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Letter from Richard Hewitt, 24 May 1840

Source Note

Richard Hewitt

22 Sept. 1794–after 1850. Son of Richard Hewitt and Phebe. Moved to Adams Co., Ohio, by 1806. Married first Eddie Welch, 4 Aug. 1817, in Adams Co. Moved to Pleasant, Brown Co., Ohio, by 1820. Married second Jerusha Parker, 24 Feb. 1828, in Clermont Co., Ohio...

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, Letter,
Shawnee Prairie

Post-office community (no longer exists) in western Indiana. Branch of church existed in area, by May 1840.

More Info
, Fountain Co., IN, to JS,
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...

View Full Bio
, and others,
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...

More Info
[
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, 24 May 1840; handwriting probably of
Richard Hewitt

22 Sept. 1794–after 1850. Son of Richard Hewitt and Phebe. Moved to Adams Co., Ohio, by 1806. Married first Eddie Welch, 4 Aug. 1817, in Adams Co. Moved to Pleasant, Brown Co., Ohio, by 1820. Married second Jerusha Parker, 24 Feb. 1828, in Clermont Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal markings, dockets, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 10⅛ × 7¾ inches (26 × 20 cm) when folded. The paper was apparently intended for writing letters, as lines were printed only on the recto and verso of the first leaf and recto of the second leaf. The bifolium was trifolded in letter style and sealed with an adhesive wafer. The second leaf was torn at the wafer site when the letter was opened and is blank except for dockets and an address on the verso, which was probably written by
Richard Hewitt

22 Sept. 1794–after 1850. Son of Richard Hewitt and Phebe. Moved to Adams Co., Ohio, by 1806. Married first Eddie Welch, 4 Aug. 1817, in Adams Co. Moved to Pleasant, Brown Co., Ohio, by 1820. Married second Jerusha Parker, 24 Feb. 1828, in Clermont Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
. A postmark in unidentified handwriting is located above the address block. At a later time, the letter was trifolded for filing. Two dockets and a notation were inscribed on the wrapper.
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...

View Full Bio
docketed the letter, presumably within a few years of when it was received.
1

Willard Richards served as JS’s scribe in 1841 and then as JS’s private secretary from 1842 to 1844. (Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 454.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

A docket in the handwriting of
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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suggests that the letter was in institutional possession as early as 1843. The document was included in the Church Historian’s Office inventory circa 1904, and it was cataloged in 1973 by Church Historical Department staff in the JS Collection.
2

“Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, draft, 4; “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, 4, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 8; see also the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection in the CHL catalog.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Johnson, Jeffery O. Register of the Joseph Smith Collection in the Church Archives, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973.

The dockets and archival records suggest continuous institutional custody since reception.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Willard Richards served as JS’s scribe in 1841 and then as JS’s private secretary from 1842 to 1844. (Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 454.)

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

  2. [2]

    “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, draft, 4; “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, 4, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 8; see also the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection in the CHL catalog.

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

    Johnson, Jeffery O. Register of the Joseph Smith Collection in the Church Archives, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973.

Historical Introduction

On 24 May 1840,
Richard Hewitt

22 Sept. 1794–after 1850. Son of Richard Hewitt and Phebe. Moved to Adams Co., Ohio, by 1806. Married first Eddie Welch, 4 Aug. 1817, in Adams Co. Moved to Pleasant, Brown Co., Ohio, by 1820. Married second Jerusha Parker, 24 Feb. 1828, in Clermont Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
, a member of 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
living near
Shawnee Prairie

Post-office community (no longer exists) in western Indiana. Branch of church existed in area, by May 1840.

More Info
, Indiana, wrote a letter to JS,
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...

View Full Bio
, and the Saints 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. Having learned the previous day that the church was printing a newspaper in Nauvoo, Hewitt requested a subscription.
1

The first issue of the Times and Seasons was printed in July 1839 and reissued in November of the same year. The paper was devoted to publishing “all general information respecting the church.” (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 257–258; “Prospectus of the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:16.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

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

Hewitt also described the condition of the
branch

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...

View Glossary
of the church in his area and requested that an
elder

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
be assigned to set the branch “in order.” No letter of response from JS has been located, and it is unknown whether any ministerial assignments to Fountain County, Indiana, were made based on Hewitt’s request.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The first issue of the Times and Seasons was printed in July 1839 and reissued in November of the same year. The paper was devoted to publishing “all general information respecting the church.” (Ebenezer Robinson, “Items of Personal History of the Editor,” Return, May 1890, 257–258; “Prospectus of the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:16.)

    The Return. Davis City, IA, 1889–1891; Richmond, MO, 1892–1893; Davis City, 1895–1896; Denver, 1898; Independence, MO, 1899–1900.

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

Page [1]

Shawnee Prairie

Post-office community (no longer exists) in western Indiana. Branch of church existed in area, by May 1840.

More Info
Fountain County Indiania
May the 24th 1840
Deer Brothers and Sisters in the Lord these will Inform you that I and my Famley & the Brothers & sisters in this section ar[e] all well and we thank Hour Heavnley Father for the same non[e] of us have herd from
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...

More Info
for nearley 12 Mont[h]s and we ar[e] very anxious to hear from you all their.
1

Twelve months before Hewitt wrote this letter, church members were only just beginning to settle in the Commerce area. At a council of church members on 24 April 1839 in Quincy, Illinois, it was resolved that as many church members “as are able, move on to the north [to Commerce] as soon as they possibly can.” (Minutes, 24 Apr. 1839.)


I Reseved [received] a leter from
Elder

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
David Judy
2

Judy was a member of the Far West, Missouri, elders quorum in 1837 and 1838. (Minute Book 2, 31 Aug. 1838.)


Yesterday he livs near Mack[i]naw Illinois and he writ[e]s to me that thare is a paper Printed at
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...

More Info
by the Brothren and adviseses me to git it and I have wanted to git the papers if I Could [k]now how to came at them I have Enquired of Evry one that I thought knew any thing about them but never Could find out whether there was eny or not Printed yet till E[l]der Judy wrate [wrote] to me I [i]nquired of him By Leter about the papers and he Let me no [know] but he Did not let me no wath [what] the price was nor who was the Editor
3

The Times and Seasons was edited by Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith. A subscription to the monthly periodical cost one dollar per year, payable in advance. (Masthead, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:32.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

and I thought that I would wright to you and see if you would send them to me you can git a noledge [knowledge] of me from Wm. Boldin or Stanton
4

Probably Daniel Stanton, a high priest living in Quincy at the time. (Daniel Stanton, Affidavit, 18 Mar. 1840, Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives, Washington DC; Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives / Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to the Committee on Judiciary during the 27th Congress. Committee on the Judiciary, Petitions and Memorials, 1813–1968. Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789–2015. National Archives, Washington DC. The LDS records cited herein are housed in National Archives boxes 40 and 41 of Library of Congress boxes 139–144 in HR27A-G10.1.

Joseph Rose

View Full Bio

5

Rose was born 25 February 1792 in Orange, New York. (“Members of the Quorum When Organized and up to the Year 1852,” Second Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 1, p. 21, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Seventies Quorum Records, 1844–1975. CHL. CR 499.

Dayton
6

Probably Hiram Dayton, who was born 1 November 1799 in Herkimer, New York, and was living in Commerce at the time Hewitt wrote this letter. (Hiram Dayton, “The Sufferings and Loss of Property of Hiram Dayton and Family,” 26 May 1879, Historian’s Office, History of Persecutions, 1879–1880, CHL; Temple Records Index Bureau, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 61.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian's Office. History of Persecutions, 1879–1880. CHL.

Temple Records Index Bureau of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 10 December 1845 to 8 February 1846. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1974.

Uriah C[u]rtis
7

Curtis was born 5 May 1805 in Steventown, New York, and was baptized on 7 July 1831 by Solomon Hancock in Fountain County. (“Died,” Deseret News [Salt Lake City], 4 Nov. 1863, 124.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

and others the
Branch

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...

View Glossary
of 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
here is in a coald state at this time it Reminds me of Peter and the wrest when they went a fishing
8

See John 21:1–3.


[p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Richard Hewitt, 24 May 1840
ID #
543
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:284–286
Handwriting on This Page
  • Richard Hewitt

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Twelve months before Hewitt wrote this letter, church members were only just beginning to settle in the Commerce area. At a council of church members on 24 April 1839 in Quincy, Illinois, it was resolved that as many church members “as are able, move on to the north [to Commerce] as soon as they possibly can.” (Minutes, 24 Apr. 1839.)

  2. [2]

    Judy was a member of the Far West, Missouri, elders quorum in 1837 and 1838. (Minute Book 2, 31 Aug. 1838.)

  3. [3]

    The Times and Seasons was edited by Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith. A subscription to the monthly periodical cost one dollar per year, payable in advance. (Masthead, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:32.)

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

  4. [4]

    Probably Daniel Stanton, a high priest living in Quincy at the time. (Daniel Stanton, Affidavit, 18 Mar. 1840, Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives, Washington DC; Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831.)

    Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives / Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to the Committee on Judiciary during the 27th Congress. Committee on the Judiciary, Petitions and Memorials, 1813–1968. Record Group 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789–2015. National Archives, Washington DC. The LDS records cited herein are housed in National Archives boxes 40 and 41 of Library of Congress boxes 139–144 in HR27A-G10.1.

  5. [5]

    Rose was born 25 February 1792 in Orange, New York. (“Members of the Quorum When Organized and up to the Year 1852,” Second Quorum of Seventies, Records, vol. 1, p. 21, in Seventies Quorum Records, CHL.)

    Seventies Quorum Records, 1844–1975. CHL. CR 499.

  6. [6]

    Probably Hiram Dayton, who was born 1 November 1799 in Herkimer, New York, and was living in Commerce at the time Hewitt wrote this letter. (Hiram Dayton, “The Sufferings and Loss of Property of Hiram Dayton and Family,” 26 May 1879, Historian’s Office, History of Persecutions, 1879–1880, CHL; Temple Records Index Bureau, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 61.)

    Historian's Office. History of Persecutions, 1879–1880. CHL.

    Temple Records Index Bureau of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 10 December 1845 to 8 February 1846. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1974.

  7. [7]

    Curtis was born 5 May 1805 in Steventown, New York, and was baptized on 7 July 1831 by Solomon Hancock in Fountain County. (“Died,” Deseret News [Salt Lake City], 4 Nov. 1863, 124.)

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  8. [8]

    See John 21:1–3.

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