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Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 10–21 January 1844

Source Note

, , Lancashire, England, to JS and the , [, Hancock Co., IL], 10–21 Jan. 1844; handwriting of ; twenty-four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket.
Originally six bifolia measuring 9⅞ × 8 inches (25 × 20 cm). The pages are hand paginated, usually in the upper outside corners. The letter was apparently trifolded twice in letter style and later folded in various ways. The central folds of the first and third bifolia are completely separated, resulting in four individual leaves. The document has undergone conservation. There is some loss of text from holes and tears along folds.
The document was docketed by , who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859. The letter was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  2. [2]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  3. [3]

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

Historical Introduction

From 10 to 21 January 1844, , president of the ’s British mission, drafted a letter to JS and the in , Illinois, to report on happenings within the mission. Missionaries first arrived in Great Britain in 1837, and Hedlock had previously served there from 1840 to 1841. In May 1843, Hedlock was appointed to preside over the British mission with and as counselors. Clark had been in Great Britain as a missionary since 1842, and Ward, a native Englishman, had helped publish the church newspaper there. Ward also presided over the mission from late 1842 until Hedlock replaced him. After Hedlock reached , England, in September 1843, he estimated that church membership in the British Isles had grown to between eight and nine thousand.
began his letter to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 10 January 1844, writing from the mission office in . In this letter, Hedlock recounted his activities since arriving in Great Britain, starting with his attendance at regional church in Glasgow and Edinburgh in November 1843 and a trip to . While in London, Hedlock learned of two separate drowning incidents that took place during the performance of in November 1843. The victims were Sarah Cartwright, who was swept into a brook near Coppenhall, England, after her baptism, and a Latter-day Saint who was administering baptisms in Sheffield, England. Hedlock stated that the drownings stirred up negative perceptions of the church, and he recounted the criminal trial held for Jonathan Pugmire, the who baptized Cartwright, and her husband, Thomas Cartwright, who tried to rescue his wife. Pugmire and Thomas Cartwright were ultimately acquitted for want of available witnesses for the prosecution and substantial evidence.
As the of the British mission, oversaw the use of church funds and facilitated the migration of British Saints to via passage across the Atlantic Ocean. In his letter to JS and the apostles, Hedlock detailed some recent expenditures of church funds, including the payment of taxes and fare for British converts traveling to Nauvoo, and asked for more direction from church leaders on how to sustain the church’s finances in Great Britain. The previous year, church leaders had instructed mission leaders to halt publication of the Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, the church’s newspaper printed in . During his travels among the British Saints, Hedlock learned that many members had been confused by the shutdown of the paper, and he planned to circulate the Millennial Star again, in part to advertise upcoming ship departures to the .
finished the letter on 21 January and sent it to JS and the apostles in by way of Latter-day Saint William Kay, who left for the on 23 January with over two hundred Saints aboard the Fanny. Kay reached in early March and then boarded the Maid of Iowa, which arrived in Nauvoo on 13 April 1844. JS greeted these immigrants in person, but it is not known when or to whom Kay delivered the letter. As the letter was addressed to JS first, he presumably read it sometime in mid-April. In addition to also addressing the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the letter singled out president and apostle . The response to Hedlock’s letter, possibly assigned by JS, was written by Young and Richards on 3 May 1844. Young and Richards counseled Hedlock to raise as much money as he could through publishing church materials. They also advised him not to use the church’s resources to fund any more emigration expenses. Hedlock’s original letter is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Historical Introduction to Recommendation for Heber C. Kimball, between 2 and 13 June 1837.

  2. [2]

    “Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, pp. 1–3, copy, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL; see also Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 11 and 23 May 1843; and “Editorial,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1843, 4:94.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  3. [3]

    “Extract from Elder Hiram Clark’s Journal, and Address to the Saints in the British Islands,” Millennial Star, Feb. 1844, 4:147–148; Church of England, Parish Church of Ludlow, Shropshire, England, Bishop’s Transcripts, 1661–1853, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1754–1817, microfilm 1,593,872, British Isles Record Collection, FHL; Masthead, Millennial Star, Jan. 1844, 4:144; Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 Oct. 1843; “Ward, Thomas,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4:320.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

    British Isles Record Collection. FHL.

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

  4. [4]

    Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 Oct. 1843. Hedlock departed New York City aboard the Columbus and arrived in Liverpool on 30 September 1843.

  5. [5]

    “Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, p. 3, copy, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL; see also Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 23 May 1843.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

  6. [6]

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 23 May 1843; see also Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 3 Oct. 1843; and Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 Oct. 1843.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

  7. [7]

    Kay was baptized in England in August 1837. Before emigrating to Nauvoo, he served a mission in his home country and presided over the Herefordshire conference. (“Kay, William, jun.,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4:549; “Manchester Conference,” Millennial Star, Feb. 1843, 3:175.)

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  8. [8]

    Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to Brigham Young and Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], 1 and 9 Feb. 1844, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; William Kay, New Orleans, LA, to Reuben Hedlock et al., Liverpool, England, 9 Mar. 1844, in Millennial Star, Apr. 1844, 4:202.

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

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  9. [9]

    William Kay, New Orleans, LA, to Reuben Hedlock et al., Liverpool, England, 9 Mar. 1844, in Millennial Star, Apr. 1844, 4:202; JS, Journal, 13 Apr. 1844. Passengers aboard the Maid of Iowa experienced significant delays because the shaft of the waterwheel broke three times due to the vessel being overloaded. (James Jones, “near Nauvoo,” Hancock Co., IL, to Henry Jones, [England], 10 June 1844, typescript, Henry Jones, Correspondence, CHL.)

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

    Jones, Henry. Correspondence, 1844–1895. CHL.

  10. [10]

    JS, Journal, 13 Apr. 1844.

  11. [11]

    Brigham Young and Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, to Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, 3 May 1844, draft, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.

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

Page 6

curant and being sandy they were both plunged into Deep Water and Caried Down the streem mr [Thomas] Cartwright seeing the perilous situation of the his wife Leaped into the Water from which he and mr Pugmier was scarsly Saved mrs Cartwright was torn from the Grasp of her husband and mr Pugmirs by the violence of the Watter and Drouned the Body was not found until the Next day they were immideatly arrested for Man Slaughter and Confined in Chester Castle to await their trial. also a by the name of Turner [blank] Was drownded on the 20 of Nove 1843 [blank] in Sheffield he was not found for 3. days after his death he was caried down the Streem by the violence of the Curant after two candidates a corenors Inquest was held upon the Body verdic accidental Death By Drowning these two accidents caused muich Exitement through Briten some denied the faith and our Enimies insulted the by caling them Murderers &c [blank] on the 3rd. <​and 4th.​> of december I met with the saints in the Temperance Hall No 50 Notingham Court Road there were Present 3 7 15 Priests 5 3
mem Eld Pre [Priests] Tea Dea Emi <​Since La[s]t ​> Bap
the Western of the church Was reprasented by — 62 3 7 3 2 5 — 5
the Estern Branch Was Reprasented by Elder Luzey—— 138 3 7 2 1 — 10
the Wo[o]lwich Branch Reprasented by a priest by the name of B. Painter— 40 2 5 1 1 — —
Newbury Branch by — 28 3 4 1 — 1 1
total 4 Branches of the church—— 268 11 23 7 4 6 16
there had Been sad worke in the Conference many had been cut off (but Had not Denid the work <​faith​>) for trifling offences and made aplication to be admited Back again by Baptisem Which was granted the Saints had the poorest place to meet in in of any place I had vissited but while I was there they got a New place for Both Branches that was very Respetable [p. 6]
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Page 6

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 10–21 January 1844
ID #
1247
Total Pages
24
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Reuben Hedlock

Footnotes

  1. [28]

    Chester Castle was torn down in the late eighteenth century and rebuilt using designs by Thomas Harrison. Its grand entrance was patterned in the Doric order. The castle held the county jail and the assize court. Assizes were periodic judicial sessions held in English and Welsh counties. (Hughes, Stranger’s Handbook to Chester and Its Environs, 35; “Assize,” in Oxford English Dictionary, 1:512.)

    Hughes, Thomas. The Stranger’s Handbook to Chester and Its Environs; Containing a Short Sketch of Its History and Antiquities, a Descriptive Walk round the Walls, and a Visit to the Cathedral, Castle, and Eaton Hall. Chester, England: Thomas Catherall, 1856.

    Oxford English Dictionary. Compact ed. 2 vols. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971.

  2. [29]

    The priest who drowned was likely the same unnamed Latter-day Saint mentioned in the newspaper as having drowned while performing baptisms “in the river at Handsworth, Woodhouse, near Sheffield” sometime before early December 1843. (“Deplorable Fanaticism,” North Wales Chronicle [Bangor], 12 Dec. 1843, [3].)

    North Wales Chronicle. Bangor, Wales. 1827–.

  3. [30]

    TEXT: Hedlock started to write “Baptism” but stopped in the middle of the word and canceled it, writing “Drowning” instead.

  4. [31]

    Hedlock may have been thinking of the temperance hall located at 50 Tottenham Court Road, directly adjacent to Fitzroy Square and therefore near the home of church member James Atherton. Hedlock had earlier met elders Ward and Cairns there. (“London,” Northern Star, and Leeds [England] General Advertiser, 15 Oct. 1842, 1; London, 1843 [London: Chapman and Hall, 1844].)

    Northern Star, and Leeds General Advertiser. Leeds, England. 1837–1852.

    London, 1843. London: Chapman and Hall, 1843. Digital image at David Rumsey Map Collection, accessed 10 Sept. 2020, http://www.davidrumsey.com.

  5. [32]

    Major had previously represented the London branch of the church at a general conference held in Manchester in June 1843. (“Minutes of the Last General Conference, Held in England,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1843, 4:332.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [33]

    TEXT: “5” written over the dash.

  7. [34]

    A notice in the Millennial Star rendered this elder’s name as W. Lewzey. (Notice, Millennial Star, Apr. 1843, 3:208.)

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  8. [35]

    Brother Painter had been involved in the Woolwich branch since at least 1841. (Wilford Woodruff and W. Copeland, London, England, 20 Feb. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Millennial Star, Mar. 1841, 1:282.)

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  9. [36]

    As recently as the previous spring, London’s west branch had met at “50, William-street, Albany-street New Road, near Regent’s Park.” London’s east branch had met at “Castle-street Chapel, Saffron Hill, near the Sessions House, Clerkenwell.” One of these locations could have been “the poorest place” mentioned by Hedlock. (Notice, Millennial Star, Apr. 1843, 3:208.)

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

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