History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , 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
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 , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with 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 ’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 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 and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’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 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 , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
• An account of JS’s sermon, 7 April 1844.
<December 20>
| State of ) | ss |
| ) |
On the 20th. day of December 1843 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said . Andrew M. Hamilton and of Bear Creek precinct in said , and being duly sworn depose and say, that on the evening of the second day of December 1843 at Vernon Doty’s Mill in said precinct, Colonel of said as principal, John Williams his son, William Middleton of the County of Clark and State of ; Captn. Mc Coy of said County of Clark and State of ; John Fox of Green Plains Precinct, and about a dozen other men armed with Pistols, Dirks, and Bowie knives, came forcibly upon at said Doty’s mill, and seized and bound him; The said told them to stand off, they said they had a Writ; he observed he would not resist legal authority: They said they would take said to and there try him; the said replied, “I understand you, you will take me to and there pass me over the to ” some of said gang then shouted “lay hold of him, God damn him, lay hold of him, there’s no use of parleying:” at which Colonel with a large Bowie Knife in his hand, and others, then forced the said to submit, telling him, (without a Writ) that his life would be taken if he did not submit. They then tied him with Silk Handkerchiefs; Colonel and another person then led the said away, and as they passed your affiants within the distance of about four rods, the said cried out to one of your said affiants “Tell my friends where I am gone.” told said to hold his peace, for it was of no use: William Middleton then got a horse and after tying him upon said horse as sworn to before by another witness, they then conveyed him to without Writ or trial as your affiants verily believe. And further they—— say not.
Andrew M Hamilton
Subscribed and sworn to this 20th. day of December 1843 before me. J. P. [HC 6:123]
<21> Thursday 21. About 1 o’Clock in the morning I was alarmed by the firing of a Gun, got up, and went down to the bank to see the guard, and enquire the cause of it; to my surprise they had not heard it, although I felt sure it was fired in ; the morning proved it to be correct, some rowdies in had been firing in the night.
At noon met with the city Council which voted that Councilor present the Memorial and Ordinance to Congress.
Passed “an ordinance to prevent unlawful search or seizure of person or property by foreign process in the city of .”
We insert the following obituary of Nathan Pratt from the pen of his , as a Sample of what thousands of women and children have suffered, thro’ the wicked persecutions of the brutal savages of .
“Biography of Nathan Pratt. Died in this place,—— Nathan Pratt, son of , aged five and a half years.
As his life has been rather extraordinary perhaps the following sketch may be worthy of publication.
He was born in Missouri, A.D. 1838. The honored place [p. 1809]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [561]
- [562]
TEXT: A later insertion in graphite indicates “after” should be added here.
- [563]
TEXT: Graphite insertion in margin: “Printed as in original document”.
- [564]
See 21 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [565]
JS, Journal, 21 Dec. 1843; Charles Shumway, Report, Nauvoo, IL, ca. 1845, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.
- [566]
TEXT: Graphite notation written in margin before the following cancelation: “If published in T&S not to publish again BY”.
- [567]
“Biography of Nathan Pratt,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1844, 5:414–415.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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