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Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841

Source Note

JS, Letter,
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, to
Edward Hunter

22 June 1793–16 Oct. 1883. Farmer, currier, surveyor, merchant. Born at Newtown Township, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Edward Hunter and Hannah Maris. Volunteer cavalryman in Delaware Co. militia, 1822–1829. Served as Delaware Co. commissioner. Moved...

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,
West Nantmeal

Sits at headwaters of east branch of Brandywine River. Settled by Welsh immigrants, ca. 1700. Split into West and East Nantmeal, 1739. Divided again, 1789. Population in 1820 about 1,400. Brandywine branch of church established in town, by July 1840.

More Info
, Chester Co., PA, 21 Dec. [1841]; handwriting of
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...

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; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notations, docket, redactions, and archival marking.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with an adhesive wafer, and postmarked. The residue of a wafer seal and a tear from opening the letter appear on the recto and verso of the second leaf. The letter was later refolded for filing. The document has undergone some conservation.
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 document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904.
2

“Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, [6], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


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).
3

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


The document’s early docket as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 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]

    “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, [6], 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

On 21 December 1841 JS wrote from
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, to respond to
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...

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agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

View Glossary
Edward Hunter

22 June 1793–16 Oct. 1883. Farmer, currier, surveyor, merchant. Born at Newtown Township, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Edward Hunter and Hannah Maris. Volunteer cavalryman in Delaware Co. militia, 1822–1829. Served as Delaware Co. commissioner. Moved...

View Full Bio
in
West Nantmeal

Sits at headwaters of east branch of Brandywine River. Settled by Welsh immigrants, ca. 1700. Split into West and East Nantmeal, 1739. Divided again, 1789. Population in 1820 about 1,400. Brandywine branch of church established in town, by July 1840.

More Info
, Pennsylvania, concerning property and business matters in Nauvoo and
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...

More Info
. In late summer or early fall, Hunter had returned from Nauvoo to his native Pennsylvania to settle his own financial affairs, purchase goods for JS, and conduct business on behalf of Margaret Smith, a recent convert from Pennsylvania who had relocated to Nauvoo. While there, Hunter sent a letter to JS dated 27 October 1841.
1

Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.


In his response, featured below, JS addressed concerns about a power of attorney Margaret Smith had supplied to Hunter in order to settle her affairs in Pennsylvania, acknowledged the receipt of goods that he had sent to Nauvoo, informed him about land he had purchased on his behalf near Nauvoo, and advised him on the prospect of building mills in Nauvoo.
JS dictated his letter of reply to
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...

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on 21 December, and the letter was sent by the
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
post office, postmarked 25 December. JS was concerned this letter would not reach
Hunter

22 June 1793–16 Oct. 1883. Farmer, currier, surveyor, merchant. Born at Newtown Township, Delaware Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Edward Hunter and Hannah Maris. Volunteer cavalryman in Delaware Co. militia, 1822–1829. Served as Delaware Co. commissioner. Moved...

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, so on 5 January he wrote another letter to Hunter with very similar details.
2

Letter to Edward Hunter, 5 Jan. 1842.


The 21 December letter, featured here, was returned to the church’s custody, so it is likely Hunter received it and at some point returned it to JS or the church. However, it is uncertain when he received it. He wrote to JS on 10 February 1842, but it is unclear whether he was responding to both letters or solely to JS’s 5 January letter at that time.
3

Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842. Hunter mentions receiving JS’s 5 January 1842 letter, but not this one.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.

  2. [2]

    Letter to Edward Hunter, 5 Jan. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842. Hunter mentions receiving JS’s 5 January 1842 letter, but not this one.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [3]

I am happy to hear of your welfare & the health of your family.
15

Hunter was married to Ann Standley Hunter. They did not have any living children at this time. (Hunter, Edward Hunter, 314, 329.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Hunter, William E. Edward Hunter: Faithful Steward. [Salt Lake City]: Mrs. William E. Hunter, 1970.

& also to info[r]m you that the health of
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
has much improved since last Summer. & considering the very mild state of the weather most of the time, it is excellent.
Myself & family are in health. & our enemies are at peace with us as much as can be expected in this generation, Should any thing new occur which may be for our advantage you will please write & I will do the same.
I remain, Yours in the Gospel of crist
Joseph Smith
W[illard] 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
scribe
P.S. You will endeavor to have the money in your Letter of attorny from Mrs Smith, ready to furnish a fresh supply of goods early in the Spring.
J S
W R

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
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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841
ID #
1960
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:38–41
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [15]

    Hunter was married to Ann Standley Hunter. They did not have any living children at this time. (Hunter, Edward Hunter, 314, 329.)

    Hunter, William E. Edward Hunter: Faithful Steward. [Salt Lake City]: Mrs. William E. Hunter, 1970.

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