History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of
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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,
Franklin D. Richards
2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...
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, Jonathan Grimshaw, and
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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; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “
Governor
14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...
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’s forces” at
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop
Vinson Knight
14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...
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at
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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, Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.

Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of
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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and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers
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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and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author.
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.

The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the
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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Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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by the
Twelve
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to
America
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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; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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; the establishment of 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....
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city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo
temple
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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; the
Wisconsin “pinery”
Also known as the “pinery.” Collective term for regions in Wisconsin where lumbering operations were located, especially along Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, Wisconsin, and Wolf rivers. Latter-day Saints established lumber camps and mills on Black River to provide...
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expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.

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<March 11> Wimmer, Susan Wimmer, Ellen Wimmer” Sworn to before William Oglesby J.P.

“Illinois, , Adams Co. March 11. 1840 I certify that I was a resident in the State of in 1838 when I was driven from my house and a preemption right and forbid to stay in the , threatning me if I did not go forthwith. I took my family and pursued my journey one hundred miles, in consequence of cold, snow water and ice, at the inclement Season in which I was driven I fell sick, and for four weeks I was unable to travel, during which time I was threatened daily, yet I was so sick it was considered by many <that> I could not live, and was compelled to start when I was not able to set sit up through the day. I landed in , the long and fatiguing journey, lying out in the cold open air proved too much for my companion, it threw her into a violent fever with which she died, many others in Company took sick and died with the same hard fare— ” Sworn to, before William Oglesby J.P.

13 March 1840 • Friday

<13> Friday 13 Jacob K. Potts and Levi Stilley made affidavit before William Oglesby J.P. that they witnessed the Massacre at on the 30th. of October 1838 confirming the statements already written in this History— Potts had two balls shot in his right leg.

15 March 1840 • Sunday

<15.> Sunday 15. The High Council of the Church at voted that the First Presidency superintend the affairs of the Ferry between and . [HC 4:95]

16 March 1840 • Monday

<16.> Monday 16 Elder wrote from

“I told you about our coming to , the first time I preached, ten came forward, we have been baptising since; last week we baptized nine: we are to baptize tomorrow, but how many I know not. The little stone is rolling forth, one of the Brethren dreamed he saw two men come to , they cast a net into the Sea, and pulled it out full of fishes, he was surprised to see them pick the small fish out first and then the large; well, if we get all the fish I shall be satisfied. has lately <left> the Potteries, and has gone to another neighborhood, and is making Methodist preachers scarce, he baptized 32 persons in one week, thirteen of them were Methodist preachers. is preaching and baptising in and about , the latest account from he was well, preaching and baptising in the Potteries. was very busy at this Period in visiting and setting in order the branches of the Church in , Clitheroe, and all the regions round about, and holding correspondence with the Elders abroad.

The High Council met at my house in and resolved that write a letter to at approving his course, and giving him certain names (for which see ’s Letter) that he may order Subpoenas for them as Witnesses in the Suit now before Congress, namely, The Latter Day Saints v The State of , for redress of grievances.

“Illinois, , March 16th. 1840. I certify that I was a Citizen of in Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight and some time in the month of October of the same year I was fallen upon by a mob commanded by Hyrum Standly, he took my goods out of my house [p. 1028]

March 11 Wimmer, Susan Wimmer, Ellen Wimmer” Sworn to before William Oglesby J.P.

“Illinois, , Adams Co. March 11. 1840 I certify that I was a resident in the State of in 1838 when I was driven from my house and a preemption right and forbid to stay in the , threatning me if I did not go forthwith. I took my family and pursued my journey one hundred miles, in consequence of cold, snow water and ice, at the inclement Season in which I was driven I fell sick, and for four weeks I was unable to travel, during which time I was threatened daily, yet I was so sick it was considered by many that I could not live, and was compelled to start when I was not able to sit up through the day. I landed in , the long and fatiguing journey, lying out in the cold open air proved too much for my companion, it threw her into a violent fever with which she died, many others in Company took sick and died with the same hard fare— ” Sworn to, before William Oglesby J.P.

13 March 1840 • Friday

13 Friday 13 Jacob K. Potts and Levi Stilley made affidavit before William Oglesby J.P. that they witnessed the Massacre at on the 30th. of October 1838 confirming the statements already written in this History— Potts had two balls shot in his right leg.

15 March 1840 • Sunday

15. Sunday 15. The High Council of the Church at voted that the First Presidency superintend the affairs of the Ferry between and . [HC 4:95]

16 March 1840 • Monday

16. Monday 16 Elder wrote from

“I told you about our coming to , the first time I preached, ten came forward, we have been baptising since; last week we baptized nine: we are to baptize tomorrow, but how many I know not. The little stone is rolling forth, one of the Brethren dreamed he saw two men come to , they cast a net into the Sea, and pulled it out full of fishes, he was surprised to see them pick the small fish out first and then the large; well, if we get all the fish I shall be satisfied. has lately left the Potteries, and has gone to another neighborhood, and is making Methodist preachers scarce, he baptized 32 persons in one week, thirteen of them were Methodist preachers. is preaching and baptising in and about , the latest account from he was well, preaching and baptising in the Potteries. was very busy at this Period in visiting and setting in order the branches of the Church in , Clitheroe, and all the regions round about, and holding correspondence with the Elders abroad.

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
ID #
7513
Total Pages
562
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 570
  John Smith, Affidavit, Adams County, IL, 11 Mar. 1840, Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845, CHL.
  
  Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845. CHL. MS 2703.
2. 571
  See 13 Mar. 1840 entry in History Draft.
3. 572
  See 15 Mar. 1840 entry in History Draft.
4. 573
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 15 Mar. 1840.
  
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
5. 574
  See 16 Mar. 1840 entry in History Draft.
6. 575
  “Extract of a Letter from Elder J. Taylor to His Wife,” 16 Mar. 1840, Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:110–111.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
7. 576
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 16 Mar. 1840.
  
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
8. 577
  Smith Humphrey, Affidavit, Adams Co., IL, 16 Mar. 1839, Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845, CHL.
  
  Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845. CHL. MS 2703.