liverpool for Nauvoo during September 1842, making it likely that the letter arrived in Nauvoo sometime between 7 December 1842 and April 1843.
5
Given the nature of the letter and Pratt’s request for JS to pay the detailed funds for stock in the Nauvoo House Association to John Snider—who had been sent to England to collect funds for the Nauvoo temple and the association—it is most likely that Pratt sent the letter through Snider. Snider’s company left Liverpool on 28 September 1842 and arrived in Nauvoo on 23 January 1843. Orson Hyde’s emigrating company arrived in Nauvoo on 7 December 1842. The Levi Richards company arrived in St. Louis sometime during November or December 1842 and wintered there until April 1843, when it finished the journey to Nauvoo. (Historical Introduction to Letter from Parley P. Pratt, between 23 and 27 Sept. 1842; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:736–737; JS, Journal, 7 Dec. 1842; 23 Jan. 1843; 12 Apr. 1843.)
Footnotes
[1]
According to Pratt, the cost of provisions in Nauvoo was, on average, one sixth the cost of provisions in England in the early 1840s. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 4 Dec. 1841.)
[2]
Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842.
[3]
Fielding and a group of approximately 230 emigrants left Liverpool on the Hanover on 12 March 1842 and arrived in Nauvoo on 14 May. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842; “Emigration,” Millennial Star, Mar. 1842, 2:176; JS, Journal, 14 May 1842.)
[4]
A 19 January 1841 revelation instructed the Saints to construct a building to be known as the Nauvoo House that could function as a boardinghouse “for the weary traveller.” The revelation provided for the establishment of a “quorum” composed of George Miller, Lyman Wight, John Snider, and Peter Haws, who were authorized to sell stock in the house. On 23 February 1841, the state of Illinois passed a law incorporating the “Nauvoo House Association,” authorizing the organization to sell stock subscriptions for the house to the amount of $150,000. The establishment of such houses and associations was common among other Illinois towns of the period. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:60, 62]; An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, sec. 3; see also An Act to Incorporate the Commerce Hotel Company [28 Feb. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 152–154; An Act to Incorporate the New Greenfield Hotel Company, in Greene County [1 Mar. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 180–183; and An Act to Incorporate the Greenville Hotel Company [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], pp. 132–134.)
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois; Passed at a Session of the General Assembly, Begun and Held at Vandalia the 6th Day of December, 1836. Vandalia, IL; William Walters, 1837.
[5]
Given the nature of the letter and Pratt’s request for JS to pay the detailed funds for stock in the Nauvoo House Association to John Snider—who had been sent to England to collect funds for the Nauvoo temple and the association—it is most likely that Pratt sent the letter through Snider. Snider’s company left Liverpool on 28 September 1842 and arrived in Nauvoo on 23 January 1843. Orson Hyde’s emigrating company arrived in Nauvoo on 7 December 1842. The Levi Richards company arrived in St. Louis sometime during November or December 1842 and wintered there until April 1843, when it finished the journey to Nauvoo. (Historical Introduction to Letter from Parley P. Pratt, between 23 and 27 Sept. 1842; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:736–737; JS, Journal, 7 Dec. 1842; 23 Jan. 1843; 12 Apr. 1843.)
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Thomas Ward handwriting begins.
Liverpool
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, Sep. 16th. 1842.

To President Joseph Smith.

Account of Cash Expenditures for Goods, delivered by
Amos Fielding
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1
In early April 1841, Fielding was appointed to be the “agent of the church, to superintend the fitting out of the Saints from Liverpool to America.” He was to act “under the instructions of P[arley] P. Pratt.” The decision came in response to several British members having been “robbed and cheated out of nearly all they had” by trying to arrange their own emigration to the United States. (Woodruff, Journal, 2 Apr. 1841; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 2 Apr. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:311.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.
to President Joseph Smith, in the City of
Nauvoo
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, May. 1842.

$

First Cost—— 1000.0

Packing Cases and Cartage— 10.0

Duty and Policy at
New Orleans
Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...
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270.62½

Freight from
New Orleans
Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...
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to
St. Louis
Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...
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2
At New Orleans, Fielding’s company arranged for passage to St. Louis on a steamboat named the General Pratt. (Palmer, Reminiscences, 66.)
Palmer, James. Reminiscences, ca. 1884–1898. CHL.
3.12½

1283.75

25 per cent on the above 320.93¾

1604.68¾

The above Sum is the actual amount of Gold which we have expended for the Goods, with the addition of 25 per cent for profit, trouble, use of the money and risks, which we think will be a sufficient compensation to us, and will not be unjust towards you.

Dear Brother Joseph Smith you will please pay the following sums to
John Snider
11 Feb. 1800–19 Dec. 1875. Farmer, mason, stonecutter. Born in New Brunswick, Canada. Son of Martin Snyder and Sarah Armstrong. Married Mary Heron, 28 Feb. 1822. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1836, at Toronto. Stockholder in Kirtland...
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, to be accedited as stock to the
Nauvoo House
Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...
More Info
for us.
3
Snider, who was in England, was the secretary of the Nauvoo House Association and signed the stock certificates for the association. Snider had been appointed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to serve a mission to England to collect funds for the Nauvoo temple. (Nauvoo House Association, Stock Certificate, 11 Feb. 1841, CHL; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:736–737; JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1843.)
Nauvoo House Association. Stock Certificate, 11 Feb. 1841. CHL.

Namely, Six hundred and Twenty-five dollars, for
P[arley] P. Pratt
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, and Six hundred and Twenty-five dollars for
Amos Fielding
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The remaining Sum, Three hundred and fifty-four dollars, sixty eight cents, and [p. [1]]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
Page [1]
Document Information
Footnotes
Thomas Ward handwriting begins.
[1]
In early April 1841, Fielding was appointed to be the “agent of the church, to superintend the fitting out of the Saints from Liverpool to America.” He was to act “under the instructions of P[arley] P. Pratt.” The decision came in response to several British members having been “robbed and cheated out of nearly all they had” by trying to arrange their own emigration to the United States. (Woodruff, Journal, 2 Apr. 1841; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 2 Apr. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:311.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.
[2]
At New Orleans, Fielding’s company arranged for passage to St. Louis on a steamboat named the General Pratt. (Palmer, Reminiscences, 66.)
Palmer, James. Reminiscences, ca. 1884–1898. CHL.
[3]
Snider, who was in England, was the secretary of the Nauvoo House Association and signed the stock certificates for the association. Snider had been appointed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to serve a mission to England to collect funds for the Nauvoo temple. (Nauvoo House Association, Stock Certificate, 11 Feb. 1841, CHL; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:736–737; JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1843.)
Nauvoo House Association. Stock Certificate, 11 Feb. 1841. CHL.