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F. G. Williams & Co. Account Book, October 1833–November 1835

Source Note

F. G. Williams & Co.

A firm established by the United Firm on 11 September 1833 to print newspapers in Kirtland, Ohio. In December 1833, F. G. Williams & Co. resumed the interrupted printing of the church newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star. After the United Firm was reorganized...

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, Account Book,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, Oct. 1833–Nov. 1835; handwriting of
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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,
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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, and JS; thirty-four pages; CHL.
Receipts and expenditures for the F. G. Williams & Co. printing firm in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, were inscribed in a narrow, commercially produced account book with boards covered in marbled paper. The book was originally used as a financial record book for F. G. Williams & Co. beginning in January 1834; twenty-five pages were inscribed with business records dating from October 1833 to May 1835. After a new arrangement was reached in May, a further twelve pages were inscribed with business records for the firm until November 1835. After the firm of F. G. Williams & Co. was dissolved,
Warren A. Cowdery

17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...

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used the book to record his personal financial accounts from 1838 to 1839. In January 1849, Patience Simonds Cowdery, the wife of Warren A. Cowdery, inverted the book and used 167 pages to record diary entries from 1849 to 1851. Accounts from 1850–1851 were recorded on several of the pages originally containing business records for the firm of F. G. Williams & Co.; these later entries have been omitted from the featured transcript.

Historical Introduction

The printing firm of
F. G. Williams & Co.

A firm established by the United Firm on 11 September 1833 to print newspapers in Kirtland, Ohio. In December 1833, F. G. Williams & Co. resumed the interrupted printing of the church newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star. After the United Firm was reorganized...

View Glossary
was organized in September 1833.
1

Minutes, 11 Sept. 1833.


When the
United Firm

An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...

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was dissolved in April 1834,
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
and
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
received the printing firm as their
stewardship

One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...

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and continued to operate the
printing office

Following destruction of church printing office in Independence, Missouri, July 1833, JS and other church leaders determined to set up new printing office in Kirtland under firm name F. G. Williams & Co. Oliver Cowdery purchased new printing press in New ...

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in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, until June 1836.
2

Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:1, 29–30]; “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:329; see also “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1836, 2:364.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Although the firm was involved in many important church printing endeavors, most of its business records have not survived. One of the few extant records is an account book, which does not appear to be comprehensive. It contains the firm’s receipts and expenditures from October 1833 to November 1835. No one clerk appears to have been solely responsible for keeping this account, as it contains entries written by most of the men involved in the United Firm in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
. Much of the income recorded in the account book came from subscriptions to the church’s newspapers The Evening and the Morning Star and Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate.
3

The Evening and the Morning Star was printed from June 1832 to July 1833 in Independence, Missouri, and from December 1833 to September 1834 in Kirtland. The Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate was printed in Kirtland from October 1834 to September 1837. In January 1835, F. G. Williams & Co. began reprinting all issues of The Evening and the Morning Star, with editorial changes, under the shortened name Evening and Morning Star. (Introduction to F. G. Williams & Co.; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832, [8]; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 112; “Prospectus,” Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1837, 3:571.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Additionally, the account book records not only specific business expenses for the printing firm but also entries related to other events occurring in 1834 and 1835. Because money was scarce, funds from the firm were used to pay for other needs like travel expenses or litigation. The book records ongoing financial difficulties for the firm in 1835, ultimately leading to its dissolution.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 11 Sept. 1833.

  2. [2]

    Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:1, 29–30]; “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:329; see also “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1836, 2:364.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [3]

    The Evening and the Morning Star was printed from June 1832 to July 1833 in Independence, Missouri, and from December 1833 to September 1834 in Kirtland. The Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate was printed in Kirtland from October 1834 to September 1837. In January 1835, F. G. Williams & Co. began reprinting all issues of The Evening and the Morning Star, with editorial changes, under the shortened name Evening and Morning Star. (Introduction to F. G. Williams & Co.; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832, [8]; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1833, 112; “Prospectus,” Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1837, 3:571.)

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Page 8

Expenditures
May 29 for postage 0.25
June 2 for medicine for
F[rederick] G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
horse
0.25
3 for letter to
F. G. W.

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
p[e]r J Wood
0.18½
[3] for Postage 0.43¾
6 for mending Mary Carter’s Shoes for J. Smith jr 0.12½
[June] 7 for postage 0.25
17 [for postage] 0.12½
22 [for postage] 0.10
[22] for
William Cowdery

5 Sept. 1765–26 Feb. 1847. Farmer, physician. Born at East Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of William Cowdery and Hannah Emmons. Raised Congregationalist. Married first Rebecca Fuller. Moved to Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont, ca. 1787. Appointed surveyor...

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0.75
24 for postage on letter to
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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0.25
28 [for] postage 0.18¾
July 1 [for postage] 0.35
2 [for postage] 0.56
8 [for postage] 0.25
10 for paper at Kelloggs [James Kellogg] 10.00
[10] for Oil and Can 1.87½
[10] for medicine 0.18¾
[10] for Sealing wax 0.06¼
15 for postage 0.50
[15] for peas for family <​
O[liver] Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
​>
0.25
18 for recording deeds, one for
O. Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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0.75
[18] one for J. Smith jr 0.75
and two for the Church 2.00
[18] paid into the hands of
N. Millikin [Nathaniel Milliken]

25 Dec. 1793–Aug. 1874. Farmer, post office clerk. Born at Buxton, York Co., Maine. Son of Nathaniel Milliken and Mary Lord. Married first Mary Fairfield Hayes, 22 Apr. 1819. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1 Oct. 1833, at Buxton...

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for Types at
Albany

State capital and county seat, located in eastern-central part of state on west bank of Hudson River. Area settled by Dutch, 1612. Known as Fort Orange and Beaver Wyck, 1623; name changed to Williamstadt, 1647. Capitulated to English forces, 1664, and renamed...

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N.Y.
100.00
22 for postage 0.25
[22] for J. Smith jr’s family expenses 0.17
23 for
S[idney] Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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’s expenses to
Canada

In late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Canada referred to British colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada, 1791; reunited 10 Feb. 1841. Boundaries corresponded roughly to present-day Ontario (Upper...

More Info
1.00
24 for Oil Spear mint for J. Smith jr’s family 0.22
30 for postage 0.43¾
31 for
Carlos [Don Carlos Smith]

25 Mar. 1816–7 Aug. 1841. Farmer, printer, editor. Born at Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized into Church of Jesus...

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’ expenses to
Chardon

Located eight miles south of Lake Erie and immediately east of Kirtland Township. Settled by 1812. Included village of Chardon. Population of township in 1820 about 430; in 1830 about 880; and in 1840 about 1,100. Two of JS’s sisters resided in township. ...

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0.55
August 1 for Mackerel at
Richmond

Area settled, ca. 1814. Officially platted as Ray Co. seat, 1827. Population in 1840 about 500. Seat of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri; also location of courthouse and jails. JS and about sixty other Latter-day Saint men were incarcerated here while...

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<​p[er] J. Smith​>
3.25
[August 1] for Cod fish at [
Richmond

Area settled, ca. 1814. Officially platted as Ray Co. seat, 1827. Population in 1840 about 500. Seat of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri; also location of courthouse and jails. JS and about sixty other Latter-day Saint men were incarcerated here while...

More Info
] <​[p J. Smith]​>
2.50
[August 1] for other expenses at the time <​
OC

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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​>
0.52
2 for postage 0.18¼
5 [for postage] 0.25
6 for Joseph Smith jr Subscriptions on the Star at
Liberty

Located in western Missouri, thirteen miles north of Independence. Settled 1820. Clay Co. seat, 1822. Incorporated as town, May 1829. Following expulsion from Jackson Co., 1833, many Latter-day Saints found refuge in Clay Co., with church leaders and other...

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Mo.
3.00
5 for paper at
Cleveland

Cuyahoga Co. seat of justice, 1833. Situated on south shore of Lake Erie, just east of mouth of Cuyahoga River. First settled, 1797. Incorporated as village, 1815; incorporated as city, 1836. Became center of business and trade at opening of Ohio and Erie...

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10.00
[5] for
Carlos

25 Mar. 1816–7 Aug. 1841. Farmer, printer, editor. Born at Norwich, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized into Church of Jesus...

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’ expenses to
Cleveland

Cuyahoga Co. seat of justice, 1833. Situated on south shore of Lake Erie, just east of mouth of Cuyahoga River. First settled, 1797. Incorporated as village, 1815; incorporated as city, 1836. Became center of business and trade at opening of Ohio and Erie...

More Info
0.44
12 for postage 0.25
[12] for postage on J. Smith jr’s letter 0.06
15 for leather at Mason’s <​
O Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
​>
2.00
19 for postage 0.25
<​Total 45.78​>
[p. 8]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
F. G. Williams & Co. Account Book, October 1833–November 1835
ID #
4105
Total Pages
45
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

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