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...
View Full Bio
,
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 ...
View Full Bio
, 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...
View Full Bio
; 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...
View Full Bio
’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...
More Info
, 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...
View Full Bio
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....
More Info
, 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...
View Full Bio
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...
View Full Bio
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...
View Full Bio
,
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...
View Full Bio
,
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,...
View Full Bio
, 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 ...
More Info
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...
More Info
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 ...
View Glossary
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 ...
More Info
; 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...
View Full Bio
; 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....
More Info
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...
More Info
; 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...
More Info
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, ...
View Full Bio
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.

Hide editing marks

<March 29> Conferences is — — — — — — 1539 Members, 36 Elders, 103 Priests, 41 Teachers, 7 Deacons, all of whom have embraced the work in that part of the Vineyard in — — — — — one year, besides many members and Officers, who have emigrated to ; and I am happy to say that the Saints, the Officers and members, have universally been ready to hearken to Counsel, and give heed to our instructions, and it was with no ordinary feelings, that I took my farewell of those Churches who have been so ready to receive and embrace the truth. I called upon the Saints in Birmingham and Grets Green, but had not time to hold any meetings among them. I arrived in Hanley on the 25th. where I had the privilege of again meeting with Elder , and was rejoiced to find the Churches universally prospering in Staffordshire. I spent one evening with the Church at Longton and baptized 7.”

30 March 1841 • Tuesday

< President of the Stake at , made choice of and as his Counsellors.>

<30> <Tuesday 30. Elders and arrived in , after a ride of 40 miles.>

31 March 1841 • Wednesday

<31> Wednesday 31. Elders and attended conference in .

1 April 1841 • Thursday

<April 1> Thursday April 1. Elders and went to , where they found Elders , , and , <& had a happy meeting.>

2 April 1841 • Friday

<2> Friday 2. Elders and arrived at and went into Council,

“, England, April 2. 1841 This day Elders , , , , , , , , and of the Quorum of the Twelve, met together at the house of Bro. James Bushaw, Coachman, No. 4. Gray Street, near Oxford Road in this , in Council, after having been sep[HC 4:324]arated and dispersed in various countries. To meet once more in Council, after a long separation and having passed through many sore and grievous trials, exposing our lives, and our characters to the slanders and violence of wicked and murderous men, caused our hearts to swell with gratitude to God for his providential care over us. opened the Council by prayer. Elders , and , the Committee appointed about a year ago to secure a copyright of the Book of Mormon, in the name of Joseph Smith Junr., presented the following Certificate—

“Feb 8. 1841 Then entered for his copy— the property of Joseph Smith Junr. The Book of Mormon; an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates, taken from the plates of Nephi— Translated by Joseph Smith Junr.— First European, from the Second American Edition— Received five copies— George Greenhill—” the above is a true copy of an entry in the Register Book of the Company of Stationers kept at the hall of the said Company. Witness my hand, this 17th. day of February 1841. George Greenhill— Warehousekeeper of the Company of Stationers”—

The Quorum voted, that they accepted the labors of said Committee— Resolved, that as the Quorum of the Twelve have had nothing to do with the printing of the Book of Mormon, they will not now interfere with it; but that the said Committee settle the financial or business matters thereof with Joseph Smith Junr., to whom the profits rightly belong. Resolved that Elder be appointed to superintend fitting out the Saints from to , under the instruction of — Resolved that Bro. go to Bedford & Northampton and labor in that region— Adjourned ’till 10 oclock tomorrow [p. 1182]

March 29 Conferences is — — — — — — 1539 Members, 36 Elders, 103 Priests, 41 Teachers, 7 Deacons, all of whom have embraced the work in that part of the Vineyard in — — — — — one year, besides many members and Officers, who have emigrated to ; and I am happy to say that the Saints, the Officers and members, have universally been ready to hearken to Counsel, and give heed to our instructions, and it was with no ordinary feelings, that I took my farewell of those Churches who have been so ready to receive and embrace the truth. I called upon the Saints in Birmingham and Grets Green, but had not time to hold any meetings among them. I arrived in Hanley on the 25th. where I had the privilege of again meeting with Elder , and was rejoiced to find the Churches universally prospering in Staffordshire. I spent one evening with the Church at Longton and baptized 7.”

30 March 1841 • Tuesday

President of the Stake at , made choice of and as his Counsellors.

30 Tuesday 30. Elders and arrived in , after a ride of 40 miles.

31 March 1841 • Wednesday

31 Wednesday 31. Elders and attended conference in .

1 April 1841 • Thursday

April 1 Thursday April 1. Elders and went to , where they found Elders , , and , & had a happy meeting.

2 April 1841 • Friday

2 Friday 2. Elders and arrived at and went into Council,

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

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. 964
  Woodruff, Journal, 30 Mar. 1841.
  
  Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
2. 965
  See 31 Mar. 1841 entry in History Draft.
3. 966
  Young, Journal, 31 Mar. 1841, p. [31].
  
  Historian’s Office. “History of Brigham Young.” In Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ca. 1856–1860, vol. 1, pp. 1–104. CHL. CR 100 150, box 1, fd. 1.
4. 967
  See 1 Apr. 1841 entry in History Draft.
5. 968
  Young, Journal, 1 Apr. 1841, pp. [31], [34].
  
  Historian’s Office. “History of Brigham Young.” In Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ca. 1856–1860, vol. 1, pp. 1–104. CHL. CR 100 150, box 1, fd. 1.
6. 969
  See 2 Apr. 1841 entry in History Draft.
7. 970
  Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 2–3 Apr. 1841.
  
  Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.