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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Michael Borkdull	Alfred Lee	Roswell Evans	Sarah Wixom
Miles Randall	Stephen Jones	Leonard Clark	Lewis Zobriski
Horace Evans	Eleazer Harris	Nehemiah Harmon	Henry Zobriski
David Dort 6 Jan. 1793–10 Mar. 1841. Farmer, miller. Born at Gilsum, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Dort and Elishaba Briggs. Married first JS’s cousin Mary (Polly) Mack, 2 June 1813, at Gilsum. After Mary’s death, married her sister Fanny Mack. Moved to Pontiac... View Full Bio	Elijah B. Gaylord	Daniel Cathcart	Morris Harris
Levi Hancock 7 Apr. 1803–10 June 1882. Born at Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16 Nov. 1830, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Clarissa Reed, 20 Mar. 1831.... View Full Bio	Thomas Grover 22 July 1807–20 Feb. 1886. Farmer, boat operator. Born at Whitehall, Washington Co., New York. Son of Thomas Grover and Polly Spaulding. Married first Caroline Whiting of Whitehall, 1828. Became a Methodist preacher, by 1834. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus... View Full Bio	Gershom Stokes	Absalom Tidwell
Edwin Whiting	Alexander Badlam [Sr.] 28 Nov. 1808–30 Nov./1 Dec. 1894. Coachmaker, realtor, inventor, author. Born at Dorchester, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ezra Badlam and Mary Lovis. Married Mary Ann Brannan, ca. 1833, near Saco, York Co., Maine. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition... View Full Bio	Rachel Page	Alvin Winegar
William Barton	Phebe Kellogg	Barnet Cole	Samuel J. Winegar
Elisha Smith	Albert Miner	William Thompson	John E. Page 25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm... View Full Bio
James Gallaher	William Woodland	Nathan Cheney	Levi Gifford
Robert Jackson	Martin C. Allred	James Sherry	Edmund Durfee 3 Oct. 1788–15 Nov. 1845. Farmer, miller. Born in Tiverton, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Son of Perry Durfee and Annie Salisbury. Moved with grandparents to Broadalbin, Montgomery Co., New York, 1801. Married Magdalena Pickle, ca. 1810. Moved to Lenox, Madison... View Full Bio
Lemuel Merrick [Herrick]	Jedediah Owen	David Frampton	Josiah Butterfield 13 Mar. 1795–3 Mar. 1871. Farmer, stockman. Born at Dunstable, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Abel Butterfield and Mercy Farnsworth. Married first Polly Moulton, 30 Oct. 1819. Moved to Buxton, York Co., Maine, 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ... View Full Bio
James Dunn	Philander Avery 13 June 1822 or 1823–9 May 1907. Farmer. Born in Franklin Co., Ohio. Son of Daniel Avery and Margaret Adams. Moved to Worthington, Franklin Co., by Sept. 1825; to Perry, Franklin Co., by June 1830; to Colwell, Schuyler Co., Illinois, 1832; to Rushville, Schuyler... View Full Bio	Elizabeth Pettigrew	John Killion [Killian] 25 Apr. 1796–10 Nov. 1858. Born in Lincoln Co., North Carolina. Son of Phillip Killian and Mary Hockins. Moved to Missouri. Married first Lydia Ann Hopper Conley, 25 Aug. 1818, in Howard Co., Missouri. Moved to Lexington, Lillard Co., Missouri, 1818. Moved... View Full Bio
Oren Hartshorn	Benjamin F. Bird	Charles Thompson	John Patton
Nathan Hawke	Charles Squire	Orren <P> [Orrin Porter] Rockwell June 1814–9 June 1878. Ferry operator, herdsman, farmer. Born in Belchertown, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Orin Rockwell and Sarah Witt. Moved to Farmington (later in Manchester), Ontario Co., New York, 1817. Neighbor to JS. Baptized into Church of... View Full Bio	John Wilkins
Pierce Hawley 14 Nov. 1788–16 Aug. 1858. Farmer. Born in Vergennes, Addison Co., Vermont. Son of Gideon Hawley and Lavinia Darrough. Moved to Ferrisburg, Addison Co., by 1790. Married first, ca. 1812. Served in War of 1812. Moved to White Co., Illinois, ca. 1818. Married... View Full Bio	Jacob Curtis	Nathan B. Baldwin 27 Jan. 1812–1 Nov. 1891. Born in Augusta, Grenville Co., Upper Canada. Farmer. Son of Aaron M. Baldwin and Julia Bishop. Moved to Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, New York. Moved to Chautauque Co., New York, Oct. 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ... View Full Bio	Abram Allen
Thomas J. Fisher	Rachel Medford	Trueman Brace	William Felshaw
James Leithead	Lyman Stevens

[HC 3:251] [HC 3:252] [HC 3:253]

<Committee for removing the Poor> The committee who had been appointed for removing the poor from the of , namely, , Charles Bird, , , Daniel Shearer, and , met in the evening of that day, at the house of , and organized, by appointing , Chairman, Daniel Shearer, Treasurer and , Clerk and made some arrangements for carrying the business of removing the poor into operation.

President got Eighty Subscribers to the covenant the first day, and three hundred the second day—

31 January 1839 • Thursday

<31.> Thursday 31st. Mr. Turner’s Bill of the 16th. instant passed the Senate—

<Sent the poor $100.> I sent the poor brethren a hundred dollar bill, from Jail, to assist them in their distressed situation—

1 February 1839 • Friday

<February 1 committee> Friday February 1. The Committee

“met according to adjournment at the house of [HC 3:254], was present, and acted as Chairman, and as Secretary— The meeting was called to order by the — on motion resolved that the Covenant entered into at the last meeting, be read by the , which was done accordingly— The then called for the expression of sentiments on the subject of the Covenant— Resolved that the committee be increased to Eleven— The following were then appointed— , Erastus Bingham, , and — Several of the Committee addressed the meeting on the arduous task before them, and exhorting all to exert themselves to relieve and assist them in the discharge of the duties of their office to the utmost of their abilities. Elders and in the most forcible manner addressed the assembly on the propriety of union in order to carry our resolutions into effect, and exhorting the brethren to use wisdom in the sale of their property— . Secy. . Prest.

They met again

“in the evening at ’s declined acting as Clerk, and was appointed in his stead, Resolved to make exertions to remove the families of the [p. 883]

January 29 Subscription

Michael Borkdull	Alfred Lee	Roswell Evans	Sarah Wixom
Miles Randall	Stephen Jones	Leonard Clark	Lewis Zobriski
Horace Evans	Eleazer Harris	Nehemiah Harmon	Henry Zobriski
David Dort 6 Jan. 1793–10 Mar. 1841. Farmer, miller. Born at Gilsum, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Dort and Elishaba Briggs. Married first JS’s cousin Mary (Polly) Mack, 2 June 1813, at Gilsum. After Mary’s death, married her sister Fanny Mack. Moved to Pontiac... View Full Bio	Elijah B. Gaylord	Daniel Cathcart	Morris Harris
Levi Hancock 7 Apr. 1803–10 June 1882. Born at Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Thomas Hancock III and Amy Ward. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16 Nov. 1830, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Clarissa Reed, 20 Mar. 1831.... View Full Bio	Thomas Grover 22 July 1807–20 Feb. 1886. Farmer, boat operator. Born at Whitehall, Washington Co., New York. Son of Thomas Grover and Polly Spaulding. Married first Caroline Whiting of Whitehall, 1828. Became a Methodist preacher, by 1834. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus... View Full Bio	Gershom Stokes	Absalom Tidwell
Edwin Whiting	Alexander Badlam [Sr.] 28 Nov. 1808–30 Nov./1 Dec. 1894. Coachmaker, realtor, inventor, author. Born at Dorchester, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ezra Badlam and Mary Lovis. Married Mary Ann Brannan, ca. 1833, near Saco, York Co., Maine. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition... View Full Bio	Rachel Page	Alvin Winegar
William Barton	Phebe Kellogg	Barnet Cole	Samuel J. Winegar
Elisha Smith	Albert Miner	William Thompson	John E. Page 25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm... View Full Bio
James Gallaher	William Woodland	Nathan Cheney	Levi Gifford
Robert Jackson	Martin C. Allred	James Sherry	Edmund Durfee 3 Oct. 1788–15 Nov. 1845. Farmer, miller. Born in Tiverton, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Son of Perry Durfee and Annie Salisbury. Moved with grandparents to Broadalbin, Montgomery Co., New York, 1801. Married Magdalena Pickle, ca. 1810. Moved to Lenox, Madison... View Full Bio
Lemuel Merrick Herrick	Jedediah Owen	David Frampton	Josiah Butterfield 13 Mar. 1795–3 Mar. 1871. Farmer, stockman. Born at Dunstable, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Abel Butterfield and Mercy Farnsworth. Married first Polly Moulton, 30 Oct. 1819. Moved to Buxton, York Co., Maine, 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ... View Full Bio
James Dunn	Philander Avery 13 June 1822 or 1823–9 May 1907. Farmer. Born in Franklin Co., Ohio. Son of Daniel Avery and Margaret Adams. Moved to Worthington, Franklin Co., by Sept. 1825; to Perry, Franklin Co., by June 1830; to Colwell, Schuyler Co., Illinois, 1832; to Rushville, Schuyler... View Full Bio	Elizabeth Pettigrew	John Killion [Killian] 25 Apr. 1796–10 Nov. 1858. Born in Lincoln Co., North Carolina. Son of Phillip Killian and Mary Hockins. Moved to Missouri. Married first Lydia Ann Hopper Conley, 25 Aug. 1818, in Howard Co., Missouri. Moved to Lexington, Lillard Co., Missouri, 1818. Moved... View Full Bio
Oren Hartshorn	Benjamin F. Bird	Charles Thompson	John Patton
Nathan Hawke	Charles Squire	Orren P Orrin Porter Rockwell June 1814–9 June 1878. Ferry operator, herdsman, farmer. Born in Belchertown, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Orin Rockwell and Sarah Witt. Moved to Farmington (later in Manchester), Ontario Co., New York, 1817. Neighbor to JS. Baptized into Church of... View Full Bio	John Wilkins
Pierce Hawley 14 Nov. 1788–16 Aug. 1858. Farmer. Born in Vergennes, Addison Co., Vermont. Son of Gideon Hawley and Lavinia Darrough. Moved to Ferrisburg, Addison Co., by 1790. Married first, ca. 1812. Served in War of 1812. Moved to White Co., Illinois, ca. 1818. Married... View Full Bio	Jacob Curtis	Nathan B. Baldwin 27 Jan. 1812–1 Nov. 1891. Born in Augusta, Grenville Co., Upper Canada. Farmer. Son of Aaron M. Baldwin and Julia Bishop. Moved to Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, New York. Moved to Chautauque Co., New York, Oct. 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ... View Full Bio	Abram Allen
Thomas J. Fisher	Rachel Medford	Trueman Brace	William Felshaw
James Leithead	Lyman Stevens

[HC 3:251] [HC 3:252] [HC 3:253]

Committee for removing the Poor The committee who had been appointed for removing the poor from the of , namely, , Charles Bird, , , Daniel Shearer, and , met in the evening of that day, at the house of , and organized, by appointing , Chairman, Daniel Shearer, Treasurer and , Clerk and made some arrangements for carrying the business of removing the poor into operation.

President got Eighty Subscribers to the covenant the first day, and three hundred the second day—

31 January 1839 • Thursday

31. Thursday 31st. Mr. Turner’s Bill of the 16th. instant passed the Senate—

Sent the poor $100. I sent the poor brethren a hundred dollar bill, from Jail, to assist them in their distressed situation—

1 February 1839 • Friday

February 1 committee Friday February 1. The Committee

They met again

“in the evening at ’s declined acting as Clerk, and was appointed in his stead, Resolved to make exertions to remove the families of the [p. 883]

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

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. 81
  See 31 Jan. 1839 entry in History Draft.
2. 82
  Bill, Document Containing the Correspondence, 7.
  
  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.
3. 83
  See 1 Feb. 1839 entry in History Draft.
4. 84
  Far West Committee, Minutes, 1 Feb. 1839.
  
  Far West Committee. Minutes, Jan.–Apr. 1839. CHL. MS 2564.