History Draft [1 January–31 December 1840]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
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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; 19 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 January 1840 to 31 December 1840.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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<1> Friday May “Columbus (X L. 144. 145)

The town of Baja, in the county of Bacs, on the was almost totally destroyed by fire, about 2000 houses were burned, with the palace, several churches <&> all the great corn magazines leaving about 1600 inhabitants destitute. The plaque is raging in the east, at Silistria Broussa, Alexandria, Aleppo &c— and wars & rumors of wars in Spain, Mexican & South American governments. French & arabs in Africa, Russia & Circassia, <Egypt>, & the east Indies, and the Revolutions all bespeak betoken the fulfilment of prophecy.

7 May 1840 • Thursday

<7> Thursday 7 The city of Natchez was this day destroyed <almost> in a moment, by whirlwind storms & Tempest,— it is reported, 60 boats sunk. Houses & churches blown to atoms, more than 300 persons killed, & $5000000 of property destroyed, nearly the whole country on the for 1100 miles from its mouth is under water.

“ (O L. 151. 2. 3) ” The Island of Ternate was nearly ruined by earthquakes in on the 14, & 15th. of February 1840.

14 May 1840 • Thursday

<14> Thursday, (X L. 146. 7) Jr

15 May 1840 • Friday

<15> Friday “To the Editor (X M.S. 23.) .” These letters

17 May 1840 • Sunday

Elder , & , <Held conference with the saints at Gadfield Elm chapel on Sunday the 17th.— &>

18 May 1840 • Monday

<<18[th.]> Monday 18, met the brethren at Elder Kington’s where they had a tea party, prayer, singing, confirming ordaining— & about 20 were baptized.— thus they> continued their labers as usual <from place to place> until, Wednesday the 20th. where they found themselves with one accord on the top of Beacon, & within the old fortification, when after prayer, they expressed their feelings concerning the business of the church; which were, (as they had obtained money for printing the Hymn book and in part sufficient for the Book of Mormon.) that proceed <repair> immediately to , & join his brethern previously appointed with him on a committee for the printing of the Hymn Book, & cause 3000 copies to be issued without delay. Also that the same committee be a committee to cause 3000 copies of the Book of Mormon, to be printed & completed, with as little delay as possible, with an index affixed to the same, and the form of the book to be at the disposal of the committee, Their feelings views were written & signed by Elder & , when left direct for ; saw at the Potteries who approved the Beacon conference [p. 9]

1 May 1840 • Friday

1 Friday “Columbus (X L. 144. 145)

The town of Baja, in the county of Bacs, on the was almost totally destroyed by fire, about 2000 houses were burned, with the palace, several churches & all the great corn magazines leaving about 1600 inhabitants destitute. The plaque is raging in the east, at Silistria Broussa, Alexandria, Aleppo &c— and wars & rumors of wars in Spain, Mexican & South American governments. French & arabs in Africa, Russia & Circassia, Egypt, & the east Indies, and the Revolutions all betoken the fulfilment of prophecy.

7 May 1840 • Thursday

7 Thursday 7 The city of Natchez was this day destroyed almost in a moment, by whirlwind storms & Tempest,— it is reported, 60 boats sunk. Houses & churches blown to atoms, more than 300 persons killed, & $5000000 of property destroyed, nearly the whole country on the for 1100 miles from its mouth is under water.

“ (O L. 151. 2. 3) ” The Island of Ternate was nearly ruined by earthquakes on the 14, & 15th. of February 1840.

14 May 1840 • Thursday

14 Thursday, (X L. 146. 7) Jr

15 May 1840 • Friday

15 Friday “To the Editor (X M.S. 23.) .”

17 May 1840 • Sunday

Elder , & , Held conference with the saints at Gadfield Elm chapel on Sunday the 17th.— &

18 May 1840 • Monday

18[th.] Monday 18, met the brethren at Elder Kington’s where they had a tea party, prayer, singing, confirming ordaining— & about 20 were baptized.— thus they continued their labers from place to place until, Wednesday the 20th. where they found themselves with one accord on the top of Beacon, & within the old fortification, when after prayer, they expressed their feelings concerning the business of the church; which were, (as they had obtained money for printing the Hymn book and in part sufficient for the Book of Mormon.) that repair immediately to , & join his brethern previously appointed with him on a committee for the printing of the Hymn Book, & cause 3000 copies to be issued without delay. Also that the same committee be a committee to cause 3000 copies of the Book of Mormon, to be printed & completed, with as little delay as possible, with an index affixed to the same, and the form of the book to be at the disposal of the committee, Their views were written & signed by Elder & , when left direct for ; saw at the Potteries who approved the Beacon conference [p. 9]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [1 January–31 December 1840]
ID #
8473
Total Pages
20
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 70
  See 1 May 1840 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1055–1056.
2. 71
  See 7 and 9 May 1840 entries in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1056–1058.
3. 72
  See 14 May 1840 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1058–1059.
4. 73
  See 15 May 1840 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1059.
5. 74
  See 17 May 1840 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1059.
6. 75
  TEXT: Insertion written sideways in left margin.
7. 76
  See 18–20 May 1840 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1059–1060.

History Draft [1 January–31 December 1840]

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