Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834
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Source Note
Account with the Camp of Israel, [, Geauga Co., OH], [ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834]; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.This account was written on a single leaf ruled both vertically and horizontally and measuring 15½ × 12½ inches (39 × 32 cm). The original leaf was likely folded down the middle, and it eventually separated into two leaves. Adhesive cellophane tape residue indicates an attempt to rejoin them as a single leaf. Debits are displayed on the left leaf and credits on the right leaf. The adjoined leaves were folded together, with the text facing the inside; they were then folded twice widthwise into thirds; a final half-fold resulted in a document measuring approximately 7¾ × 2½ inches (20 × 6 cm). Two dockets were written on the exposed exterior of the right leaf. The first docket, inscribed in black ink in the handwriting of , reads: “May 3, 1834 | Joseph Smith’s account with ”. The second docket, in now-faded red ink in the handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, reads: “May— 1834 | Jos. Smith’s account with | Zion’s Camp”. It is presumed that these pages were originally contained in a large ledger book.In August 1834, apparently submitted the account to the , Ohio, . It is listed in the first Historian’s Office inventory, suggesting continuous institutional custody.
Footnotes
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Historical Introduction
Sometime in August 1834, created this record showing JS’s personal contributions to the . Hyde created the list at least partly because accused JS of committing financial improprieties while JS led the camp in spring and summer 1834. The record, made in connection with another account with the , showed JS’s personal transactions involving the camp along with his contributions to the Camp of Israel. This record provides a line-by-line accounting of JS’s contributions, as well as the cash and property he had remaining when he returned to in July 1834. It indicates that JS contributed $1,068.44 to the expedition in cash—obtained from , sales of the Book of Mormon, and subscriptions to The Evening and the Morning Star—and in other property, such as horses, a watch, and the use of harnesses and wagons. At the time JS began his return trek to Ohio, he had $424.16 in cash and property remaining, making a net contribution to the camp of $644.28. Hyde listed the $644.28 on the Church of Christ account in two separate entries: the first, for $582.44, was listed as the “amt of cash paid into the general fund,” while the second, for $61.84, was designated as “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c. it being also a balance of an a/c with the camp of Israel.”It is not clear why created an account for JS that was separate from the general Camp of Israel account, but there are a few possible explanations. It may be that although JS’s contributions were considered as “paid into the general fund,” he did not physically combine the funds mentioned in this account with the rest of the general fund, but instead retained them in his possession. Alternatively, a detailed account of JS’s contributions may have been warranted because his donations consisted of both cash and material goods. JS may also have had the second account kept because he intended to be reimbursed for his contributions, possibly because the resources he donated came at least partly out of his personal property. The net amount of JS’s contribution appears on the Church of Christ account as a balance owed to him by the church, suggesting that the amount was intended to be credited or repaid to JS. This would explain why JS’s contributions are not included on the Church of Christ account as part of the “consrecrated moneys” in the general fund.JS’s account does not provide complete explanations of all of the transactions detailed thereon. For example, the credit side of the account shows JS contributing over $450 in material property, but the debit side shows that the property in his possession at the time he departed for totaled only $206. Aside from the $61.84 credited to JS for “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c.,” he appears to have no other non-cash credit. It is not clear how the non-cash balance was made up, but the $218 JS had in cash upon his return journey (shown on the debit side of the account) may have been seen as payment for those non-cash donations. It is also unclear why the debit side of the account begins only with JS’s return journey to , Ohio. It is possible that his expenses up to that time were covered by the Camp of Israel’s general fund and that he used his own personal money only on the return trip.created this double-entry account on loose-leaf ledger paper. He likely presented it to the high council on 29 August 1834 at the same time that he presented the Church of Christ account. The minutes for that meeting, however, are not clear as to whether this account was submitted. It is also unclear if JS was actually reimbursed for the $644.28.
Footnotes
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2
For more information about the creation of these accounts and possible dates of creation, see Historical Introduction to Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.
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Joseph Smith Junr. in a/c with the
| Dr. | Crt. | ||||
| 1834. | 1834 . | ||||
| July | To this am’t. of cash in his possession at the time he left for Ohio | {132.00 | May 3. | By this am’t. of cash paid into the general fund rec’d of which he collected for me in | {203.00 |
| " | To cash rec’d of in | 10.00 | " " | By this am’t paid into the general fund rec’d of by loan | {207.19 |
| " | " " ditto of in. do " " | 6.00 | |||
| " | " " do as his part of the remainder of the money which feell to him by division | {1.16 | " " | By this am’t. paid into the general fund rec’d of , the Editor of the Star, of Star subscriptions | {25.00 |
| " | To 1 Eagle $10— 2 Sovereigns at $4.50— | 19.00 | " " | By this am’t. paid in as above received for Books of Mormon and other printed documents | {50.00 |
| " | " Cash receivd of the at | 50.00 | |||
| " | " 2 Sets of Harness (worn and injured) @$20— | 40.00 | " " | By this am’t. paid in as above received for Books of Mormon sold on the road to | {27.25 |
| " | " 1 horse which was Bought at (mack horse) | 60[.]00 | |||
| " | " 1 Spavined horse (Booth horse) | 16[.]00 | " | By one Cream Colored Horse bought of in the State of in April last | {85.00 |
| " | " 1 Gray mare sold for $45— . (Exchanged for on the road) | 45.00 | |||
| " | " 1 3 Years old colt— (Exchanged for the chock hors) | 45.00 | " " | By one gray mare bo’t. of the committee | 75.00 |
| To balance carried down to new a/c .— | 644[.]28 | " " | " one spavined horse bo’t. of W. Barker | 16.00 | |
| " " | " one Set of Harness Bot. of Widmot of | 30.00 | |||
| " " | " one " " do " " Curtis Hodges of | 30.00 | |||
| " " | " The use of two waggons hired of Hancock & Burgess. price not agreed upon; but supposed to be about $25 | {25.00 | |||
| " " | By the ware and use of one pleasure waggon in the journey | 20.00 | |||
| " " | " one Silver Watch turned into the fund sold for $20— | 20.00 | |||
| June 8 | " one horse Bo’t. at at $70— $50— cash & the above watch | 50.00 | |||
| July 5 | " one do do of , the , in . | 45.00 | |||
| " | " one do do of Allred in on the return | 60.00 | |||
| " | " this am’t. received, by loan, of in | 50.00 | |||
| " | " do do do of | 10.00 | |||
| " | " do do do of | 6.00 | |||
| " | " do do do for Books of Mormon in gold. (1 Eagle & 2 Sovr) | 19.00 | |||
| " | " do do paid to , being the difference in the Exchange of horses | {15.00 | |||
| 1068.44 | 1068.44 | ||||
| 1834 | |||||
| [A]ug’t. 27 | |||||
| By balance bro’t. down from old a/c | 644[.]28 | ||||
| To this amt of cash credited in an a/c with the (See voucher) | 582.44 | ||||
| To this amt credited on another a/c to balance this | 61.84 | ||||
| 61.84 |
[p. [1]]
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