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Letter from John E. Page, 1–2 March 1844

Source Note

John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
, Letter,
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
, to JS and the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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 ...

View Glossary
,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 1–2 Mar. 1844; handwriting and signature of
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notation, postal stamp, dockets, and notations.
Bifolium measuring 11⅝ × 7½ inches (30 × 19 cm). The letter was written on all four pages. It was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a wafer. There is a remnant of the wafer and a small tear on the fourth page where the letter was opened, resulting in a loss of text on the third page. The document was later refolded for filing.
The document was inscribed with a filing notation in unidentified handwriting that was revised by
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

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, who served as the church recorder from October 1841 to July 1843.
1

Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.


The document was docketed by
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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, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
2

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Another docket was inscribed by Jonathan Grimshaw, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1856.
3

Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

The document may have been listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
4

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [4], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. There are two extant 1844 letters from Page but this inventory lists only one.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
5

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s early filing notation and dockets, its possible listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.

  2. [2]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

  4. [4]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [4], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. There are two extant 1844 letters from Page but this inventory lists only one.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  5. [5]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 1 and 2 March 1844, apostle
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
to JS and the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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 ...

View Glossary
in
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....

More Info
, Illinois, reporting on his activity in the nation’s capital. A few months earlier, in November 1843,
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...

View Full Bio
—who was the president of the Quorum of the Twelve—had instructed Page to leave
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
, where he had been proselytizing, and “build up a church in the city of Washington for it is expedient and absolutely necessary that we have a foot hold in that popular city.”
1

Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to John E. Page, [Boston, MA], 25 Nov. 1843, copy, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; see also Revelation, ca. 25 Nov. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

Page arrived in Washington DC on 17 February 1844 and began preaching.
On 1 March,
Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
started a letter to inform JS and the Quorum of the Twelve of his boarding arrangements, proselytizing efforts, and meetings with politicians and newspaper editors in the capital. He also commented on the presence of
William Miller

15 Feb. 1782–20 Dec. 1849. Farmer, author, military officer, preacher. Born in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Miller and Paulina Phelps. Moved to Hampton, Washington Co., New York, 1786. Married Lucy Phelps Smith, 29 June 1803. Moved...

View Full Bio
in the city, where he and some of his disciples were preaching that the second coming of Jesus Christ was imminent. The next day, Page added a few more paragraphs to his letter. In this addition, he asked JS and
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...

View Full Bio
to reply with advice on strengthening the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
in
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
, mentioned speeches given in 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 ...

More Info
Senate about the nation’s policy concerning the
Oregon territory

Lewis and Clark expedition wintered in area, 1805–1806. Treaty of 1818 between U.S. and England provided decade of joint rights to area. Major immigration to area from existing U.S. states commenced, 1839. Oregon Trail used as main route to area, beginning...

More Info
, and reflected on his efforts to soften his preaching style.
Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
addressed the letter to
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...

View Full Bio
. According to the postmark, he mailed the letter from
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
on 2 March. JS and the Quorum of the Twelve presumably received Page’s letter in mid- or late March.
2

In 1844 mail sent from Washington DC often arrived in Nauvoo within three weeks. (See, for example, Historical Introduction to Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.)


It is unknown if either JS or Young replied to this letter.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to John E. Page, [Boston, MA], 25 Nov. 1843, copy, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; see also Revelation, ca. 25 Nov. 1843.

    Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

  2. [2]

    In 1844 mail sent from Washington DC often arrived in Nauvoo within three weeks. (See, for example, Historical Introduction to Letter from Orson Hyde, 25 Apr. 1844.)

Page [1]

Washington D. C.

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
March the 1st. 1844
To
President

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
Joseph Smith & the
Quorum of 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 ...

View Glossary
—
Dear and beloved Bretheren in the Lord—
Haveing a few moments of leasure I improve them in pening a sketch for your purusal to let you know my circumstances and what I am about and what my present prospects are relative to my mission in this great
Metropolis

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
—
I arrived here on the 17th. of last month it being Saturday and late in the evening I put up at Mr Galabinn’s Hotel for sunday, being an intire stranger and having had no time to get out an opointment to preach or to find a place to do so, for the first time I kept sunday without Preaching since I left
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....

More Info
twenty two months ago,
1

Page preached in Pittsburgh beginning in December 1841, although he was not officially assigned there until an April 1842 special conference in Nauvoo. (Letter from George Gee, 30 Dec. 1841; Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 Apr. 1842.)


on Monday my first busyness was to find a place to board suitable to my means I found I had called at one of the dearest places of boarding in the
city

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

More Info
first asking ten dollars per week but finaly offered to board me for at one dollar per day I stayed two days and they finding out who I was and what my calling was only took $1–50 cents for the whole amount
I found a place to board at at a private family <​residence​> at two dollars and fifty cents per week my washing will cost fifty cents per week— I next found an engine house lecture room to preach in at four dollars per week to ocupy it on sunday’s and sunday evening’s and Tuesday and Thursday evenings thus you see my expences are one dollar per day at present all I have received yet as a donation from the people is one dollar and forty two cents sixty two cents was a voluetary [voluntary] gift of some ladys whome I had not seen before to my knowledge who steped forward to the stand at the close of my third lecture and put the change on the desk for me last evening was the first attempt I made to rais a collections 80 cents was raisid I have learned today that there is an effort about to be made by some gentlmen to hire the Apolo Hall for me <​to​> lecture in
2

Apollo Hall was located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC and commonly served as a venue for large gatherings. (See Nelson, “The Inauguration of Mr. McKinley,” 262; and Select Classical and Mathematical Seminary to Mr. Anderson and Family, Invitation, no date, Printed Ephemera Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nelson, Henry Loomis. “The Inauguration of Mr. McKinley.” Harper’s Weekly 41, no. 2099 (13 Mar. 1897): 259–262.

Select Classical and Mathematical Seminary. Invitation to Mr. Anderson and Family, 30 July [ca. 1841]. Printed Ephemera Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC. Digital image available at www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.21002100/.

there are some already accused by their friends and associates of being “mormons” whether they will be <​such​> eventualy [p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John E. Page, 1–2 March 1844
ID #
1656
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • John E. Page

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Page preached in Pittsburgh beginning in December 1841, although he was not officially assigned there until an April 1842 special conference in Nauvoo. (Letter from George Gee, 30 Dec. 1841; Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 Apr. 1842.)

  2. [2]

    Apollo Hall was located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC and commonly served as a venue for large gatherings. (See Nelson, “The Inauguration of Mr. McKinley,” 262; and Select Classical and Mathematical Seminary to Mr. Anderson and Family, Invitation, no date, Printed Ephemera Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC.)

    Nelson, Henry Loomis. “The Inauguration of Mr. McKinley.” Harper’s Weekly 41, no. 2099 (13 Mar. 1897): 259–262.

    Select Classical and Mathematical Seminary. Invitation to Mr. Anderson and Family, 30 July [ca. 1841]. Printed Ephemera Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC. Digital image available at www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.21002100/.

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