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Letter to Alfred Randall and Others, 15 March 1844

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , and two unidentified persons, 15 Mar. 1844; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket, notation, and archival marking.
Single leaf measuring 6⅞ × 7⅝ inches (17 × 19 cm). The leaf was irregularly cut on the bottom and on the right side, suggesting that it was part of a larger leaf removed from a book or bifolium. The letters “H W W M” were added to the verso at an unknown time. The leaf was trifolded twice in letter style and later refolded and docketed for filing. There is a tear on the top edge of the document, resulting in the loss of the surname of the first recipient. The letter’s docket uses ’s name instead of the first recipient’s name, suggesting that the tear happened before it was docketed. The document has undergone conservation.
The letter was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. A notation “A.J” was added later by Andrew Jenson, who served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. The letter also was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 this letter had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, its notation, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [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. [2]

    Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–52, 55.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  3. [3]

    “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.

  4. [4]

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

Historical Introduction

On 15 March 1844, JS wrote a letter from , Illinois, to four men requesting their assistance in clarifying who owned a 160-acre tract of land. JS received a deed for this property—which lay a mile and a half east of Nauvoo’s city limits—from Joshua Moore on 24 July 1843. Prior to this, JS sold 100 acres of the tract to in June 1843. Later, in August 1843, JS sold the remaining 60 acres to Benjamin McGinness. At some point, JS apparently discovered that the ownership of this land was disputed and made an effort to resolve the matter.
In the letter, JS asked the men if they would relinquish their claims to the 160 acres in exchange for other property so that he could have undisputed ownership and be able to transfer the title to and McGinness. The letter was apparently transmitted within a day, because on 16 March two of the letter’s recipients— and —received promissory notes from JS in which he agreed to pay them for their interests in the property. The identities of the other two recipients are unclear.
The original letter JS sent is featured here. No responses to JS’s letter from the various property owners are extant.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. M, pp. 9–10, 24 July 1843, microfilm 954,598, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. The property in question was the northeast quarter of section 33 in Township 7 North, Range 8 West. Although the deed from Moore suggested the land was a gift, JS paid him $300 and gave him a promissory note for $420 on 24 July 1843. JS was still trying to settle his account with Moore in May 1844. (Clayton, Journal, 13 June 1843; 24 July 1843; 1–2 May 1844; JS to Joshua Moore, Promissory Note, Nauvoo, IL, 2 May 1844, photocopy, CHL.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  2. [2]

    Trustees Land Book B, 22 June 1843, 20; Clayton, Journal, 12–13 June and 11 July 1843; JS to Abraham Hoagland, Promissory Note, Nauvoo, IL, 11 July 1843, JS Collection, CHL.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Clayton, Journal, 31 July and 3 Aug. 1843; Trustees Land Book B, 3 Aug. 1843, 21.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  4. [4]

    Clayton, Journal, 16 Mar. 1844; JS to Alfred Randall, Promissory Note, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Mar. 1844; JS to James Davis, Promissory Note, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Mar. 1844–A; JS to James Davis, Promissory Note, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Mar. 1844–B, JS Collection, CHL. The promissory note to Randall specified that he would be paid $98.25 “payable in Brick, neat stock or such other property as the Trustee can pay and will suit said Randle.” Davis received two promissory notes from JS. One committed JS to pay $125 “payable in Brick, neat stock or other property,” while the other required that he pay Davis $25 in cash “between this date and next fall.”

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  5. [5]

    The third addressee was a Brother Clark. William Clayton’s journal makes no mention of a Clark being involved in the 16 March settlement for the northeast quarter of section 33, and no promissory note to such a person has been located, suggesting that Clark may not have agreed to JS’s offer. The letter’s fourth recipient cannot be identified because a tear in the paper has removed the last name. Although the abbreviation for William is clearly visible before the tear, Clayton recorded making a settlement on 16 March with a John Gribble regarding his share in the northeast quarter of section 33. There is also a pay order from that same day requesting Abraham Hoagland to pay John Gribble $200. One potential explanation is that the letter could have mistakenly been addressed to William Gribble, who also lived in Nauvoo. (Clayton, Journal, 16 Mar. 1844; JS to Abraham Hoagland for John Gribble, Pay Order, Nauvoo, IL, 16 Mar. 1844, JS Collection [Supplement], CHL; Nauvoo Second Ward Census, [26]; Nauvoo Fourth Ward Census, [25], Nauvoo Stake, Ward Census, 1842, CHL.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

    Nauvoo Stake. Ward Census, 1842. CHL.

Page [1]

To Brothers Wm [illegible], , Clark and
Dr Brethren:—
I send this note this morning to solicit you on behalf of brother<​s​> and [Benjamin] Mcginness You know how I have been used in regard to the land of which you hold the Tax title, the whole circumstances are before you. If you will relinquish your claim and transfer your title to me so that these men can have immediate possession I will satisfy you with any amount of other property you may wish, I will let you have till you are satisfied. and will moreover bless you in the name of the Lord and do you all the good I can
I remain your obedient servant and brother—
Joseph Smith—
March 15— 1844 [foot of page cut] [p. [1]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Alfred Randall and Others, 15 March 1844
ID #
1589
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: Page torn.

  2. [2]

    A tax title was a title to land based on a sale of the property to pay delinquent taxes. (See An Act Supplemental to an Act, Entitled “An Act to Provide for Raising a Revenue,” [19 Jan. 1829], Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois [1828–1829], p. 123, sec. 11.)

    The Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois, Enacted at the Fifth General Assembly, at Their Session Held at Vandalia, Commencing on the Fourth Day of December, 1826, and Ending the Nineteenth of February, 1827. Vandalia, IL: Robert Blackwell, 1827.

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