Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 13 February 1844

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Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 13 February 1844
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....
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, Hancock Co., IL, to
Joseph L. Heywood,
1 Aug. 1815–16 Oct. 1910. Merchant, postmaster, U.S. marshal, hatter, farmer, lawyer. Born in Grafton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of Benjamin Heywood and Hannah R. Leland. Moved to Illinois, spring 1838. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, fall 1839...
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, [
Quincy
Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...
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, Adams Co., IL], 13 Feb. 1844. Featured version copied [ca. 13 Feb. 1844]; handwriting of
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets, notation, and archival marking.

Bifolium measuring 9⅞ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was inscribed on the recto and verso of the first leaf. The letter was folded for filing and docketed.

The letter was docketed by
William Clayton
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, who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844.
1
JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.
Comprehensive Works Cited
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.
The document was also docketed by
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859.
2
“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.
The notation “A. J” was apparently added by a clerk or secretary for Andrew Jenson, who served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
3
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.
The letter was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
4
“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.
By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
5
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
The letter’s early dockets and notation, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.
Footnotes
[1]
JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.
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.
[2]
“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.
[3]
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.
[4]
“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.
[5]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
On 13 February 1844, JS wrote a letter 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
Joseph L. Heywood,
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in
Quincy
Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...
More Info
, Illinois, declining his invitation to visit Quincy. Heywood had extended that invitation in a 7 February letter, in which he also informed JS about the prosperity of the Quincy
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...
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.
1
See Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 7 Feb. 1844.
In his reply to Heywood, JS explained that although he would like to visit Quincy, it would be imprudent for him to do so. Not only was he very busy but he also thought it best to avoid hostile communities between Nauvoo and Quincy because of the possibility of another attempt to convey him to
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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.

JS’s original letter to
Heywood
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, is apparently not extant. A docket written by
William Clayton
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on the version featured here indicates that it is a “Copy,” but the quality of inscription suggests that it is a draft rather than a fair copy of the finished letter. The letter was presumably sent and received, but there is no known response.
Footnotes
[1]
See Letter from Joseph L. Heywood, 7 Feb. 1844.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 13 February 1844 History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”
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Editorial Title
Letter to Joseph L. Heywood, 13 February 1844
ID #
1269
Total Pages
4
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