History Draft [1 January–30 June 1842]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
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
; 20 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 January 1842 to 30 June 1842.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

Hide editing marks

<17> Tuesday 17. there was <a gene[r]al representation of the Branches in the eastern stakes at> a <general> Conferece of the chuch at : See T&S. 844 &c

I was at <about> home and at the office through the day. In the evening went to Bro <’s> s to see of, , Concerning a 1/4 Sec of land. “State of City of ) personally appeared (Wasp 42) Alderman.”

18 May 1842 • Wednesday

<18> Wednesday 18. Rode on horseback with [illegible] accompanied by , & to s, and searched (L.L. 122) day. There was a general representation of the branches in the eastern Statees, at confence of the chuch at , T&S. 844

19 May 1842 • Thursday

<19> Thursday 19[th] It rained & I was at home untill 1 oclok. when I attended a special Session of the City Council, , having discovered that his whoredoms & obominations were fast coming to light, which and that the wrath of the Saints <indignations> of an insulted and abused people were rising rapidly againt him, thought best to make a vi[r]tue of ncessity & <&> by trying tried to make it appear that he was innocent, by resigning his office of Mayoroty, which the council most gladly accepted,. And Joseph Smith was Elected by Mayor a of the City of by the council & vice Mayor, while the Election (LL. 122. was going forward I received & wrote the following Revelation, May 19, 1844 1842. Verily thus saith (L.L 122) Amen, which I threw across the room to one of the Counsellers. After the Election I, (LL.122.) &c, whereupon the council Resolved that “the Mayer be authorized to establish a night watch. & regulate the <& controel> the same.— was elected counciller in place of Joseph Smith, Elected Mayor. counciller in place of removed from the city <on account of the reports in circulation, in the city this day, & concerning the and to quiet the, public mind,— > Before the council closed, and in presence of all the members and spectators I asked if he had ought against me. When arose, before the council & a house filled with spectaters & replied, “I know what I am about (L.L. 122, 3) roofs of their mouths.

20 May 1842 • Friday

<20> Friday 20[th] Charges ha[v]ing been prefered againt by <before a special counil> for abusive language <towards said .> Also for abusing the Marshall of the city. I spent the day in council, and such was the proof againt I had considerable labor to get him clear even after his confession, which I desired to do hoping he would amend.

21 May 1842 • Saturday

<21> Satuday I spent the day with the High council of investigating the case of , and others

22 May 1842 • Sunday

<22> Sunday 22. I spent mo[s]tly at home. “Assassin In looking at the papers I discovred the following in the “Quincy Whig.” “Assasniation (Wasp 26) murder”— I went to the Editers office & inserted the following in the wasp.— Ill (Wasp 26) Joseph Smith.

<* ‘An Epistle (T&S. 809, 10) Clerk”> [p. 14]

17 May 1842 • Tuesday

17 Tuesday 17.

I was about home and at the office through the day. In the evening went to Bro ’s to see of, , Concerning a 1/4 Sec of land. “State of City of ) personally appeared (Wasp 42) Alderman.”

18 May 1842 • Wednesday

18 Wednesday 18. Rode on horseback accompanied by , & to s, and searched (L.L. 122) day. There was a general representation of the branches in the eastern Statees, at confence of the chuch at , T&S. 844

19 May 1842 • Thursday

19 Thursday 19[th] It rained & I was at home untill 1 oclok. when I attended a special Session of the City Council, , having discovered that his whoredoms & obominations were fast coming to light, and that the indignations of an insulted and abused people were rising rapidly againt him, thought best to make a virtue of ncessity & tried to make it appear that he was innocent, by resigning his office of Mayoroty, which the council most gladly accepted,. And Joseph Smith was Elected Mayor of the City of by the council & vice Mayor, while the Election was going forward I received & wrote the following Revelation, May 19, 1842. Verily thus saith (L.L 122) Amen, which I threw across the room to one of the Counsellers. After the Election I, (LL.122.) &c, whereupon the council Resolved that “the Mayer be authorized to establish a night watch. & & controel the same.— was elected counciller in place of Joseph Smith, Elected Mayor. counciller in place of removed from the city on account of the reports in circulation, in the city this day, concerning the and to quiet the, public mind,— Before the council closed, I asked if he had ought against me. When arose, before the council & a house filled with spectaters & replied, “I know what I am about (L.L. 122, 3) roofs of their mouths.

20 May 1842 • Friday

20 Friday 20[th] Charges having been prefered againt by before a special counil for abusive language towards said . Also for abusing the Marshall of the city. I spent the day in council, and such was the proof againt I had considerable labor to get him clear even after his confession, which I desired to do hoping he would amend.

21 May 1842 • Saturday

21 Satuday I spent the day with the High council of investigating the case of , and others

22 May 1842 • Sunday

22 Sunday 22. I spent mostly at home. In looking at the papers I discovred the following in the “Quincy Whig.” “Assasniation (Wasp 26) murder”— I went to the Editers office & inserted the following in the wasp.— Ill (Wasp 26) Joseph Smith.

* ‘An Epistle (T&S. 809, 10) Clerk” [p. 14]

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [1 January–30 June 1842]
ID #
8475
Total Pages
22
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 119
  See 17 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1334.
2. 120
  See 18 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1334.
3. 121
  See 19 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1334–1335.
4. 122
  TEXT: Notes in the margin read “Enter this— crossed through mistake.” Richards canceled the next four lines of text with a large “x” and with his notes in the margin clarified that he intended to cancel only a single line.
5. 123
  See 20 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1335.
6. 124
  See 21 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 1335.
7. 125
  See 22 May 1842 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 1335–1337.
8. 126
  TEXT: The following insertion was written sideways in the left margin, keyed to its place in the text by asterisk.

History Draft [1 January–30 June 1842]

Cite this page

Request for Documents