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Law, William

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Gender: Male

Law, William

Biography

8 Sept. 1809

Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Registration of Deaths, ca. 1862–1907, vol. 1, p. 171, microfilm 1,306,209, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Matl and Matl, City of Shullsburg, 18.

Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Matl, Glenn J., and Fran H. Matl, comp. City of Shullsburg Indexed Cemetery Records. Lafeyette Co., WI: No publisher, 1985.

–12/19 Jan. 1892.

Lafayette Co.,WI, County Court, Probate Records, 1838–1986, file no. 1365, microfilm 1,468,310, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Matl and Matl, City of Shullsburg, 18; Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Registration of Deaths, ca. 1862–1907, vol. 1, p. 171, microfilm 1,306,209, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Matl, Glenn J., and Fran H. Matl, comp. City of Shullsburg Indexed Cemetery Records. Lafeyette Co., WI: No publisher, 1985.

Merchant, millwright, physician.

1850 U.S. Census, Findley, Mercer Co., PA, 171[A]; 1860 U.S. Census, Apple River Township, Jo Daviess Co., IL, 417; Cook, “‘Brother Joseph Is Truly a Wonderful Man, He Is All We Could Wish a Prophet to Be,’” 207; Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 265; Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Registration of Deaths, ca. 1862–1907, vol. 1, p. 171, microfilm 1,306,209, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Cook, “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter,” 47.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Cook, Lyndon W. “‘Brother Joseph Is Truly a Wonderful Man, He Is All We Could Wish a Prophet to Be’: Pre-1844 Letters of William Law.” BYU Studies 20 (Winter 1980): 207–218.

Cook, Lyndon W. The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985.

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Cook, Lyndon W. “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter.” BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982): 47–72.

Born in Co. Tyrone, Ireland.

Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Registration of Deaths, ca. 1862–1907, vol. 1, p. 171, microfilm 1,306,209, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter.

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, 1157.

Comprehensive Works Cited

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania: Its Past and Present, Including Its Aboriginal History; Its Early Settlement and Development. . . . Chicago: Brown, Runk, and Co., 1888.

Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820.

1820 U.S. Census, Springfield Township, Mercer Co., PA, 141.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co., by 1830.

1830 U.S. Census, Delaware Township, Mercer Co., PA, 196.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Moved to Churchville, Chinguacousy Township, York Co. (later in Ontario), Upper Canada, by 1833.

Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 265.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985.

Married Jane Silverthorn, 11 June 1833, in York, York Township, York Co.

Ontario, Canada, Marriage Registers, 1801–1944, Home District Marriage Register, vol. 10, p. 137, microfilm 1,030,052, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints, by 1837.

Minutes, LDS Messenger and Advocate, May 1837, 3:511–512.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt, 24 Apr. 1837.

Minutes, LDS Messenger and Advocate, May 1837, 3:511–512.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

Served as presiding elder of Churchville branch, 1837–1838.

Cook, “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter,” 48.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter.” BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982): 47–72.

Moved to Georgetown (later Sheakleyville), Mercer Co., by 1838.

Cook, “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter,” 48; Cook, William Law, 71–73.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter.” BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982): 47–72.

Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1839.

Jessee, Papers of Joseph Smith, 2:565.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C., ed. The Papers of Joseph Smith. 2 vols. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989–1992.

Instructed in JS revelation to buy stock for building Nauvoo House, 19 Jan. 1841.

Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].

Served as counselor in First Presidency, 1841–1844, in Nauvoo.

Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 265; “Law, William,” in Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:53; Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985.

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.

Served mission to Philadelphia, 1841.

Cook, “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter,” 54.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. “William Law, Nauvoo Dissenter.” BYU Studies 22 (Winter 1982): 47–72.

Appointed aide-de-camp to lieutenant general in Nauvoo Legion, Mar. 1841.

“The First List of the Officers of the Nauvoo Legion, as Made Out by John C. Bennett. M.Gl,” Nauvoo Legion Files, CHL; Militia Returns, Nauvoo Legion, 23 Mar. 1841, Illinois Governor, Military Correspondence, CHL; Rank Roll of the Nauvoo Legion, ca. May 1842, BYU; Illinois Militia Commission Records, 43; Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 9.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

Illinois Governor. Military Correspondence, 1839–1844. Microfilm. CHL. MS 8716.

Rank Roll of the Nauvoo Legion, ca. May 1842. BYU.

Illinois Militia Commission Records, 1841–1844. CHL. MS 2834.

Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.

Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1841–1843.

Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1 Nov. 1841; Nauvoo City Council attendance records, 12 Feb. 1842–30 Jan. 1843, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; William Law, Oath of office, 13 Nov. 1841, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo City Council Minute Book / Nauvoo City Council. “A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841,” ca. 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3435.

Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge.

List of Members, Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book, 6.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book. / “Record of Na[u]voo Lodge Under Dispensation,” 1841–1846. CHL. MS 9115.

Removed from First Presidency, by Jan. 1844; excommunicated, 18 Apr. 1844, in Nauvoo.

“Law, William,” in Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:53; Woodruff, Journal, 18 Apr. 1844; JS, Journal, 18 Apr. 1844.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352. Also available as Wilford Woodruff’s Journals, 1833–1898, edited by Scott G. Kenney, 9 vols. (Midvale, UT: Signature Books, 1983–1985).

Appointed by dissenters of church to replace JS as president of church; eventually organized new church, 1844.

Anderson, Lucy’s Book, 835.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Anderson, Lavina Fielding, ed. Lucy’s Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith’s Family Memoir. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2001.

Publisher of Nauvoo Expositor, 1844.

Nauvoo (IL) Expositor, 7 June 1844.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Expositor. Nauvoo, IL. 1844.

Moved to Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa Territory, June 1844; to Hampton, Rock Island Co., Illinois, by Oct. 1844; and to Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, by 1847.

Cook, William Law, 56; Shipps and Welch, Journals of William E. McLellin, 331; Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 266.

Comprehensive Works Cited

Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

Shipps, Jan, and John W. Welch, eds. The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836. Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994.

Cook, Lyndon W. The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985.

Lived at Findley Township, Mercer Co., 1850; in Apple River, Jo Daviess Co., by 1860; and in Shullsburg, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, by 1870.

1850 U.S. Census, Findley, Mercer Co., PA, 171[A]; 1860 U.S. Census, Apple River Township, Jo Daviess Co., IL, 417; 1870 U.S. Census, Town of Shullsburg, LaFayette Co., WI, 489[A].

Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Died in Shullsburg.

Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Matl, Glenn J., and Fran H. Matl, comp. City of Shullsburg Indexed Cemetery Records. Lafeyette Co., WI: No publisher, 1985.

Law, William

Biography

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