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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<February 1> Presidency and the other Prisoner’s first— Several of the Committee made report of what had been done by them towards carrying business of the Committee into operation. Elder had also been appointed to visit the branches of the Church on Log, and Upper Goose Creeks, and made report of his proceedings— Resolved that Charles Bird be appointed to go down towards the and establish deposits of Corn for the brethren on the road, and make contracts for ferriage &c”

4 February 1839 • Monday

<4 Senate > Monday 4 Mr. Turner’s bill of 16th. January came up for the first reading,

“when Mr. Wright moved that the bill be laid on the table, until the 4th. day of July next— and upon this question Mr. Primm desired the ayes and nays, which were ordered, and decided in the affirmative”

by eleven majority, which by many was [HC 3:255] considered an approval of all the wrongs the Saints had sustained in the , but on this point I will give no opinion at present—

6–7 February 1839 • Wednesday–Thursday

< left , 6> 6 and 7. The committee were in session— started for with my and Children, and and Wife— [HC 3:256]

February 1839

<Conference Minutes at > Some time this month there was a conference of the Church at of which the following are the Minutes

“At a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held in the Town of , Febry. 1839 to take into consideration the expediency of locating the Church in some place, when was chosen President and — Clerk. Elder Green by request then stated the object of the meeting and stated that a liberal offer had been made by a Gentleman of about twenty thousand acres, lying between the and s, at two dollars per acre to be paid in twenty annual instalments without interest— That a Committee had examined the Land and reported very favorable respecting it, and think it every way suited for a Location for the Church. then made some statements and gave information respecting the Land, being one of the Committee appointed to examine it— then observed that he was altogether in favor of making the purchase, providing that it was the will of the Lord that we should again gather together, but from the circumstances of being driven from the other places, he almost was led to the conclusion that it was not wisdom that we should do so but hoped that the brethren would speak their minds— The Lord would undoubtedly manifest by his Spirit— Brother Barlow thought that it might be in consequence of not building according to the Pattern that we had thus been scattered— Bro [Wandle] Mace spoke in favor of an immediate gathering— then spoke on the subject and thought it was not expedient under present circumstances, to collect together but thought it was better to scatter into different parts and provide for the poor which will be acceptable to God— said that he had been very favorable to the proposi[HC 3:260]tion, but since the had expressed his opinion, he was willing to give up the idea— Several of the Brethren then spoke on the subject, after which it was motioned and seconded, and unanimously agreed upon, that [3 words illegible] it would not be deem’d advisable to locate on the lands for the present. A committee was appointed to draft a petition to the general government stating our grievances, and one likewise presented to the Citizens for the same object.” [p. 884]

February 1 Presidency and the other Prisoner’s first— Several of the Committee made report of what had been done by them towards carrying business of the Committee into operation. Elder had also been appointed to visit the branches of the Church on Log, and Upper Goose Creeks, and made report of his proceedings— Resolved that Charles Bird be appointed to go down towards the and establish deposits of Corn for the brethren on the road, and make contracts for ferriage &c”

4 February 1839 • Monday

4 Senate Monday 4 Mr. Turner’s bill of 16th. January came up for the first reading,

by eleven majority, which by many was [HC 3:255] considered an approval of all the wrongs the Saints had sustained in the , —

6–7 February 1839 • Wednesday–Thursday

left , 6 6 and 7. The committee were in session— started for with my and Children, and and Wife— [HC 3:256]

February 1839

Conference Minutes at Some time this month there was a conference of the Church at of which the following are the Minutes

“At a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held in the Town of , Febry. 1839 to take into consideration the expediency of locating the Church in some place, when was chosen President and — Clerk. Elder Green by request then stated the object of the meeting and stated that a liberal offer had been made by a Gentleman of about twenty thousand acres, lying between the and s, at two dollars per acre to be paid in twenty annual instalments without interest— That a Committee had examined the Land and reported very favorable respecting it, and think it every way suited for a Location for the Church. then made some statements and gave information respecting the Land, being one of the Committee appointed to examine it— then observed that he was altogether in favor of making the purchase, providing that it was the will of the Lord that we should again gather together, but from the circumstances of being driven from the other places, he almost was led to the conclusion that it was not wisdom that we should do so but hoped that the brethren would speak their minds— The Lord would undoubtedly manifest by his Spirit— Brother Barlow thought that it might be in consequence of not building according to the Pattern that we had thus been scattered— Bro [Wandle] Mace spoke in favor of an immediate gathering— then spoke on the subject and thought it was not expedient under present circumstances, to collect together but thought it was better to scatter into different parts and provide for the poor which will be acceptable to God— said that he had been very favorable to the proposi[HC 3:260]tion, but since the had expressed his opinion, he was willing to give up the idea— Several of the Brethren then spoke on the subject, after which it was motioned and seconded, and unanimously agreed upon, that it would not be deem’d advisable to locate on the lands for the present. A committee was appointed to draft a petition to the general government stating our grievances, and one likewise presented to the Citizens for the same object.” [p. 884]

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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. 85
  See 4 Feb. 1839 entry in History Draft.
2. 86
  Bill, Document Containing the Correspondence, 7–8.
  
  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. 87
  See 6–7 Feb. 1839 entry in History Draft.
4. 88
  “Conference in Quincy Feby. 1839,” Far West Committee, Minutes, CHL.
  
  Far West Committee. Minutes, Jan.–Apr. 1839. CHL. MS 2564.