History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of
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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,
Franklin D. Richards
2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...
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, Jonathan Grimshaw, and
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “
Governor
14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...
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’s forces” 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, and concludes with the death of Bishop
Vinson Knight
14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...
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at
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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, Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.

Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of
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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and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers
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 drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author.
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 reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.

The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the
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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Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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by the
Twelve
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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and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to
America
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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; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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; the establishment of the
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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city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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; the
Wisconsin “pinery”
Also known as the “pinery.” Collective term for regions in Wisconsin where lumbering operations were located, especially along Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, Wisconsin, and Wolf rivers. Latter-day Saints established lumber camps and mills on Black River to provide...
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expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.

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<June 24> of the Church) that some of the Missourians were conspiring to come up to and kidnap me, and not doubting but that it might be true [HC 5:43] I consulted with upon the most proper course to be pursued We concluded to write to you on the subject, and I requested him to do so. I understand he has written to you but I know not in what manner; and I should be very much pleased if you would write to me on receipt of this giving me the contents of his communication. I have also heard that you have entertained of late very unfavorable feelings towards us as a people and especially so with regard to myself and that you have said I ought to be shot &c If this be true I should be pleased to know from yourself the reason of such hostile feelings, for I know of no cause which can possibly exist that might produce such feelings in your breast. It is rumored and strong evidence exists that and [David] and have posted bills in calling upon the people to hold meetings and have themselves in readiness at a moments warning to assemble and come here, and mob us out of the place and try to kidnap me we know not as to the truth of this report but we have conversed with some transient persons who had the report from a Gentleman who lately came from there and had seen those hand bills posted in . In case of a Mob coming upon us I wish to be informed by the what will be the best course for us to pursue, and how he wishes us to act in regard to this Matter. Joseph Smith Lieutt.General. Nauvoo Legion.”

There was a severe shock of an Earthquake at Antigua

25 June 1842 • Saturday

<25> Saturday 25 Transacted business with Brother Hunter, and Mr. Babbitt and sat for a drawing of my profile to be placed on a lithograph of the Map of the City of — Messrs. Stephens and Catherwood have succeeded in collecting in the Interior of , a large amount of relics of the Nephites, or the Ancient Inhabitants of , treated of in the Book of Mormon, which have recently been landed in .

26 June 1842 • Sunday

<26> Sunday 26. President preached on the law of consecration, and union of action in building up the and providing labor and food for the poor, I attended meeting, and Council at my house at 6 [HC 5:44] o’clock P.M. present , , , , , and . To take into consideration the situation of the , and Lumbering business, and other subjects of importance to the Church; after consultation thereon, the Brethren united in solemn prayer, that God would make known his will concerning the , and that he would deliver his anointed, his people from all the <evil> designs of , and the powers of the State of , and of and the authorities of , and of all Presidents, Governors, Judges, Legislators and all in authority, and of and all Mobs and evil designing persons, so that his people might continue in peace and build up the City of , and that his chosen might be blessed and live to Man’s appointed age, and that their households, and the household of faith might continually be blessed with the fostering care of heaven, and enjoy the good things of the Earth abundantly— adjourned [p. 1348]

June 24 of the Church) that some of the Missourians were conspiring to come up to and kidnap me, and not doubting but that it might be true [HC 5:43] I consulted with upon the most proper course to be pursued We concluded to write to you on the subject, and I requested him to do so. I understand he has written to you but I know not in what manner; and I should be very much pleased if you would write to me on receipt of this giving me the contents of his communication. I have also heard that you have entertained of late very unfavorable feelings towards us as a people and especially so with regard to myself and that you have said I ought to be shot &c If this be true I should be pleased to know from yourself the reason of such hostile feelings, for I know of no cause which can possibly exist that might produce such feelings in your breast. It is rumored and strong evidence exists that and [David] and have posted bills in calling upon the people to hold meetings and have themselves in readiness at a moments warning to assemble and come here, and mob us out of the place and try to kidnap me we know not as to the truth of this report but we have conversed with some transient persons who had the report from a Gentleman who lately came from there and had seen those hand bills posted in . In case of a Mob coming upon us I wish to be informed by the what will be the best course for us to pursue, and how he wishes us to act in regard to this Matter. Joseph Smith Lieutt.General. Nauvoo Legion.”

There was a severe shock of an Earthquake at Antigua

25 June 1842 • Saturday

25 Saturday 25 Transacted business with Brother Hunter, and Mr. Babbitt and sat for a drawing of my profile to be placed on a lithograph of the Map of the City of — Messrs. Stephens and Catherwood have succeeded in collecting in the Interior of , a large amount of relics of the Nephites, or the Ancient Inhabitants of , treated of in the Book of Mormon, which have recently been landed in .

26 June 1842 • Sunday

26 Sunday 26. President preached on the law of consecration, and union of action in building up the and providing labor and food for the poor, I attended meeting, and Council at my house at 6 [HC 5:44] o’clock P.M. present , , , , , and . To take into consideration the situation of the , and Lumbering business, and other subjects of importance to the Church; after consultation thereon, the Brethren united in solemn prayer, that God would make known his will concerning the , and that he would deliver his anointed, his people from all the evil designs of , and the powers of the State of , and of and the authorities of , and of all Presidents, Governors, Judges, Legislators and all in authority, and of and all Mobs and evil designing persons, so that his people might continue in peace and build up the City of , and that his chosen might be blessed and live to Man’s appointed age, and that their households, and the household of faith might continually be blessed with the fostering care of heaven, and enjoy the good things of the Earth abundantly— adjourned [p. 1348]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
ID #
7513
Total Pages
562
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 1597
  “Earthquake at Antigua,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1842, 3:925–926.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
2. 1598
  See 25 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
3. 1599
  JS, Journal, 25 June 1842.
4. 1600
  See 26 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
5. 1601
  JS, Journal, 26 June 1842.