History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. B-1, created 1 Oct. 1843–24 Feb. 1845; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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; 297 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the second volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This second volume covers the period from 1 Sept. 1834 to 2 Nov. 1838; the subsequent four volumes, labeled C-1 through F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, volume B-1, is the second of the six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church.” The collection was compiled over the span of seventeen years, 1838 to 1856. The narrative in volume B-1 begins with the entry for 1 September 1834, just after the conclusion of the Camp of Israel (later called Zion’s Camp), and continues to 2 November 1838, when JS was interned as a prisoner of war at
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri. For a fuller discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to the history.
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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, serving as JS’s “private secretary and historian,” completed the account of JS’s history contained in volume A-1 in August 1843. It covered the period from JS’s birth in 1805 through the aftermath of the Camp of Israel in August 1834. When work resumed on the history on 1 October 1843, Richards started a new volume, eventually designated B-1.
At the time of JS’s death in June 1844, the account had been advanced to 5 August 1838, on page 812 of volume B-1.
Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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’s poor health led to the curtailment of work on B-1 for several months, until 11 December 1844. On that date, Richards and
William W. Phelps
17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
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, assisted by
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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, resumed gathering the records and reports needed to draft the history. Richards then composed and drafted roughed-out notes while Thomas Bullock compiled the text of the history and inscribed it in B-1. They completed their work on the volume on or about 24 February 1845. Richards, Willmer Benson, and Jonathan Grimshaw later added ten pages of “Addenda,” which provided notes, extensive revisions, or additional text to be inserted in the original manuscript where indicated.
Though JS did not dictate or revise any of the text recorded in B-1,
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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chose to maintain the first-person, chronological narrative format established in A-1 as if JS were the author. They drew from a variety of primary and secondary sources including JS’s diaries and letters, minutes of meetings, the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, church and other periodicals, reports of JS’s discourses, and the reminiscences and recollections of church members. As was the case with A-1, after JS’s death,
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, and others modified and corrected the manuscript as they reviewed material before its eventual publication.
Beginning in March 1842 the church’s Nauvoo periodical, the Times and Seasons, began publishing the narrative as the “History of Joseph Smith.” It was also published in England in the church periodical the Millennial Star beginning in June 1842. Once a press was established in Utah and the Deseret News began publication, the “History of Joseph Smith” once more appeared in print in serialized form. Beginning with the November 1851 issue, the narrative picked up where the Times and Seasons had left off over five years earlier.
The narrative recorded in B-1 continued the story of JS’s life as the prophet and president of the church he labored to establish. The account encompasses significant developments in the church’s two centers at that time—
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...
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, Ohio, and northwest
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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—during a four-year-span. Critical events included the organization of the Quorums of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy, the dedication of the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, the establishment of the Kirtland Safety Society, dissension and apostasy in Kirtland and Missouri, the first mission to England, JS’s flight from Kirtland to Missouri in the winter of 1838, the Saints’ exodus from Kirtland later that year, the disciplining of the Missouri presidency, and the outbreak of the Missouri War and arrest of JS. Thus, B-1 provides substantial detail regarding a significant period of church expansion and transition as well as travail.

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<September 22 Saints Petition at —> hereby Petition your Excellency, praying for relief: That whereas, your petitioners have, on the 20th. inst, been sorely aggrieved, by being beset by a lawless mob, certain inhabitants of this and other Counties, to the injury of the good Citizens of this and the adjacent places: that on the— aforesaid day, came from one hundred to one hundred and fifty armed men, and threatened, with force and violence, to drive certain peaceable citizens from their homes, in defiance of all Law, and threatened then to drive said Citizens out of the County, but on deliberation, concluded to give them, said Citizens, till the first of October next to leave said County, and threatened, if not gone by that time, to exterminate them, without regard to age or sex, and destroy their chattles, by throwing them in the River. We therefore pray you to take such steps, as shall put a stop to all lawless proceedings; and we, your Petitioners, will ever pray &c &c [HC 3:82]

Benj. Hendrick	James Vallance	John Dougherty	Benj. Hensley	D. H. Barnes
Dudley Thomas	Jabez Lake	Moses Harris	Franklin N. Thayer	Wm. S.Smith
Wm. P. Lundow	Albert Sorce	Perry Thayer	H. M. Wallace	James Hampton
Jno. Hendrick	Samuel Lake	B. B. Bartley	D. Thomas (no Mormon)	Robt. Hampton
Thos. Dehart	Asa Manchester	Jonathan Harris	Nathan Harrison	Jonathan Hampton
Francis Brown	Wm. Winston	Wm. J. Hatfield.	Elizabeth Smith	Geo. Peacock
John Tilford	John Clark	Oliver Olney 11 Aug. 1796–ca. 1845. Wool manufacturer, farmer. Born at Eastford, Windham Co., Connecticut. Son of Ezekiel Olney and Lydia Brown. Married first Alice (Elsa) Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs, 14 Sept. 1820, at Hiram, Portage Co.,... View Full Bio	Henry Root 14 June 1813–9 Apr. 1895. Auctioneer, merchant, banker. Born at Clinton, Upper Canada. Son of Henry Ruth and Marie Overholt. Purchased interest in town of Eldersport (later De Witt), Carroll Co., Missouri, 1837. Sold lots in De Witt to Latter-day Saints. ... View Full Bio	Danl. Clark
H[enry] G. Sherwood 20 Apr. 1785–24 Nov. 1867. Surveyor. Born at Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Son of Newcomb Sherwood and a woman whose maiden name was Tolman (first name unidentified). Married first Jane J. McManagal (McMangle) of Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, ca. 1824... View Full Bio	Thos. Hollingshead	John Thorp	A. L. Caldwell	John Proctor
John Murdock 15 July 1792–23 Dec. 1871. Farmer. Born at Kortright, Delaware Co., New York. Son of John Murdock Sr. and Eleanor Riggs. Joined Lutheran Dutch Church, ca. 1817, then Presbyterian Seceder Church shortly after. Moved to Orange, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ca. 1819.... View Full Bio	Asa W. Barnes	H. T. Chipman	Rufus Allen	James Mc. Guin
G[eorge] M. Hinkle 13 Nov. 1801–Nov. 1861. Merchant, physician, publisher, minister, farmer. Born in Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Son of Michael Hinkle and Nancy Higgins. Married first Sarah Ann Starkey. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832. Moved to ... View Full Bio	Elijah T. Rogers	David Dixon	Ezekiel Barnes	Smith Humphrey 1 Nov. 1805–1 Mar. 1874. Farmer. Born in Rhode Island. Married Eliza Proctor. Lived in York, Upper Canada, by 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to De Witt, Carroll Co., Missouri, by 1838; to Caldwell Co., Missouri, 1838... View Full Bio ”

23 September 1838 • Sunday

<23> Sunday 23. I attended meeting both A.M. and P.M. and was at home in the evening.

<Camp> The funds of the Camp were nearly exhausted, and the Counsel was to proceed on with the journey and encamped two miles west of , twenty two miles— Some disorder in the movement of the teams, and some murmurings; Satan is trying to divide and destroy Elder Carter had to return nine miles after his horses, with great difficulty the herd was kept together. Brother Gaylord broke a waggon wheel and was badly hurt. They were hailed in and asked where they were driving the Cattle to? “Towards the Rocky Mountains” “Well, you are going into trouble”— Elder Tyler replied “We have been in that place before and know how to take it.” The people growled and grumbled like Wolves.

24 September 1838 • Monday

<24> Monday 24. The Camp was called together and the Council informed them of their scanty means, and that there had been a delinquency in consecrating their monies and goods according to the Pattern; that the Council had hired large sums of money for which they were bound and were liable to imprisonment in case of failure and must wait on the brethren for their pay, and these sums had been expended for the benefit of the Camp. They were required to bring forward their goods, which they did and Elders B. Wilber and D. Carter went forward with the Commissaries Waggon to sell them. The Camp went on and passing through Madisonville (where they were assailed with all kinds of Bugbear Stories about the Mormons, War. &c) tented on the West side of the North Branch of , on the encampment that Elder had left on Saturday with his Camp. The brethren were told that the was just a head with a military force to stop them, to which they gave no heed—

I was at home until half past eight oclock A.M. when I rode out on horseback, and returned about five in the evening

<Troops disbanded> The having heard that peace had been restored in and ordered Generals , Crowther, Lewis and Bolton to discharge their troops— The order was dated at Jonesborough.

25 September 1838 • Tuesday

<September 25. Letter> Tuesday 25th. wrote the from Mill Port That he had been in the upper part of to assist the Constable in bringing offenders to justice, and that the Major General, with the troops from and on the 18th. instant, except two companies from [HC 3:83] under his command were disbanded. Says in this letter— [p. 828]

September 22 Saints Petition at — hereby Petition your Excellency, praying for relief: That whereas, your petitioners have, on the 20th. inst, been sorely aggrieved, by being beset by a lawless mob, certain inhabitants of this and other Counties, to the injury of the good Citizens of this and the adjacent places: that on the— aforesaid day, came from one hundred to one hundred and fifty armed men, and threatened, with force and violence, to drive certain peaceable citizens from their homes, in defiance of all Law, and threatened then to drive said Citizens out of the County, but on deliberation, concluded to give them, said Citizens, till the first of October next to leave said County, and threatened, if not gone by that time, to exterminate them, without regard to age or sex, and destroy their chattles, by throwing them in the River. We therefore pray you to take such steps, as shall put a stop to all lawless proceedings; and we, your Petitioners, will ever pray &c &c [HC 3:82]

Benj. Hendrick	James Vallance	John Dougherty	Benj. Hensley	D. H. Barnes
Dudley Thomas	Jabez Lake	Moses Harris	Franklin N. Thayer	Wm. S.Smith
Wm. P. Lundow	Albert Sorce	Perry Thayer	H. M. Wallace	James Hampton
Jno. Hendrick	Samuel Lake	B. B. Bartley	D. Thomas (no Mormon)	Robt. Hampton
Thos. Dehart	Asa Manchester	Jonathan Harris	Nathan Harrison	Jonathan Hampton
Francis Brown	Wm. Winston	Wm. J. Hatfield.	Elizabeth Smith	Geo. Peacock
John Tilford	John Clark	Oliver Olney 11 Aug. 1796–ca. 1845. Wool manufacturer, farmer. Born at Eastford, Windham Co., Connecticut. Son of Ezekiel Olney and Lydia Brown. Married first Alice (Elsa) Johnson, daughter of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs, 14 Sept. 1820, at Hiram, Portage Co.,... View Full Bio	Henry Root 14 June 1813–9 Apr. 1895. Auctioneer, merchant, banker. Born at Clinton, Upper Canada. Son of Henry Ruth and Marie Overholt. Purchased interest in town of Eldersport (later De Witt), Carroll Co., Missouri, 1837. Sold lots in De Witt to Latter-day Saints. ... View Full Bio	Danl. Clark
Henry G. Sherwood 20 Apr. 1785–24 Nov. 1867. Surveyor. Born at Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Son of Newcomb Sherwood and a woman whose maiden name was Tolman (first name unidentified). Married first Jane J. McManagal (McMangle) of Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, ca. 1824... View Full Bio	Thos. Hollingshead	John Thorp	A. L. Caldwell	John Proctor
John Murdock 15 July 1792–23 Dec. 1871. Farmer. Born at Kortright, Delaware Co., New York. Son of John Murdock Sr. and Eleanor Riggs. Joined Lutheran Dutch Church, ca. 1817, then Presbyterian Seceder Church shortly after. Moved to Orange, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ca. 1819.... View Full Bio	Asa W. Barnes	H. T. Chipman	Rufus Allen	James Mc. Guin
George M. Hinkle 13 Nov. 1801–Nov. 1861. Merchant, physician, publisher, minister, farmer. Born in Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Son of Michael Hinkle and Nancy Higgins. Married first Sarah Ann Starkey. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832. Moved to ... View Full Bio	Elijah T. Rogers	David Dixon	Ezekiel Barnes	Smith Humphrey 1 Nov. 1805–1 Mar. 1874. Farmer. Born in Rhode Island. Married Eliza Proctor. Lived in York, Upper Canada, by 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to De Witt, Carroll Co., Missouri, by 1838; to Caldwell Co., Missouri, 1838... View Full Bio ”

23 September 1838 • Sunday

23 Sunday 23. I attended meeting both A.M. and P.M. and was at home in the evening.

Camp The funds of the Camp were nearly exhausted, and the Counsel was to proceed on with the journey and encamped two miles west of , twenty two miles— Some disorder in the movement of the teams, and some murmurings; Satan is trying to divide and destroy They were hailed in and asked where they were driving the Cattle to? “Towards the Rocky Mountains” “Well, you are going into trouble”— Elder Tyler replied “We have been in that place before and know how to take it.” The people growled and grumbled like Wolves.

24 September 1838 • Monday

24 Monday 24. The Camp was called together and the Council informed them of their scanty means, and that there had been a delinquency in consecrating their monies and goods according to the Pattern; that the Council had hired large sums of money for which they were bound and were liable to imprisonment in case of failure and must wait on the brethren for their pay, and these sums had been expended for the benefit of the Camp. They were required to bring forward their goods, which they did and Elders B. Wilber and D. Carter went forward with the Commissaries Waggon to sell them. The Camp went on and passing through Madisonville (where they were assailed with all kinds of Bugbear Stories about the Mormons, War. &c) tented on the West side of the North Branch of , on the encampment that Elder had left on Saturday with his Camp. The brethren were told that the was just a head with a military force to stop them, to which they gave no heed—

I was at home until half past eight oclock A.M. when I rode out on horseback, and returned about five in the evening

Troops disbanded The having heard that peace had been restored in and ordered Generals , Crowther, Lewis and Bolton to discharge their troops— The order was dated at Jonesborough.

25 September 1838 • Tuesday

September 25. Letter Tuesday 25th. wrote the from Mill Port That he had been in the upper part of to assist the Constable in bringing offenders to justice, and that the Major General, with the troops from and on the 18th. instant, except two companies from [HC 3:83] under his command were disbanded. Says in this letter— [p. 828]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
ID #
7404
Total Pages
332
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 595
  See 23 Sept. 1838 entry in History Draft.
2. 596
  JS, Journal, 23 Sept. 1838.
3. 597
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 23–24 Sept. 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 23–24 Sept. 1838.
  
  Kirtland Camp. Journal, Mar.–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 4952.
  Tyler, Samuel D. Journal, July–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 1761.
4. 598
  See 24 Sept. 1838 entry in History Draft.
5. 599
  B. M. Lisle, to John B. Clark, Jonesborough, MO, 24 Sept. 1838, in Document Containing the Correspondence, 31.
  
  Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.
6. 600
  See 25 Sept. 1838 entry in History Draft.
7. 601
  Hiram Parks, Millport, MO, to Lilburn W. Boggs, Jefferson City, MO, 25 Sept. 1838, in Document Containing the Correspondence, 32–22.
  
  Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.

History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

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