History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell,
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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, and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.

The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian
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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, who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with
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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in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.

Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed
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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’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)

Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.

The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include

• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.

• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, 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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Legion, and Mormon voting practices.

• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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and
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
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.

• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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and revocation of his priesthood license.

• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by
Addison Pratt
21 Feb. 1802–14 Oct. 1872. Sailor, farmer, carpenter. Born in Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Henry Pratt and Rebekah Jewell. Married Louisa Barnes, 3 Apr. 1831, in Dunham, Lower Canada. Settled on banks of Lake Erie, in New York, where he...
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.

• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of
George J. Adams
7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
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’s appointment to a mission to Russia.

• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.

• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of
Vermont
Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...
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, inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.

• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by
Eliza R. Snow
21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church...
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commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by
Lorenzo Snow
3 Apr. 1814–10 Oct. 1901. Schoolteacher. Born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio. Son of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Attended Oberlin College. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John F. Boynton, 19 June 1836, in Kirtland...
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.

• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the
United States
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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.

• An account of JS’s
King Follett
24/26 July 1788–9 Mar. 1844. Born at Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Follett and Hannah Oak (Oake) Alexander. Married Louisa Tanner, by 1815. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spring 1831. Member of Whitmer branch...
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sermon, 7 April 1844.

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<October 4> where he is harbored, that we may have something more than vague assertions. They well-know that no such proof can be produced, but that the charges had their birth in the minds of one or two artless scoundrels, wreaking <thirsting> for revenge for their late disappointments. The whole of the charges are a tissue of false[HC 6:43]hoods, got up with the idea of intimadating a peaceable body of citizens; but, sir, we set such designing knaves at defiance, and laugh at their threats, treating them with utter contempt, but ever ready to abide by the truth. John Greenhow.”

Elder wrote the following letter:

“ Octr. 4th. 1843. To the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles— Greeting. Dear and much esteemed Brethren. I hasten to inform you of my arrival in Liverpool on the 30 day of Sept, in Company with Elders John Cairns, , and wife, James Houston and William G. Jermon. We left six of the Twelve in the city of the 2nd. day of September and came on board of the Ship “Columbus”, our passage money was five Dollars; we had a very hard passage, we were very much crowded in the Steerage, there was <were> 236 persons Dutch, Irish, English and Scotch, and as dirty as any I ever saw, we were not much sick, the weather was cold, had it been other wise we should have suffered more. there is A steamer leaves for to day, and I thought I would announce to you my arrival by this opportunity, and such information as I was in possession of, there is a ship to sail on the 14 inst, by which I shall write you again.

I found Elders , and in and they were well, and as far as I was informed by them, that the Church is in a good state and on the increase, it numbers some where between Eight and nine thousand members, there is a great want of laborers in the vineyard; there has many of the first Elders <have> left this for , leaving their places vacant. I presented to the Presidency here your decision relative to the printing; and Elders and they received it and manifested a desire to abide by it. wept when I shewed him your decision concerning him and his coming to by the first ship to see you face to face, the Brethren say here that he has been too hasty in some things and has given some an offence, but I do not as yet know anything derogatory to his character that I could say ought against him, I shall write you all the particulars as fast as I come in possession of them; as it regards the printing in this land We shall stop it after the next number is published, in it we wish to publish the news from for the benefit of the Saints, and to announce our arrival in this Country.

Permit me here to give you my opinion as it regards the printing in this land, and I will cheerfully abide your advice notwithstanding, after we stop the Star, we shall have during the shipping season to ad[HC 6:44]vertize and give general information in the emigration business to the Saints scattered abroad, I think it would be best to republish the Times and Seasons for the benefit of the church, the Duties on books are £2.10p per hundred weight, and there is now 16 00 Stars circulated here at the present and the demand for our [p. 1745]

October 4 where he is harbored, that we may have something more than vague assertions. They well-know that no such proof can be produced, but that the charges had their birth in the minds of one or two artless scoundrels, thirsting for revenge for their late disappointments. The whole of the charges are a tissue of false[HC 6:43]hoods, got up with the idea of intimadating a peaceable body of citizens; but, sir, we set such designing knaves at defiance, and laugh at their threats, treating them with utter contempt, but ever ready to abide by the truth. John Greenhow.”

Elder wrote the following letter:

“ Octr. 4th. 1843. To the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles— Greeting. Dear and much esteemed Brethren. I hasten to inform you of my arrival in Liverpool on the 30 day of Sept, in Company with Elders John Cairns, , and wife, James Houston and William G. Jermon. We left six of the Twelve in the city of the 2nd. day of September and came on board of the Ship “Columbus”, our passage money was five Dollars; we had a very hard passage, we were very much crowded in the Steerage, there were 236 persons Dutch, Irish, English and Scotch, and as dirty as any I ever saw, we were not much sick, the weather was cold, had it been other wise we should have suffered more. A steamer leaves for to day, and I thought I would announce to you my arrival by this opportunity, and such information as I was in possession of, there is a ship to sail on the 14 inst, by which I shall write you again.

I found Elders , and in and they were well, and as far as I was informed by them, that the Church is in a good state and on the increase, it numbers some where between Eight and nine thousand members, there is a great want of laborers in the vineyard; many of the first Elders have left this for , leaving their places vacant. I presented to the Presidency here your decision relative to the printing; Elders and received it and manifested a desire to abide by it. wept when I shewed him your decision concerning him and his coming to by the first ship to see you face to face, the Brethren say here that he has been too hasty in some things and has given some an offence, but I do not as yet know anything derogatory to his character that I could say ought against him, I shall write you all the particulars as fast as I come in possession of them; as it regards the printing in this land We shall stop it after the next number is published, in it we wish to publish the news from for the benefit of the Saints, and to announce our arrival in this Country.

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
ID #
8112
Total Pages
448
Handwriting on This Page
- Robert L. Campbell
Footnotes
1. 322
  Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to First Presidency, Nauvoo, IL, 4 Oct. 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
  
  Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

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