Letter from Edward Partridge, between 14 and 19 November 1833
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Source Note
[], Letter, , Clay Co., MO, to JS, [, Geauga Co., OH], between 14 and 19 Nov. 1833; draft; handwriting of ; two pages; JS Collection, CHL.Single leaf measuring 12⅛ × 7½ inches (31 × 19 cm). The document was folded in fourths. The folds are partially broken or separated, resulting in a loss of parts of the manuscript, including some text. The rough right edge of the recto indicates that the leaf was apparently removed from a blank book.This letter does not include a signature or address and therefore was not the sent copy. It is possible this version of the document was a draft of a letter. Though a version of this letter was eventually sent to JS, the sent copy is no longer extant. At least one other copy of the letter survives and is found in ’s Genealogical Record. The letter featured here, along with other papers belonging to Partridge, was in the possession of the Partridge family until at least the mid-1880s, sometime after which it came into the possession of the Church Historian’s Office.
Footnotes
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1
Whitney, “Aaronic Priesthood,” 5–6; Partridge, Genealogical Record, 1, 9–11; see also the full bibliographic entry for the Edward Partridge Papers in the CHL catalog.
Whitney, Orson F. “The Aaronic Priesthood.” Contributor, Apr. 1885, 241–250.
Partridge, Edward, Jr. Genealogical Record. 1878. CHL. MS 1271.
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Historical Introduction
By 19 November 1833, most church members had fled , Missouri, to surrounding areas, congregating primarily to the north in , Missouri. After being expelled and while living near , Clay County, wrote the letter featured here to JS, reporting on the condition of the refugees and assessing their prospects for returning to Jackson County. Supposing that had already provided JS with more detailed information about the events in , Partridge refrained from chronicling events that precipitated the expulsion. Although Partridge mentioned other events such as the Leonid meteor shower in his letter, such topics were overshadowed by his concern for the loss of private lands in Missouri and the failed attempts for governmental redress.struggled with the realization that the refugees might never be able to return to their without “the interposition of God.” As of the in , Partridge was responsible to receive funds and supplies from faithful church members and to then assign land to them as a for personal and family use. Not only did church members lose their homes in the expulsion, but Partridge also lost the ability to implement this law of consecration as detailed in JS’s revelations. As a possible solution to this problem, he recommended purchasing lands owned by the citizens of but noted the unlikelihood of this option because it “would take many thousand dollars.” Partridge indicated that many church members desired “to receive a deed of some land,” despite the fact that the antagonism in Jackson County prevented them from occupying lands there. Partridge thought it prudent to grant such requests, even though he likely doubted that they would ever reoccupy the land. He asked JS for “advice upon the subject of the lands & also I want wisdom & light on many subjects.”In his letter, also expressed frustration with government officials. Church leaders in followed the advice Governor had given to seek redress, protection, and reinstatement to their lands through local authorities but had not obtained meaningful results. A peace warrant that was finally obtained after three attempts appeared to be useless, intended lawsuits for damages suffered in July had not yet been filed, and the prospects for government assistance seemed nonexistent. Neither the executive nor the judicial branches of the state government seemed willing to protect the rights of this particular minority. In addition, government militia and violent mobs appeared to be one and the same. Partridge maintained a faint hope for justice through the courts but believed the standard legal process would take so long that arbitration might be the best solution for reacquiring the Mormons’ lands. With these many issues and others on his mind, Partridge asked JS for “a comfort[ing] [w]ord from the Lord through you.”Because of a small tear in the upper right corner of the leaf, which renders a portion of the date illegible, the exact day on which wrote this letter is unknown. However, enough of the date remains to conclude that he wrote it on either 14, 17, or 19 November 1833. The letter was mailed from on 19 November. The language of Partridge’s letter indicates that some time had passed since he had seen the Leonid meteor shower, which occurred during the early morning hours of 13 November, making it unlikely that the letter was written on 14 November. It is also possible that the document featured here is actually an early draft of the letter Partridge eventually sent to JS. It contains various editorial markings and does not bear Partridge’s signature, indicating that he may not have intended to send this copy. The letter also mentions that Partridge wrote in the evening, suggesting the letter could not have been written on November 19, as the mail left sometime that day. Therefore, though it is possible that Partridge began writing this letter as early as 14 November 1833, it is more likely that he drafted it on 17 November, made editorial corrections, copied it, and mailed it to JS no later than 19 November.JS responded to this letter, as well as to others from and , on 10 December 1833. A portion of JS’s response seems to directly answer ’s concerns: JS warned against giving up lands in , stating that “it is better that you should die in the ey[e]s of God, then that you should give up the Land of , the inheritances which you have purchased with your monies.” He then directed church leaders in to seek redress from all levels of government and said that if government officials would not help, then God “will not fail to exicute Judgment upon your enemies and to avenge his own elect.” JS closed his response with a prayer for those who faced tribulation in Missouri and lamented that he had not been there with them.
Footnotes
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1
“From Missouri,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Jan. 1834, 125–126.
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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2
Phelps penned letters dated 6–7 November and 14 November 1833 detailing the events in Jackson County. (Letter from William W. Phelps, 6–7 Nov. 1833; Letter from William W. Phelps, 14 Nov. 1833.)
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3
See, for example, James Lee, Agreement of Consecration, on verso of Edward Partridge, to “Honored Father” et al., 22 Oct. 1834, draft, Edward Partridge, Papers, CHL.
Partridge, Edward. Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892.
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For more information on Partridge’s role in implementing the law of consecration, see Historical Introduction to Letter to Edward Partridge, 2 May 1833.
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See Historical Introduction to Letter, 30 Oct. 1833.
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7
Partridge occasionally wrote drafts of letters before sending final copies. For example, a year later, on 22 October 1834, Partridge drafted a letter to his family living in Massachusetts before making and sending a final copy. (Edward Partridge, to “Honored Father” et al., 22 Oct. 1834, draft, Edward Partridge, Papers, CHL.)
Partridge, Edward. Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892.
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further, The worlds people are very desirous to have us sell the lands & since you advised us not to, I do not want to, but if we are to be driven about for years I can see no use in keeping our possessions here. Some of our brn. that have given me money to buy lands with are desirous to receive a deed of some land & I have thought it best to give deeds to such as are anxious to have them. I want your advice upon the subject of the lands & also I want wisdom & light on many subjects, in this time of trial We have made two attempts to get a peace warrent, the first before a justice one of the mob he at first refused but after consulting with some others of the mob he consented, we however sent to Lexington 40 miles east to the & after quite a struggle made out to obtain one. but when the brn. came back with it we had agreed to go away & the mob or militia as they were called were raging with great fury & we have done nothing with it. neither do we believe it would be of any use to try to enforce it. now. our lawyers say it can do us no good in their opinion, as to our suits for damage we were expecting to start a number between this & the next term which is in Feb. next there has no writ been taken out as yet, since our removal we have not been able to get together [so] as to have a of & advise with one another what is best to do do. It would seem that the prospect is bad respecting our having justice done us by any course we may pursue. justice would give us the Co. of almost. we believe but this would take years to accomplish unless our damages could be settled by arbitrating that is leaveing the case to judicious disinterested men. There is an other way we might obtain the land by natural means. that is this could we obtain money by loan or from brn. that were able we might buy out the most of the inhabitants in all probability & let them leave the but this would take many thousand dollars. after looking at the whole I am of opinion that unless God works for his people & displays his power in some way or another we cannot return to the land again. my mind is to have the disciples all leave the land & see if God will not pour out his judgments in some way upon that wicked people. rumors are afloat that it is with difficulty that the Indians are restrained from coming upon the people as to this I know nothing about it & I place no great confidence in romors. I hope ere this there may have been a comforting word from the Lord through you but be this as it may I am anxious to hear from you In haste your brother in Christ [p. [2]]
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