Letter from Jacob W. Jenks, 31 December 1839

Source Note

Jacob W. Jenks
13 June 1806–22 June 1862. Boat captain. Born in Massachusetts. Likely son of Wanton Jenks and Ruby Hodges. Married Sarah A. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1839. Lived at Sing Sing (later Ossining), Westchester Co., New...
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, Letter,
Sing Sing
Village located on east bank of Hudson River, approximately 33 miles north of New York City. Population in 1850 about 3,000. Branch of church established in village, spring 1838, while Parley P. Pratt served mission in area.
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, Westchester Co., NY, to JS, [
Washington DC
Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...
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], 31 Dec. 1839. Featured version copied [between Apr. and June 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 117–118; handwriting of
Howard Coray
6 May 1817–16 Jan. 1908. Bookkeeper, clerk, teacher, farmer. Born in Dansville, Steuben Co., New York. Son of Silas Coray and Mary Stephens. Moved to Providence, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, ca. 1827; to Williams, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, by 1830; and...
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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
Historical Introduction
On 31 December 1839,
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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member
Jacob W. Jenks
13 June 1806–22 June 1862. Boat captain. Born in Massachusetts. Likely son of Wanton Jenks and Ruby Hodges. Married Sarah A. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1839. Lived at Sing Sing (later Ossining), Westchester Co., New...
View Full Bio
wrote a letter inviting JS to eastern
New York
Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...
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. Jenks wrote the letter from
Sing Sing
Village located on east bank of Hudson River, approximately 33 miles north of New York City. Population in 1850 about 3,000. Branch of church established in village, spring 1838, while Parley P. Pratt served mission in area.
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, New York, a town approximately thirty miles north of
New York City
Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...
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, and likely sent it to
Washington DC
Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...
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, unaware that JS had left the national capital for
Philadelphia
Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...
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about ten days earlier.
1
JS arrived in Philadelphia by rail on 21 December 1839. (Orson Pratt to Sarah Marinda Bates Pratt, 6 Jan. 1840, in Times and Seasons, Feb. 1840, 1:61; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Dec. 1839, 70.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
The letter encouraged the delegation in Washington in its efforts to obtain redress for losses church members earlier suffered in
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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and also expressed the desire of the Saints in Sing Sing and New York City to have JS visit them.
2
The Sing Sing branch of the church was established in spring 1838 while Parley P. Pratt was a missionary in that area. (Pratt, Autobiography, 188; see also Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.
Aware of JS’s debts and lack of funds, Jenks warned JS regarding New York’s strict laws against debtors and poor transients and offered to pay JS’s travel expenses to Sing Sing and New York City.

It is unknown whether the post office forwarded the letter to JS in
Philadelphia
Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...
More Info
or if JS received the letter upon returning to
Washington
Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...
More Info
.
3
Some of the mail sent to JS while he was in Philadelphia was forwarded to him by the Washington DC post office, and some of it was retained in the capital awaiting his return. (See, for example, Letter from Emma Smith, 6 Dec. 1839; and Letter from Edward Partridge, 3 Jan. 1840.)
If JS responded to
Jenks
13 June 1806–22 June 1862. Boat captain. Born in Massachusetts. Likely son of Wanton Jenks and Ruby Hodges. Married Sarah A. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1839. Lived at Sing Sing (later Ossining), Westchester Co., New...
View Full Bio
, that letter has not been located. Jenks’s original letter is apparently not extant, but
Howard Coray
6 May 1817–16 Jan. 1908. Bookkeeper, clerk, teacher, farmer. Born in Dansville, Steuben Co., New York. Son of Silas Coray and Mary Stephens. Moved to Providence, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, ca. 1827; to Williams, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, by 1830; and...
View Full Bio
copied the letter into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between April and June 1840.
4
Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Footnotes
1. 1
  JS arrived in Philadelphia by rail on 21 December 1839. (Orson Pratt to Sarah Marinda Bates Pratt, 6 Jan. 1840, in Times and Seasons, Feb. 1840, 1:61; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 21 Dec. 1839, 70.)
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
2. 2
  The Sing Sing branch of the church was established in spring 1838 while Parley P. Pratt was a missionary in that area. (Pratt, Autobiography, 188; see also Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839.)
  
  Pratt, Parley P. The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry and Travels, with Extracts, in Prose and Verse, from His Miscellaneous Writings. Edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. New York: Russell Brothers, 1874.
3. 3
  Some of the mail sent to JS while he was in Philadelphia was forwarded to him by the Washington DC post office, and some of it was retained in the capital awaiting his return. (See, for example, Letter from Emma Smith, 6 Dec. 1839; and Letter from Edward Partridge, 3 Jan. 1840.)
4. 4
  Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.
  
  Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

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Dec 31t. 1839

Brother Joseph Smith Jr,

Sir In the bonds of the Gospel of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, may the Lord be with and strengthen you, while in the business in which you are engaged at , together with the rest of your Bretheren & associates there, in compliance will [with] the revealed will of God.

I am pleased to learn that the head, and— also the rest of the chosen , are fired with inteligent zeal, to do the will of the Lord; that this Kingdom may soon come in its fullness, when the Knowledge of the Lord shall cover.— the earth as the waters cover the Deep

Allow me to say dear Brother, it is the desire of the Bretheren at , as well as at , to come into our city & Vilage, if you should deem it expedient. I know that there were some pecuniary embarrassments, under which you have been in time past labouring; and do not know but they are still continueing; if so I am aware that you could not visit us the City without laying yourself liable to imprisonment, which I should be sorry to have take place; as it is the law of our land that a nonresident shall be liable to imprisonment; yet I do not know but you might manage in that way so as not to have the law enforced. I mention these things so that you may not be brought into bondage unawares; perhaps by those, who may feel a disposition to persecute the saints in and would be very much grattified to have your presence

I wish you would answer this as soon as it comes to hand, letting me know the expense, or fare to also The <expense the> rest of the rout to & , I know the amt of. I will give you a returning answer immediately, [p. 117]

Dec 31t. 1839

Brother Joseph Smith Jr,

I wish you would answer this as soon as it comes to hand, letting me know the expense, or fare to The expense the rest of the rout to & , I know the amt of. I will give you a returning answer immediately, [p. 117]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Letter from Jacob W. Jenks, 31 December 1839
ID #
503
Total Pages
2
Handwriting on This Page
- Howard Coray
Footnotes
1. 1
  See Philemon 1:13.
2. 2
  JS’s associates in Washington DC at this time were Elias Higbee, Sidney Rigdon, Robert D. Foster, and Orrin Porter Rockwell.
3. 3
  In accordance with instruction given in a December 1833 revelation, church conferences appointed JS, Rigdon, and Higbee to petition the federal government for redress. (Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:86–92]; Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839.)
4. 4
  At this time, Brigham Young was the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Jenks likely came in contact with several members of that quorum who were traveling in the area while they prepared for their voyage to Great Britain. (See Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839.)
5. 5
  See Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 11:9; and Book of Mormon, 1837 ed., 105, 126 [2 Nephi 21:9; 30:15].
6. 6
  Church leaders were working to restructure several of the church’s debts to New York merchants. In their letters home, members of the church delegation to the federal government also frequently referred to the need to secure funding for their travel expenses while in the eastern United States. (Authorization for Oliver Granger, 6 May 1839; Authorization for Oliver Granger, 13 May 1839; Agreement with Mead & Betts, 2 Aug. 1839; JS, Oliver Granger et al., and John A. Newbould, Agreement, ca. 2 Aug. 1839, Hiram Kimball, Collection, CHL; Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 Dec. 1839; Letter from Hyrum Smith, 2 Jan. 1840.)
7. 7
  See An Act to Abolish Imprisonment for Debt, and to Punish Fraudulent Debtors [26 Apr. 1831], Laws of the State of New York [1831], chap. 300, p. 396, secs. 1–2.
  
  Laws of the State of New-York, Passed at the Fifty-Fourth Session of the Legislature, Begun and Held at the City of Albany, the Fourth Day of January, 1831. Albany: E. Croswell, 1831.

Letter from Jacob W. Jenks, 31 December 1839

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