
John C. Bennett Engraving, Oliver Pelton, 1842; from a drawing by Alvan Clark, 1842. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City.)
- Gender
- Male
Bennett, John Cook
Biography
3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married first Mary A. Barker, 9 Jan. 1826, at Marietta. Joined Pickaway Masonic Lodge, ca. 1827, in Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio. Methodist; later affiliated with Christian Disciple (Campbellite) faith. Moved to Wheeling, Ohio Co., Virginia (later in West Virginia), 1831. Charged with lying and other misconduct by Pickaway Masonic Lodge, 1834. Moved to Fairfield, Wayne Co., Illinois, 1838. Commissioned brigadier general in Second Division in Illinois militia, 1839. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 1840, at Nauvoo. Helped draft and secure Nauvoo charter, 1840. Served as quartermaster general in Illinois militia, 1840–1842. Elected major general and inspector general in Nauvoo Legion, Feb. 1841. Served as assistant president in First Presidency, 1841–1842; mayor of Nauvoo, 1841–1842; chancellor of University of Nauvoo, 1841–1842; and master in chancery of Hancock Co., 1841–1842. Grand Secretary of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge, 1841–1842. Excommunicated for adultery, 11 May 1842. Cashiered from Nauvoo Legion, June 1842. Expelled from Nauvoo Masonic Lodge, 1842. Divorce from wife finalized, Oct. 1842. After disaffection from church, publicly accused JS of committing adultery and planning the 6 May 1842 attempt to kill former Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs. Urged Missouri and Illinois officials to renew 1838 charge of treason against JS, which resulted in JS’s arrest in June 1843. Moved back to Fairfield, before Mar. 1843. Married second Sarah Ryder, 28 Mar. 1843, at Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. Briefly associated with George M. Hinkle’s movement, The Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife, 1843, at Moscow, Muscatine Co., Iowa Territory; with Sidney Rigdon’s movement, 1844, at Nauvoo; and with James J. Strang’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Voree, Racine Co., Wisconsin, as general-in-chief, 1846. Excommunicated from Strangite movement, 1847. Moved to Plymouth, 1847; to Great Falls, Strafford Co., New Hampshire, 1851; to Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, 1853; and to Polk City, Polk Co., 1856. Died at Polk City.
Links
- History Draft [1 January–31 December 1840]
- History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
- John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847
- Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 August 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 July 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 March 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 October 1842
- Times and Seasons, 1 September 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 April 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 August 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 February 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 March 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 October 1842
- Times and Seasons, 15 September 1842
- Account of Meeting and Discourse, 18 June 1842, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
- Account of Meeting, 15 July 1842
- Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 December 1840
- Affidavit, 16 November 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Affidavit, 29 November 1841
- Amendment from Wilson Law, 22 February 1841
- Appendix 1: Missouri Extradition Attempt, 1842–1843, Selected Documents, Introduction
- Appendix 2: Council of Fifty, Minutes, 27 February 1845
- Appendix: “Outrageous Theft,” 15 February 1843 [ State of Illinois v. Olney ]
- Appointment as Trustee, 2 February 1841
- Bill from Daniel H. Wells, 22 February 1841
- Bill from John P. Greene, 19 November 1841
- Bill to Incorporate the Church, 14 December 1840
- Bond to James Sloan, 11 February 1841
- Commission from Thomas Carlin, 10 March 1841
- Complaint, 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]
- Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845
- Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845
- Deed from Daniel H. and Eliza Robison Wells, 5 May 1841
- Deed to Samuel H. B. Smith, 19 April 1841
- Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards
- Discourse, 29 August 1842, as Reported by William Clayton
- Discourse, 5 January 1841, as Reported by William Clayton
- Docket Entry, between 25 October and circa 29 November 1841 [ State of Illinois v. Eagle ]
- Docket Entry, circa 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]
- Docket Entry, circa 16 December 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Docket Entry, circa 9 November 1841 [ City of Nauvoo v. Markham ]
- Doctrine and Covenants, 1844
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 10 August 1841
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 2 August 1842
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 20 December 1841
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 22–27 February 1842
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 25 January 1842
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 25 May 1841
- General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 4 May 1841
- History Draft [1 January–30 June 1842]
- History Draft [1 July–31 December 1842]
- History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda
- History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
- History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
- History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]
- Index to Nauvoo City Council Minute Book–B
- Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. Bostwick
- Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A
- Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. Markham
- Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. Rhodes , City of Nauvoo v. Walker , and City of Nauvoo v. McGraw
- Introduction to Extradition of JS for Accessory to Assault
- Introduction to Robinson v. C. Granger
- Introduction to State of Illinois v. Eagle
- Invitation to Nauvoo Legion Officers and Wives, 28 April 1842
- John Taylor, Martyrdom Account
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843
- Journal, December 1841–December 1842
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 2, 10 March 1843–14 July 1843
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 3, 15 July 1843–29 February 1844
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 4, 1 March–22 June 1844
- Letter from Aldrich & Chittenden, 28 July 1842
- Letter from B. F. Withers, 28 December 1841
- Letter from Calvin A. Warren, 13 July 1842
- Letter from Fayette Mace, 7 October 1843
- Letter from George Bachman, 21 January 1843
- Letter from George J. Adams and David Rogers, 11 October 1842
- Letter from George Miller, 4 September 1842
- Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 March 1843
- Letter from James Adams, 14 March 1843
- Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 1 September 1842
- Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 10 April 1843
- Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 August 1842
- Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 20 February 1843
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 15 August 1840
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 30 July 1840
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 8 March 1842
- Letter from John E. Page, 15 August 1842
- Letter from John E. Page, 8 August 1842
- Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 1 October 1842
- Letter from John V. Curtis, 27 November 1843
- Letter from Joseph Wood, 14 March 1843
- Letter from Justin Butterfield, 27 March 1843
- Letter from Lester Brooks, 7 November 1842
- Letter from Lorenzo D. Wasson, 30 July 1842
- Letter from Osee Welch, 25 October 1843
- Letter from Robert D. and Sarah Phinney Foster, circa 16 August 1842
- Letter from Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843
- Letter from Thomas Carlin, 27 July 1842
- Letter from Thomas Carlin, 30 June 1842
- Letter from Thomas Rawcliff, 24 May 1843
- Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842
- Letter from William Smith, 28 October 1843
- Letter to Editor, circa 15 February 1843
- Letter to Editors, 6 May 1841
- Letter to Emma Smith, 16 August 1842
- Letter to Friends in Illinois, 20 December 1841
- Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 17 March 1843
- Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 30 June 1842
- Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 September 1842
- Letter to James Sloan, 17 May 1842
- Letter to John C. Bennett, 7 March 1842
- Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 August 1840
- Letter to Justin Butterfield, 16 January 1843
- Letter to Justin Butterfield, 18 March 1843
- Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 December 1840
- Letter to Richard S. Blennerhassett, 17 March 1843
- Letter to Sidney Rigdon, 27 March 1843
- Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842
- Letter to the Church, 23 June 1842
- Letterbook 2
- Letters from Amasa Bonney and John C. Bennett, 16 May 1842
- Letters from John C. Bennett and James Sloan, 17 May 1842
- Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845
- Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845
- Military Appointment of James Arlington Bennet, 12 April 1842
- Minutes and Discourse, 31 August 1842
- Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 October 1840
- Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1842
- Minutes and Discourses, 6–8 April 1843
- Minutes and Discourses, 6–9 April 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock
- Minutes and Ordinance, Nauvoo Legion, 3 August 1842
- Minutes and Ordinance, Nauvoo Legion, 3 June 1842
- Minutes, 1 January 1842, Draft
- Minutes, 1 March 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 1 May 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 1 November 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]
- Minutes, 12 April 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 12 February 1842
- Minutes, 12 July 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 12 March 1842
- Minutes, 13 November 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 14 May 1842
- Minutes, 15 February 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 15 January 1842, Draft
- Minutes, 15 March 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 15–16 March 1842
- Minutes, 16 October 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 17–18 February 1842
- Minutes, 18 December 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 19 May 1842
- Minutes, 20 August 1842
- Minutes, 20 November 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 21 May 1841, Draft–A
- Minutes, 21 May 1841, Draft–B
- Minutes, 22 February 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 22 January 1842, Draft
- Minutes, 22 July 1842, as Published by Times and Seasons
- Minutes, 23 October 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 26 April 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 27 November 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 29 March 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 3 February 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 30 October 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 4 December 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 4 September 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 4 February 1841
- Minutes, 5 March 1842
- Minutes, 6 November 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 6–9 October 1843
- Minutes, 7–11 April 1841
- Minutes, 8 February 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 8 March 1841, Draft
- Minutes, 9 April 1842
- Minutes, Nauvoo Legion, 2 March 1841
- Minutes, Nauvoo Legion, 20 February 1841
- Minutes, Nauvoo Legion, 9 March 1841
- Miscellaneous Notes [25–28 June 1844, 1843]
- Motion from William Law, 19 May 1842
- Motion, 5 March 1842–A
- Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 3 February 1841–8 February 1845
- Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841
- Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, January–November 1842
- Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book
- Notice, 11 May 1842
- Notice, circa 19 May 1842
- Oaths from Nauvoo City Officers, 3 and 8 February 1841
- Oaths from Nauvoo City Officers, 30 October, 1 and 13 November 1841
- Ordinance, 10 June 1844
- Ordinance, 13 November 1841–A
- Ordinance, 13 November 1841–B
- Ordinance, 14 May 1842–B
- Ordinance, 14 May 1842–C
- Ordinance, 17 February 1842
- Ordinance, 17 February 1842, Copy
- Ordinance, 22 April 1842–A
- Ordinance, 22 April 1842–B
- Ordinance, 22 April 1842–C
- Ordinance, 22 April 1842–D
- Ordinance, 27 November 1841
- Ordinance, 5 March 1842
- Ordinance, 9 April 1842
- Ordinance, Nauvoo Legion, 3 June 1842
- Petition from Albert P. Rockwood and Others, 11 August 1841
- Petition from Charles C. Rich and Others, 12 February 1841
- Petition from George Fidler and Others, circa 4 December 1841
- Petition from George W. Hickerson and Others, 30 December 1841
- Petition from Hezekiah Peck and Others, 7 April 1842
- Petition from Hyrum Smith, 14 January 1842
- Petition from James Sloan, 6 November 1841
- Petition from John Burscough and Others, 29 December 1841
- Petition from John C. Annis, 30 April 1841
- Petition from Joseph Fisher and Others, 15 January 1842
- Petition from Thomas Rich and Others, 23 February 1842
- Poll Record, Nauvoo Legion, 13 August 1842
- Proclamation, 15 January 1841
- Receipt, 30 November 1841 [ State of Illinois v. Eagle ]
- Remarks, 25 November 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
- Report from William Clayton, 5 November 1842
- Report of Committee, 5 February 1841
- Report of Committee, circa 8 February 1841
- Report of Nauvoo Legion General Court-Martial, 30 November 1841
- Resignation from John C. Bennett, 17 May 1842
- Resignation from Sidney Rigdon, 1 November 1841
- Resolution, 12 March 1842–B
- Resolution, 17 February 1842–A
- Resolution, 17 February 1842–B
- Resolution, 19 May 1842–A
- Resolution, 19 May 1842–C
- Resolution, 22 April 1842
- Resolution, 22 February 1841–A
- Resolution, 22 February 1841–B
- Resolution, 9 April 1842
- Revelation, 19 January 1841 [D&C 124]
- Rules of Order for Nauvoo City Council, 22 January 1842
- Subpoena, 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]
- Subpoena, 13 December 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Subpoena, 16 December 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Summons, 16 November 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Summons, 21 December 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- The Book of the Law of the Lord
- Venire Facias, 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]
- Venire Facias, 16 November 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Verdict, 16 December 1841 [ Robinson v. C. Granger ]
- Voting Record, 4 December 1841
- Warrant, 10 March 1842 [ City of Nauvoo v. Davis for Slander of JS–A ]