History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 327
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20 July 1833 • Saturday
On the 20th. the mob collected, and demanded the discontinuance of the printing in : a closing of the ; and a cessation of all mechanical labors. The Brethren refused compliance, and the consequence was, that the house of , which contained the printing establishment, was thrown down: The materials taken possion of by the Mob; many papers destroyed; and the family and furniture thrown out <​of​> doors.
The mob then proceeded to violence towards , the of the , as he relates in his autobiography;
“I was taken from my house by the Mob, George Simpson being their leader, who escorted me about half a mile, to the , on the public square in ; and then and there, a few rods from said court house, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was stripped of my hat, coat and vest, and daubed with tar from head to foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me; and all this because I [HC 1:390] would not agree to leave the , <​and​> my home where I had lived two years.
Before tarring and feathering me, I was permitted to speak. I told them that the saints had had to suffer persecution in all ages of the world. That I had done nothing which ought to offend any one. That if they abused me they would abuse an innocent person. That I was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but to leave the country I was not then willing to consent to it. By this time the multitude made so much noise I that I could not be heard: some were cursing and swearing, saying call upon your Jesus, &c, &c; others were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be enabled to hear what I was saying.
Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with me, whether to kill me, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore my abuse with so much resignation and meekness, that it appeared to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence, many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I thought; and, as to myself, I was so filled [p. 327]
20 July 1833 • Saturday
On the 20th. the mob collected, and demanded the discontinuance of the printing in : a closing of the ; and a cessation of all mechanical labors. The Brethren refused compliance, and the consequence was, that the house of , which contained the printing establishment, was thrown down: The materials taken possion of by the Mob; many papers destroyed; and the family and furniture thrown out of doors.
The mob then proceeded to violence towards , the of the , as he relates in his autobiography;
“I was taken from my house by the Mob, George Simpson being their leader, who escorted me about half a mile, to the , on the public square in ; and then and there, a few rods from said court house, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was stripped of my hat, coat and vest, and daubed with tar from head to foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me; and all this because I [HC 1:390] would not agree to leave the , and my home where I had lived two years.
Before tarring and feathering me, I was permitted to speak. I told them that the saints had had to suffer persecution in all ages of the world. That I had done nothing which ought to offend any one. That if they abused me they would abuse an innocent person. That I was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but to leave the country I was not then willing to consent to it. By this time the multitude made so much noise that I could not be heard: some were cursing and swearing, saying call upon your Jesus, &c, &c; others were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be enabled to hear what I was saying.
Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with me, whether to kill me, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore my abuse with so much resignation and meekness, that it appeared to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence, many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I thought; and, as to myself, I was so filled [p. 327]
Page 327