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

<June 3> Friday 3. In the forenoon I rode out in the and sold to Brother Harmer Lot 1, in Block 123 and in the <afternoon> rode to Brother s on horse back accompanied by and others. [HC 5:21]

4 June 1842 • Saturday

<4> Saturday 4. At the in the morning, and heard letters read from , Dr. King and Mr. Helme concerning ’s expulsion from the Masonic Lodge in . <In the afternoon> paid E. B. Nourn 505 dollars for land bought of , and settled with the heirs of at my house assisted by and my .

5 June 1842 • Sunday

<5> Sunday 5. I preached this <morning> to a large congregation. The subject matter of my discourse was drawn from the 32nd. and 33rd. chapters of Ezekiel wherein it was shown that Old Pharaoh was comforted and greatly rejoiced, that he was honored as a kind of King Devil over those uncircumcised nations, that go down to hell, for rejecting the word of the Lord, withstanding his mighty miracles, and fighting the Saints:— The whole exhibited as a pattern to this generation, and the nations now rolling in splendor over the Globe, if they do not repent, that they shall go down to the pit also, and be rejoiced over, and ruled over by old Pharaoh, King Devil of mobocrats, miracle rejecters, saint killers, hypocritical priests, and all other fit subjects to fester in their own infamy.

6 June 1842 • Monday

<6.> Monday 6. I rode on the Prairie, to view some land accompanied by Brother Yearsley and my , dined at ’s and returned home: <when I approved of a series of resolutions passed by a Court Martial of the Nauvoo Legion.>

7 June 1842 • Tuesday

<7> Tuesday 7. Sold David D. Yearsley a Quarter Section of Land. Quite a Snow Storm is reported in many parts of the New England <and> Middle States.

8 June 1842 • Wednesday

<8> Wednesday 8. I was about home— sent to on business; on his return old Charley while on a Gallop, struck his knees and breast instead of his feet, fell in the Street and rolled over in an instant and the narrowly escaped with his life. It was a [HC 5:22] trick of the Devil to kill my . Similar attacks have been made on myself, of late, and Satan is seeking our destruction on every hand.

9 June 1842 • Thursday

<9> Thursday 9. at home and about the neighborhood, attending to domestic affairs, and the business of the Church.

<See Addenda Book page 73.> [HC 5:23] [HC 5:24]

10 June 1842 • Friday

<10> Friday 10. went to Brother Hibbard’s with my , to purchase some land.

11 June 1842 • Saturday

<11> Saturday 11. Presided in City Council. Council resolved to publish the City Charter, Ordinances of the City Council, and Nauvoo Legion, before the first day of next July. Also resolved that the bond given by binding him to make a Deed for the land purchased of him for a burying Ground, for the use of the , be put on record in the , for the Registry of Deeds in the City of .

Riots and Mobs are multiplying in the Land.

12 June 1842 • Sunday

<12> Sunday 12. Mostly at home, called at the for some papers.

13 June 1842 • Monday

<13> Monday 13 Attended a general Council in the lodge room to devise ways and means to furnish the poor with labor. Many of the English Saints have gathered to most of whom are unacquainted with any kind of labor except spinning weaving &c and having no factories in this place, they are [p. 1339]

3 June 1842 • Friday

June 3 Friday 3. In the forenoon I rode out in the and sold to Brother Harmer Lot 1, in Block 123 and in the afternoon rode to Brother s on horse back accompanied by and others. [HC 5:21]

4 June 1842 • Saturday

4 Saturday 4. At the in the morning, and heard letters read from , Dr. King and Mr. Helme concerning ’s expulsion from the Masonic Lodge in . In the afternoon paid E. B. Nourn 505 dollars for land bought of , and settled with the heirs of at my house assisted by and my .

5 June 1842 • Sunday

5 Sunday 5. I preached this morning to a large congregation. The subject matter of my discourse was drawn from the 32nd. and 33rd. chapters of Ezekiel wherein it was shown that Old Pharaoh was comforted and greatly rejoiced, that he was honored as a kind of King Devil over those uncircumcised nations, that go down to hell, for rejecting the word of the Lord, withstanding his mighty miracles, and fighting the Saints:— The whole exhibited as a pattern to this generation, and the nations now rolling in splendor over the Globe, if they do not repent, that they shall go down to the pit also, and be rejoiced over, and ruled over by old Pharaoh, King Devil of mobocrats, miracle rejecters, saint killers, hypocritical priests, and all other fit subjects to fester in their own infamy.

6 June 1842 • Monday

6. Monday 6. I rode on the Prairie, to view some land accompanied by Brother Yearsley and my , dined at ’s and returned home: when I approved of a series of resolutions passed by a Court Martial of the Nauvoo Legion.

7 June 1842 • Tuesday

7 Tuesday 7. Sold David D. Yearsley a Quarter Section of Land. Quite a Snow Storm is reported in many parts of the New England and Middle States.

8 June 1842 • Wednesday

8 Wednesday 8. I was about home— sent to on business; on his return old Charley while on a Gallop, struck his knees and breast instead of his feet, fell in the Street and rolled over in an instant and the narrowly escaped with his life. It was a [HC 5:22] trick of the Devil to kill my . Similar attacks have been made on myself, of late, and Satan is seeking our destruction on every hand.

9 June 1842 • Thursday

9 Thursday 9. at home and about the neighborhood, attending to domestic affairs, and the business of the Church.

See Addenda Book page 73. [HC 5:23] [HC 5:24]

10 June 1842 • Friday

10 Friday 10. went to Brother Hibbard’s with my , to purchase some land.

11 June 1842 • Saturday

11 Saturday 11. Presided in City Council. Council resolved to publish the City Charter, Ordinances of the City Council, and Nauvoo Legion, before the first day of next July. Also resolved that the bond given by binding him to make a Deed for the land purchased of him for a burying Ground, for the use of the , be put on record in the , for the Registry of Deeds in the City of .

Riots and Mobs are multiplying in the Land.

12 June 1842 • Sunday

12 Sunday 12. Mostly at home, called at the for some papers.

13 June 1842 • Monday

13 Monday 13 Attended a general Council in the lodge room to devise ways and means to furnish the poor with labor. Many of the English Saints have gathered to most of whom are unacquainted with any kind of labor except spinning weaving &c and having no factories in this place, they are [p. 1339]

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. 1560
  See 3 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
2. 1561
  JS, Journal, 3 June 1842.
3. 1562
  See 4 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
4. 1563
  JS, Journal, 4 June 1842.
5. 1564
  See 5 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
6. 1565
  JS, Journal, 5 June 1842; “The Prophet,” The Wasp, 11 June 1842, p. [2].
  
  The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
7. 1566
  See 6 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
8. 1567
  JS, Journal, 6 June 1842.
9. 1568
  See 7 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
10. 1569
  JS, Journal, 7 June 1842.
11. 1570
  See 8 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
12. 1571
  See 9 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
13. 1572
  See 10 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
14. 1573
  JS, Journal, 10 June 1842.
15. 1574
  See 11 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
16. 1575
  JS, Journal, 11 June 1842; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 11 June 1842, List of bills, ca. July 1842, p. [6].
  
  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.
17. 1576
  See 12 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
18. 1577
  JS, Journal, 12 June 1842.
19. 1578
  See 13 June 1842 entry in History Draft.
20. 1579
  JS, Journal, 13 June 1842.