Letter from Edward Partridge, 27 May 1839

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Letter from Edward Partridge, 27 May 1839
Source Note

Edward Partridge
27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
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, Letter,
Quincy
Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...
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, Adams Co., IL, to JS,
Commerce
Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...
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, Hancock Co., IL, 27 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 27 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, p. 15; handwriting of
James Mulholland
1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction
On 27 May 1839,
Bishop
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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Edward Partridge
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, who was living near
Quincy
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, Illinois, sent a brief letter to JS, who had relocated to
Commerce
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, Illinois, on 10 May.
1
JS and his family left Quincy on 9 May and arrived in Commerce on 10 May. (JS, Journal, 10 May 1839.)
Partridge included with his message another letter that he was informed was for JS. Because of JS’s recent move, it was possible that mail was still being sent to him in Quincy. On 29 May 1839,
James Mulholland
1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....
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replied to Partridge on JS’s behalf, clarifying that JS was not the intended recipient of the forwarded letter.
2
See Letter to Edward Partridge, 29 May 1839.
Partridge’s original letter to JS is apparently not extant, but Mulholland copied it into JS Letterbook 2 between 27 May and 30 October 1839.
3
Mulholland may have copied the letter the day it was composed.
Footnotes
[1]
JS and his family left Quincy on 9 May and arrived in Commerce on 10 May. (JS, Journal, 10 May 1839.)
[2]
See Letter to Edward Partridge, 29 May 1839.
[3]
Mulholland may have copied the letter the day it was composed.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Edward Partridge, 27 May 1839 Letterbook 2
Page 15
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Quincy
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Ill, May 27th 1839

Beloved brother

Sister Bronson
1
Probably Harriet Gould Brunson. She and her husband, Seymour Brunson, lived in Far West, Missouri, before relocating to Quincy. Seymour Brunson left Missouri in 1838, after Far West was occupied by the state militia. Harriet Gould Brunson and their children remained in Far West until early 1839; they joined Seymour in Quincy in late February or early March. They stayed in Quincy for a few months before continuing on to Commerce. (Brunson, Autobiography, 11–13; Rich, Autobiography and Journal, 40.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Brunson, Lewis. Autobiography, 1861. CHL.
Rich, Sarah Pea. Autobiography, 1885–1893. 2 vols. Sarah Pea Rich, Autobiography and Journal, 1884–1893. CHL. MS 1543.
has just handed me the enclosed letter which she wished me to forward to you, She and Br H.
2
Probably George W. Harris, since the letter later refers to “Br Harris.” (See Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839.)
both say they expect that it is for you— but if it proves not to be your letter you can rectify the mistake. Br W. C.
3
Possibly William Cahoon, who left Far West in early February 1839 and temporarily settled in Quincy. Sometime in mid- to late March, he moved in with a family by the name of Travis and remained with them until relocating to Montrose, Iowa Territory, in fall 1839. (Cahoon, Autobiography, 46–47.)
Cahoon, William F. Autobiography, 1878. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8433.
I expect is up that way somewhere, I send by Br Fisher.
4
Possibly Edward Fisher, who served on the high council in Lee County, Iowa Territory, beginning in October 1839. (Minutes, 5 Oct. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, p. 198.)
Br
[George W.] Harris
1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...
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’ daughter
5
Probably George W. Harris’s stepdaughter Lucinda Wesley Morgan, then age fourteen. JS was a close friend with the Harris family and lived with them briefly in 1838 in Far West. (Blessing for Lucinda Wesley Morgan, in Patriarchal Blessings, 3:8; Compton, In Sacred Loneliness, 45; JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, p. 16; Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839.)
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
Compton, Todd. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2001.
is thought to be rather on the mend, but she is yet very low.

Your’s in the hope of immortality
6
See Alexander Campbell, Bethany, VA, to W. Jones, 26 Mar. 1835, in Millennial Harbinger (Bethany, WV), 1 July 1835, 228; “Man,” in Buck, Theological Dictionary, 257; and New Testament Revision 2, part 2, p. 137 [Joseph Smith Translation, 1 Timothy 6:16].
Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.
Buck, Charles. A Theological Dictionary, Containing Definitions of All Religious Terms; a Comprehensive View of Every Article in the System of Divinity. . . . New American ed., edited by George Bush. Philadelphia: James Kay Jr., 1830.

E[dward] Partridge
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Prest J Smith Jr

Commerce
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Ill [p. 15]
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Source Note
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Page 15
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Footnotes
[1]
Probably Harriet Gould Brunson. She and her husband, Seymour Brunson, lived in Far West, Missouri, before relocating to Quincy. Seymour Brunson left Missouri in 1838, after Far West was occupied by the state militia. Harriet Gould Brunson and their children remained in Far West until early 1839; they joined Seymour in Quincy in late February or early March. They stayed in Quincy for a few months before continuing on to Commerce. (Brunson, Autobiography, 11–13; Rich, Autobiography and Journal, 40.)
Brunson, Lewis. Autobiography, 1861. CHL.
Rich, Sarah Pea. Autobiography, 1885–1893. 2 vols. Sarah Pea Rich, Autobiography and Journal, 1884–1893. CHL. MS 1543.
[2]
Probably George W. Harris, since the letter later refers to “Br Harris.” (See Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839.)
[3]
Possibly William Cahoon, who left Far West in early February 1839 and temporarily settled in Quincy. Sometime in mid- to late March, he moved in with a family by the name of Travis and remained with them until relocating to Montrose, Iowa Territory, in fall 1839. (Cahoon, Autobiography, 46–47.)
Cahoon, William F. Autobiography, 1878. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8433.
[4]
Possibly Edward Fisher, who served on the high council in Lee County, Iowa Territory, beginning in October 1839. (Minutes, 5 Oct. 1839, in JS Letterbook 2, p. 198.)
[5]
Probably George W. Harris’s stepdaughter Lucinda Wesley Morgan, then age fourteen. JS was a close friend with the Harris family and lived with them briefly in 1838 in Far West. (Blessing for Lucinda Wesley Morgan, in Patriarchal Blessings, 3:8; Compton, In Sacred Loneliness, 45; JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, p. 16; Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839.)
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
Compton, Todd. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2001.
[6]
See Alexander Campbell, Bethany, VA, to W. Jones, 26 Mar. 1835, in Millennial Harbinger (Bethany, WV), 1 July 1835, 228; “Man,” in Buck, Theological Dictionary, 257; and New Testament Revision 2, part 2, p. 137 [Joseph Smith Translation, 1 Timothy 6:16].
Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.
Buck, Charles. A Theological Dictionary, Containing Definitions of All Religious Terms; a Comprehensive View of Every Article in the System of Divinity. . . . New American ed., edited by George Bush. Philadelphia: James Kay Jr., 1830.