Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842

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Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842
Source Note

JS, Revocation of Power of Attorney for
Isaac Galland
15 May 1791–27 Sept. 1858. Merchant, postmaster, land speculator, doctor. Born at Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Matthew Galland and Hannah Fenno. Married first Nancy Harris, 22 Mar. 1811, in Madison Co., Ohio. Married second Margaret Knight, by 1816....
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,
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, 18 Jan. 1842; sealed by JS; attested by
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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. Featured version copied 31 Jan. 1842 in Hancock County Bonds and Mortgages, vol. 1, p. 194; handwriting of
Chauncey Robison
27 Mar. 1805–4 Nov. 1891. Clerk, postmaster, farmer. Born in Oneida Co., New York. Son of Charles Robison and Jerusha Rebecca Kellogg. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, 1829. Registrar in land office in Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois. Moved to Carthage, Hancock...
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; Hancock County Courthouse, Carthage, IL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.

Historical Introduction
On 18 January 1842 JS revoked the power of attorney he had given to
Isaac Galland
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. The power of attorney—which named both Galland and
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...
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as attorneys—was drafted on 1 February 1841 and was filed with Justice of the Peace
Daniel H. Wells
27 Oct. 1814–24 Mar. 1891. Farmer, teacher, ferry operator, lumber merchant, manager of nail factory, politician. Born in Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, ca. 1832. Moved to ...
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five days later.
1
JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
Galland and Hyrum Smith then traveled to the eastern
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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in their role as
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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agents
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...
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to settle debts the church owed to
Horace Hotchkiss
15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...
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,
John Gillet
2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...
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, and
Smith Tuttle
12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...
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for land in
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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.
2
See Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.
In addition to being commissioned to settle debts, Galland and Smith were charged “to sell stock in the
Nauvoo
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boarding
House
Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...
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and obtain subscriptions and donations for building the ‘
House of the Lord
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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’” in Nauvoo, Illinois.
3
Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841.

Galland
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and
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...
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apparently met with
Hotchkiss
15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...
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to discuss repayment, soon after which Smith returned to
Nauvoo
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. Though Galland was expected to complete the assignment to repay Hotchkiss,
Gillet
2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...
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, and
Tuttle
12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...
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, in August 1841 JS learned from Hotchkiss that Galland had made no further efforts to transact business with the church’s creditors.
4
Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 24 July 1841.
Because Galland did not correspond with JS before he left the East or during the trip, JS was uncertain of his whereabouts until after he returned home to nearby
Keokuk
Located near confluence of Mississippi and Des Moines rivers. First settled, 1820. Fur trading post established, 1828. Named Keokuk, 1829, after Sac Indian chief, who later visited JS in Nauvoo, 1841. Platted 1837. Incorporated 1847. Population in 1841 about...
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, Iowa Territory. Galland did not report to JS when he returned, but JS learned of his arrival and on 10 December 1841 wrote a nonextant letter to Galland, apparently urging the agent to visit him in Nauvoo.
5
Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 Dec. 1841.
Galland promised to come to Nauvoo, but by mid-January he had not done so. JS wrote again on 17 January 1842, requesting money.
6
Letter to Isaac Galland, 17 Jan. 1842.
The next day Galland responded tersely, noting his lack of funds and assuring JS that he would visit Nauvoo when he completed undisclosed business dealings in Keokuk.
7
Letter from Isaac Galland, 18 Jan. 1842.
JS apparently received this letter, likely delivered by the same messenger who carried his 17 January letter to Galland, the same day and determined that the best course of action was to revoke the power of attorney giving Galland authority to act for JS personally and as the church’s trustee.

The legal document revoking
Galland
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’s authority was created to fulfill the state requirement that a power of attorney “be revoked by a deed, duly acknowledged and proven, and recorded.”
8
An Act concerning Conveyances of Real Property [31 Jan. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 153, sec. 16.
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.
It was likely inscribed by someone other than JS, after which JS signed it and affixed a seal. JS’s clerk
Willard Richards
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attested it. The original document is apparently not extant, but it was published in the 15 January 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons.
9
JS, “Special Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:667. As with several other issues, this issue was published several days after the date on its masthead.
Church members sustained the revocation during a
conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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in
Nauvoo
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on 20 January 1842.
10
JS History, vol. C-1, 1270.
On 31 January the document was copied into a record book at the Hancock County Courthouse in
Carthage
Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...
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, Illinois, and that copy is featured here.
Footnotes
[1]
JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
[2]
See Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.
[3]
Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841.
[4]
Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 24 July 1841.
[5]
Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 Dec. 1841.
[6]
Letter to Isaac Galland, 17 Jan. 1842.
[7]
Letter from Isaac Galland, 18 Jan. 1842.
[8]
An Act concerning Conveyances of Real Property [31 Jan. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 153, sec. 16.
The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.
[9]
JS, “Special Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:667. As with several other issues, this issue was published several days after the date on its masthead.
[10]
JS History, vol. C-1, 1270.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842 Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842, as Published in Times and Seasons History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 194
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189

J Smith Revocation of Attorney

Recorded 31 Jany 1842
1
TEXT: The county recorder, Chauncey Robison, added the notations on this line and the preceding line in the left margin when copying the revocation into the bonds and mortgages book; “189” is an identification number.

Know all Men by These Presents that <whereas> I Joseph Smith of the County of
Hancock
Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...
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and State of
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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as trustee in trust for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
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
2
During a church conference on 30 January 1841, JS was elected as the “sole trustee-in-trust” for the church, which made him liable for all financial assets of the church in Illinois. The appointment was recorded at the Hancock County Courthouse in Carthage on 8 February 1841. (An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], pp. 148–149, sec. 3; JS History, vol. C-1, 1159; Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
in and by my <Letter of> attorney bearing date on or about the 15th of Feb. 1841 did constitute and appoint Dr.
Isaac Galland
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of
Lee County
First permanent settlement established, 1820. Organized 1837. Population in 1838 about 2,800; in 1840 about 6,100; in 1844 about 9,800; and in 1846 about 13,000. Following expulsion from Missouri, 1838–1839, many Saints found refuge in eastern Iowa Territory...
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I. T. [Iowa Territory] my attorney to transact business business in general for Said Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
3
JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841.
and whereas as appears by said letter; and whereas I the said Joseph Smith, for myself, on or about the date above mentioned, in and by my letter of attorney did constitute and appoint the Said
Dr. Galland
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, my attorney to transact <certain> business for myself individually, as appears by said Letter— Now Know ye, that I the said Joseph Smith, for myself, and also as Trustee in trust, for said Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, have revoked countermanded, annulled and made void, and by these Presents do revoke, annul, countermand, and make void the Said Letters of Attorney, and all power and authority thereby given or intended to be given to the said Dr
Isaac Galland
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; and also, all other Letters or instruments of writing, whatsoever, if any such there are authorizing the said
Dr. Galland
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to act as
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...
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or transact any business for myself or Said Church, are revoked, countermanded, annulled, and made void by these presents, and are of no power or virtue in law whatsoever, and will not be so acknowledged by me.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at the City of
Nauvoo
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, County of Hancock, and State of Illinois this 18th day of Jan. AD 1842

Joseph Smith L.S.
4
“L.S.” is an abbreviation of locus sigilli, which is Latin for “location of the seal.”

President
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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and Sole trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Attest

W[illard] Richards
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[p. 194]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 194
Document Information
Footnotes
[1]
TEXT: The county recorder, Chauncey Robison, added the notations on this line and the preceding line in the left margin when copying the revocation into the bonds and mortgages book; “189” is an identification number.
[2]
During a church conference on 30 January 1841, JS was elected as the “sole trustee-in-trust” for the church, which made him liable for all financial assets of the church in Illinois. The appointment was recorded at the Hancock County Courthouse in Carthage on 8 February 1841. (An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], pp. 148–149, sec. 3; JS History, vol. C-1, 1159; Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.)
Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.
[3]
JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Authorization for Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland, 15 Feb. 1841.
[4]
“L.S.” is an abbreviation of locus sigilli, which is Latin for “location of the seal.”