Letter from John Laws, 18 October 1841

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Letter from John Laws, 18 October 1841
Source Note

John Laws, Letter,
Philadelphia
Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...
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, Philadelphia Co., PA, to JS,
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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, Hancock Co., IL, 18 Oct. 1841; handwriting of John Laws; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notation, postal stamps, notation, endorsement, and docket.

Bifolium measuring 10 × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was trifolded twice in letter style and then sealed with a red adhesive wafer, addressed, stamped with postmarks, and inscribed with postage. The middle of the second leaf was torn likely when the letter was opened. Residue from the adhesive wafer remains on the verso of the second leaf.

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.
1
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.
The letter is listed along with 1842 letters in a Church Historian’s Office inventory from circa 1904.
2
“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. This item was mistakenly listed in the 1842 letters on the inventory, probably based on an incorrect notation from Bullock.
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).
3
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
The docket, inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody of the letter since its receipt.
Footnotes
[1]
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.
[2]
“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. This item was mistakenly listed in the 1842 letters on the inventory, probably based on an incorrect notation from Bullock.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
[3]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
John Laws, a local politician and resident of
Philadelphia
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, wrote a letter of inquiry to JS in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, on 18 October 1841.
1
Laws was a resident of the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia as early as 1830. He served in city government offices as early as 1831. (1830 U.S. Census, Northern Liberties Ward 4, Philadelphia Co., PA, 84; “Cause of the Poles,” Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania [Philadelphia], 24 Sept. 1831, 200; see also Martin, Martin’s Bench and Bar of Philadelphia, 93; and “John Laws, Alderman,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 19 Feb. 1841, [1].)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia. 1828–1835.
Martin, John Hill. Martin’s Bench and Bar of Philadelphia, Together with other Lists of Persons Appointed to Administer the Laws in the City and County of Philadelphia, and the Province and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Rees Welsh, 1883.
Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.
During the previous two months, Laws, who was not a
Latter-day Saint
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...
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, had written at least three lengthy letters to city newspapers defending the church from attacks that had appeared in Philadelphia’s Daily Chronicle, Saturday Courier, and Public Ledger. In connection with this effort, Laws wrote to JS seeking additional information about a claim made in the Saturday Courier that the Saints had defrauded a Philadelphia church member out of his property earlier in 1841.
2
“The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2].
Saturday Courier. Philadelphia. 1841–1848.

In the late 1830s and early 1840s, Latter-day Saint missionaries experienced tremendous success in the Delaware River valley between
Pennsylvania
Area first settled by Swedish immigrants, 1628. William Penn received grant for territory from King Charles II, 1681, and established British settlement, 1682. Philadelphia was center of government for original thirteen U.S. colonies from time of Revolutionary...
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and
New Jersey
Located in northeast region of U.S. First European settlements made by Dutch, Swedes, and English, early 1600s. Admitted to U.S. as state, Dec. 1787. Population in 1830 about 321,000. Population in 1840 about 373,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries preached...
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. Out of this success, several church
branches
An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...
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were established in the region, including a large branch in
Philadelphia
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in December 1839.
3
Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 23 Dec. 1839.
Philadelphia Branch, Record Book, 1840–1854. CCLA.
As the Latter-day Saint presence expanded in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, some Philadelphia newspapers began publishing unfavorable articles and letters to dissuade local residents from joining the church.
4
See, for example, “Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]; and “The Mormons,” Daily Chronicle, 25 Sept. 1841, [1]; see also “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2].
Daily Chronicle. Philadelphia. 1828–1834.
Among the most damaging accusations printed in the Philadelphia papers were complaints that the church had been dishonest in its financial dealings in
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio, and that it continued to defraud members in eastern Pennsylvania.
5
“A Mormon Disturbance,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 19 Feb. 1841, [2]; “Communication,” Daily Chronicle, 11 Sept. 1841, [1].
For example, the Saturday Courier published accusations that Latter-day Saint missionaries “scoured the branches in the east for money” and implied that the missionaries had “resorted to the most culpable and criminal means to obtain it.”
6
“Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2]; “To Readers and Correspondents,” Saturday Courier, 7 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2].
The Daily Chronicle warned that the Saints were persuading new church members to “convert their property into cash to be placed in a common fund.” In the eyes of these critics, the chief purpose of the church was “to get possession of other people’s property.”
7
“A Mormon Disturbance,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 19 Feb. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 4 Sept. 1841, [2].

These rumors likely emanated from the church’s recent efforts to obtain lands in the East, the frequency with which early missionaries solicited financial assistance from the region’s converts, and perhaps a misunderstanding of the law of
consecration
The dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...
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.
8
See Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 Sept. 1841; and Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841. For an explanation of the law of consecration, see Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72].
Branches in the eastern
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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contained some of the most financially successful members of the early church, and those members were sometimes asked by church leaders to provide assistance.
9
See Fleming and Grua, “Impact of Edward Hunter’s Conversion,” 135.
Fleming, Stephen J., and David W. Grua, eds. “The Impact of Edward Hunter’s Conversion to Mormonism in Chester County, Pennsylvania: Henry M. Vallette’s 1869 Letter.” Mormon Historical Studies 6, no. 1 (Spring 2005): 133–138.
For instance,
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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,
Isaac Galland
15 May 1791–27 Sept. 1858. Merchant, postmaster, land speculator, doctor. Born at Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Matthew Galland and Hannah Fenno. Married first Nancy Harris, 22 Mar. 1811, in Madison Co., Ohio. Married second Margaret Knight, by 1816....
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, and
Almon Babbitt
Oct. 1812–Sept. 1856. Postmaster, editor, attorney. Born at Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ira Babbitt and Nancy Crosier. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1830. Located in Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, July 1831....
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had solicited the help of eastern church members to pay the church’s debts to
Horace Hotchkiss
15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...
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for land purchases in
Nauvoo
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—the three men hoped to obtain lands from these Saints in exchange for commensurate properties in
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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and
Iowa Territory
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...
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. Hyrum Smith and Galland then intended to use the newly acquired properties to pay for the Hotchkiss lands.
10
Horace Hotchkiss, Fair Haven, CT, to Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 13 May 1841, JS Office Papers, CHL; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 24 July 1841; Letter from William Smith, 5 Aug. 1841.
In August a Daily Chronicle correspondent, writing under a pseudonym, referenced Galland’s mission, calling him a land speculator and suggesting that his purpose was to “shuffle his western lands off” to unsuspecting converts.
11
“Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]. The accusation was evidently a response to a July 1841 article that Galland had published in the Public Ledger, criticizing those who made charges against the church. (“Mormonism, Mormonism,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 21 July 1841, [2].)

Responding to these criticisms, Laws wrote letters to both the Public Ledger and the Daily Chronicle defending the Latter-day Saints.
12
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger, 11 Sept. 1841, [3]; John Laws, Northern Liberties, PA, 15 Sept. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 18 Sept. 1841, [2].
Although Laws had no intention of joining the church, he evidently had family members and friends who had converted.
13
Though it is uncertain exactly which early members of the Philadelphia branch were friends or family members of Laws, the Philadelphia Branch Record Book includes the names of Peter F. and Mary Ann Laws. (“Names of the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Philadelphia,” in Philadelphia Branch Record Book.)
Although he hoped these individuals would one day “renounce the doctrine and cleave to that of their fathers,” Laws took exception to “the curses and anathemas” heaped upon the church in the newspapers and endeavored to correct the errors.
14
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; see also “Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2]; “The Mormons,” Saturday Courier, 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2]; “Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]; and “The Mormons,” Daily Chronicle, 25 Sept. 1841, [1].
Specifically, Laws addressed allegations that the Saints had not paid for Kirtland Bank note plates, stating that he was aware of evidence of payment.
15
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [3]; see also “The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]. Following their departure from Kirtland in 1838, JS and other church members owed a debt of approximately $2,000 to Thomas Underwood, Robert Bald, Asa Spencer, and Samuel Hufty for services rendered as engravers for the Kirtland Safety Society bank note plates. Almon Babbitt paid off the debt on 2 April 1841. Likely learning of the payment upon Hyrum Smith’s return from the East in late April, JS wrote to Oliver Granger that “the house and store encumbered by the debts for the ‘Plates’ are now at liberty.” (Transcript of Proceedings, 16 Apr. 1839, Underwood et al. v. Rigdon, JS, et al., [Geauga Co. C.P. 1839], Final Record Book X, 35; Case Costs, 16 Apr. 1839, Underwood et al. v. Rigdon, JS, et al. [Geauga Co. C.P. 1839], Execution Docket G, 676, Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH; Letter to Oliver Granger, 4 May 1841.)
Laws further advocated for the religious rights of the Saints, pointing out that the laws of both the
state
Area first settled by Swedish immigrants, 1628. William Penn received grant for territory from King Charles II, 1681, and established British settlement, 1682. Philadelphia was center of government for original thirteen U.S. colonies from time of Revolutionary...
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and the
nation
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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guaranteed freedoms to all faiths, including the Latter-day Saints. He decried the suggestion in the Saturday Courier that the Saints had “no doubt well deserved the punishment meted out to them” in
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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.
16
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2].

Having previously defended the Saints in the
Philadelphia
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press, Laws wrote the following letter to JS to obtain information regarding various claims about
Robert
11 Apr. 1797–27 Mar. 1884. Supervisor of roads, fireman, farmer. Born in Concord, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Thomas Peirce (Pierce) and Margaret Trimble. Married Hannah Harvey, 23 Jan. 1821, in Pennsylvania. Moved to Uwchlan Township, Chester Co.,...
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and Hannah Peirce’s April 1841 transfer of lands to
Almon Babbitt
Oct. 1812–Sept. 1856. Postmaster, editor, attorney. Born at Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ira Babbitt and Nancy Crosier. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1830. Located in Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, July 1831....
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.
17
Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 82–83, 187–188, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
Seeking clarification on the matter, Laws requested that JS send him an affidavit and additional information that could prove the legitimacy of the land transaction.

The letter from Laws was mailed in
Philadelphia
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on 22 October 1841 and likely arrived in
Nauvoo
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in early November. Upon its receipt,
John C. Bennett
3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...
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wrote on the letter’s third page a notation containing the financial details of the
Peirce
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land sale. The notation indicates that JS either responded to or intended to respond to Laws’s letter. Extant information, however, reveals no further communications regarding the matter. Furthermore, Laws does not appear to have published additional letters in the Philadelphia newspapers regarding the Latter-day Saints or Peirce’s land.
Footnotes
[1]
Laws was a resident of the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia as early as 1830. He served in city government offices as early as 1831. (1830 U.S. Census, Northern Liberties Ward 4, Philadelphia Co., PA, 84; “Cause of the Poles,” Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania [Philadelphia], 24 Sept. 1831, 200; see also Martin, Martin’s Bench and Bar of Philadelphia, 93; and “John Laws, Alderman,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 19 Feb. 1841, [1].)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia. 1828–1835.
Martin, John Hill. Martin’s Bench and Bar of Philadelphia, Together with other Lists of Persons Appointed to Administer the Laws in the City and County of Philadelphia, and the Province and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Rees Welsh, 1883.
[2]
“The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2].
[3]
Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 23 Dec. 1839.
[4]
See, for example, “Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]; and “The Mormons,” Daily Chronicle, 25 Sept. 1841, [1]; see also “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2].
[5]
“A Mormon Disturbance,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 19 Feb. 1841, [2]; “Communication,” Daily Chronicle, 11 Sept. 1841, [1].
[6]
“Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2]; “To Readers and Correspondents,” Saturday Courier, 7 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2].
[7]
“A Mormon Disturbance,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 19 Feb. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 4 Sept. 1841, [2].
[8]
See Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 Sept. 1841; and Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841. For an explanation of the law of consecration, see Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72].
[9]
See Fleming and Grua, “Impact of Edward Hunter’s Conversion,” 135.
Fleming, Stephen J., and David W. Grua, eds. “The Impact of Edward Hunter’s Conversion to Mormonism in Chester County, Pennsylvania: Henry M. Vallette’s 1869 Letter.” Mormon Historical Studies 6, no. 1 (Spring 2005): 133–138.
[10]
Horace Hotchkiss, Fair Haven, CT, to Hyrum Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 13 May 1841, JS Office Papers, CHL; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 24 July 1841; Letter from William Smith, 5 Aug. 1841.
[11]
“Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]. The accusation was evidently a response to a July 1841 article that Galland had published in the Public Ledger, criticizing those who made charges against the church. (“Mormonism, Mormonism,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 21 July 1841, [2].)
[12]
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger, 11 Sept. 1841, [3]; John Laws, Northern Liberties, PA, 15 Sept. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 18 Sept. 1841, [2].
[13]
Though it is uncertain exactly which early members of the Philadelphia branch were friends or family members of Laws, the Philadelphia Branch Record Book includes the names of Peter F. and Mary Ann Laws. (“Names of the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Philadelphia,” in Philadelphia Branch Record Book.)
[14]
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; see also “Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2]; “The Mormons,” Saturday Courier, 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2]; “Communication,” Daily Chronicle (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [1]; and “The Mormons,” Daily Chronicle, 25 Sept. 1841, [1].
[15]
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 11 Sept. 1841, [3]; see also “The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]. Following their departure from Kirtland in 1838, JS and other church members owed a debt of approximately $2,000 to Thomas Underwood, Robert Bald, Asa Spencer, and Samuel Hufty for services rendered as engravers for the Kirtland Safety Society bank note plates. Almon Babbitt paid off the debt on 2 April 1841. Likely learning of the payment upon Hyrum Smith’s return from the East in late April, JS wrote to Oliver Granger that “the house and store encumbered by the debts for the ‘Plates’ are now at liberty.” (Transcript of Proceedings, 16 Apr. 1839, Underwood et al. v. Rigdon, JS, et al., [Geauga Co. C.P. 1839], Final Record Book X, 35; Case Costs, 16 Apr. 1839, Underwood et al. v. Rigdon, JS, et al. [Geauga Co. C.P. 1839], Execution Docket G, 676, Geauga County Archives and Records Center, Chardon, OH; Letter to Oliver Granger, 4 May 1841.)
[16]
“Anti-Mormon Slanders Refuted,” Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 28 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Extraordinary Impositions of the ‘Latter Day Saints,’” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 10 July 1841, [2].
[17]
Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 82–83, 187–188, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
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his late farm was worth
9
Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 82–83, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
and the very next week afterwards they sold the same farm which they had pretended to purchase at $6000 to a grocer in
Philadelphia
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for the sum of $3000
10
Isaac Galland sold the property to John McClure on 25 June 1841 for $3,800. (Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 187–188, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
just one half, the poor duped farmer has a wife and Children and their little homestead has now been forever lost to them by the swindlings of these pretended latter day Saints, are there no thunders in Heaven”
11
“The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; see also “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2].

Now although I firmly believe that the whole of the above Charge (as regards its criminality) is utterly destitute of truth like the “cruel Murder of
Mr [Martin] Harris
18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...
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”
12
In late June 1841 several national newspapers, including Philadelphia’s Public Ledger, accused the Latter-day Saints of murdering Martin Harris, a witness of the Book of Mormon who had been excommunicated from the church nearly four years earlier. By 7 July 1841 it was apparent that the reports of Harris’s murder were mistaken, with papers sarcastically noting that although Harris had been “so recently murdered,” he was still “alive and well at his home in Kirtland.” (“The Mormons,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 21 June 1841, [4]; “Not Dead,” New-York Tribune, 7 July 1841, [2]; “Quite Probable,” Public Ledger, 10 July 1841, [2].)
New-York Tribune. New York City. 1841–1842.
I think it proper to be prepared in case of another attack by the Press and to enable me to be so if
Mr Pearce
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resides in
Nauvo
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13
As of 20 August 1841, Peirce was still a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, although he had a right to property in Nauvoo at the time. (Letter from Robert Peirce, 20 Aug. 1841.)
(as
Mr [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...
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informs me he does)
14
Page, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was in Philadelphia between August and December 1841. (“Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 5 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger, 4 Sept. 1841, [2]; “Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger, 4 Dec. 1841, [2]; George W. Gee, Pittsburgh, PA, to Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 30 Dec. 1841, Sidney Rigdon, Collection, CHL.)
Rigdon, Sidney. Collection, 1831–1858. CHL. MS 713.
I wish to obtain his deposition touching the facts of the Case.

The following form I suggest for the benefit of the functionary who may be employed.

State of Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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) ss

County of [blank])

Be it Known that on the [blank] day of [blank] AD 1841 Before me A B [blank] a Justice of the Peace (or Judge of the Court of &c as the case may be) in and for the said County personally appeard [blank]
Pierce
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of the City of
Nauvo
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in the county and state aforesaid Farmer late of
Chester County
Located in southeast Pennsylvania. Bordered on south by Maryland and Delaware and on north by Berks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. Established as one of Pennsylvania’s three original counties, 1682. West Chester named county seat, 1784. Population...
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in the state of Pennsylvania who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that (state the facts touching the sale and all the materials points concerning it) and such other matters as may be deemed by you important and comporting with the truth) and further deponent saith not.

Pearce
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Sworn to and subscribed the Day and year first above written, Before me

A B

Justice of the Peace or Judge of &c (as the case may be) [p. [2]]
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Footnotes
[9]
Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 82–83, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
[10]
Isaac Galland sold the property to John McClure on 25 June 1841 for $3,800. (Chester Co., PA, Deeds, 1688–1903, vol. U-4, pp. 187–188, microfilm 557,205, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
[11]
“The Mormons,” Saturday Courier (Philadelphia), 14 Aug. 1841, [2]; see also “A Mormon Champion,” Saturday Courier, 4 Sept. 1841, [2].
[12]
In late June 1841 several national newspapers, including Philadelphia’s Public Ledger, accused the Latter-day Saints of murdering Martin Harris, a witness of the Book of Mormon who had been excommunicated from the church nearly four years earlier. By 7 July 1841 it was apparent that the reports of Harris’s murder were mistaken, with papers sarcastically noting that although Harris had been “so recently murdered,” he was still “alive and well at his home in Kirtland.” (“The Mormons,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 21 June 1841, [4]; “Not Dead,” New-York Tribune, 7 July 1841, [2]; “Quite Probable,” Public Ledger, 10 July 1841, [2].)
New-York Tribune. New York City. 1841–1842.
[13]
As of 20 August 1841, Peirce was still a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, although he had a right to property in Nauvoo at the time. (Letter from Robert Peirce, 20 Aug. 1841.)
[14]
Page, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was in Philadelphia between August and December 1841. (“Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger [Philadelphia], 5 Aug. 1841, [2]; “Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger, 4 Sept. 1841, [2]; “Mormon Preaching,” Public Ledger, 4 Dec. 1841, [2]; George W. Gee, Pittsburgh, PA, to Sidney Rigdon, Nauvoo, IL, 30 Dec. 1841, Sidney Rigdon, Collection, CHL.)
Rigdon, Sidney. Collection, 1831–1858. CHL. MS 713.