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...
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,
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 ...
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, 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...
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; 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...
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’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...
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, 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...
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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....
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, 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...
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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...
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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...
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,
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...
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,
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,...
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, 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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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; 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...
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; 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....
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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...
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; 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...
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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, ...
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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.

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<October 28> , of which Buckingham Palace is Chief, this is for the royal family, and is occupied by her majesty Queen Victoria, and — — — — — — Prince Albert, when they are in the metropolis. It was built by his late Majesty William the Fourth, it covers a number of acres of ground, and is a very costly and splendid edifice: every door, entrance and gate leading to it is strongly guarded with armed soldiers. While we were there, we saw — — — — — — Prince Albert — — — riding — — — — — — — across St. James Park, mounted upon a gray horse accompanied only by his groom. We have visited the British Museum which contains a vast number and quantity of Egyptian Sepulchres, Mummies, Hieroglyphics, and Papyrus, the history and account of which we feel much interested in, and may forward you an account of the same in a future communication. We subscribe ourselves your brethren in the everlasting Covenant. , , .”

<see Addenda Book— page 1—> [HC 4:234] [HC 4:235]

<<see Addenda Book page 1—>>

3 November 1840 • Tuesday

<3> <The English fleet bombarded St. Jean d’Acre, during which a powder magazine exploded, killing over 2,000 men.>

1 November 1840 • Sunday

<November 1> Sunday November 1. 1840 Elder arrived in —

9–10 November 1840 • Monday–Tuesday

<9> <Monday Novr. 9th. Elder received Council to leave and go to Staffordshire for his health, as he had injured his lungs by preaching in the Streets, so that he discharged considerable blood <from them> Novr. 10 he took leave of and travelled to Birmingham, met Elder , preached, and baptized five in the evening.>

21 November 1840 • Saturday

<21> Saturday 21. Elders , , and visited the Church at Bolton [HC 4:236]

26–28 November 1840 • Thursday–Saturday

<26> <Elders , and preached to the Saints in Hanley. on the 26th, on the following day at Stoke, and on the 28th. Elders and left for —> <*(see above)>

4 December 1840 • Friday

<December 4> <see Addenda Book page 3. > Friday 4 There was a conference in , Elder presiding. The Revelations of Elder Sidney Roberts were objected to, which were, that a certain brother must give him a suit of Clothes, and a gold watch, the best that could be had; also his saluting the Sisters with what he calls, a holy kiss &c &c Elder Roberts justified himself in these things. Much good council was given him, but he said he knew the Revelations he had received, were from God, and would make no confession, consequently the conference cut him off, and demanded his licence which he refused to give up—

has been preaching and baptizing in the Isle of Man, <where> the work is now progressing.

5 December 1840 • Saturday

<5> <see Addenda book, page 3.> [HC 4:237] A Great part of the City of Messina, Sicily, was this day destroyed by an Earthquake, such was the force of the first shock, that the Inhabitants of the Town were buried in an instant beneath the ruins.

<see Addenda book pages 3 & 4.> [HC 4:238]

10 December 1840 • Thursday

<10> Thursday Elder left for Herefordshire—

13 December 1840 • Sunday

<x13> Sunday— I attended the High Council at my Office. was on trial for lying, slandering the authorities of the Church, profane Swearing &c Witnesses were examined in part, and trial adjourned to the 20th.

14 December 1840 • Monday

<14> and dissolved Co-partnership, The Times and Seasons are to be continued by —

16 December 1840 • Wednesday

<16> Wednesday 16. This day the Charters of the “City of ”, the “Nauvoo Legion” and the “University of the City of Nauvoo”, were signed by the , having previously passed the House and Senate, as follows

“An Act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo” Sec.1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of represented in [p. 1123]

October 28 , of which Buckingham Palace is Chief, this is for the royal family, and is occupied by her majesty Queen Victoria, and — — — — — — Prince Albert, when they are in the metropolis. It was built by his late Majesty William the Fourth, it covers a number of acres of ground, and is a very costly and splendid edifice: every door, entrance and gate leading to it is strongly guarded with armed soldiers. While we were there, we saw — — — — — — Prince Albert — — — riding — — — — — — — across St. James Park, mounted upon a gray horse accompanied only by his groom. We have visited the British Museum which contains a vast number and quantity of Egyptian Sepulchres, Mummies, Hieroglyphics, and Papyrus, the history and account of which we feel much interested in, and may forward you an account of the same in a future communication. We subscribe ourselves your brethren in the everlasting Covenant. , , .”

see Addenda Book— page 1— [HC 4:234] [HC 4:235]

to come in below *Elders , and , the Committee appointed at the October Conference, wrote a petition to Congress for the redress of the grievances, of the Latter Day Saints in , setting forth their wrongs and sufferings; in substance the same as my petition of the 28th. of November 1839 in connection with , and .

see Addenda Book page 1—

3 November 1840 • Tuesday

3 The English fleet bombarded St. Jean d’Acre, during which a powder magazine exploded, killing over 2,000 men.

1 November 1840 • Sunday

November 1 Sunday November 1. 1840 Elder arrived in —

see Addenda, page 3

9–10 November 1840 • Monday–Tuesday

9 Monday Novr. 9th. Elder received Council to leave and go to Staffordshire for his health, as he had injured his lungs by preaching in the Streets, so that he discharged considerable blood from them Novr. 10 he took leave of and travelled to Birmingham, met Elder , preached, and baptized five in the evening.

21 November 1840 • Saturday

21 Saturday 21. Elders , , and visited the Church at Bolton [HC 4:236]

26–28 November 1840 • Thursday–Saturday

26 Elders , and preached to the Saints in Hanley. on the 26th, on the following day at Stoke, and on the 28th. Elders and left for — *(see above)

4 December 1840 • Friday

December 4 see Addenda Book page 3. Friday 4 There was a conference in , Elder presiding. The Revelations of Elder Sidney Roberts were objected to, which were, that a certain brother must give him a suit of Clothes, and a gold watch, the best that could be had; also his saluting the Sisters with what he calls, a holy kiss &c &c Elder Roberts justified himself in these things. Much good council was given him, but he said he knew the Revelations he had received, were from God, and would make no confession, consequently the conference cut him off, and demanded his licence which he refused to give up—

has been preaching and baptizing in the Isle of Man, where the work is now progressing.

5 December 1840 • Saturday

5 see Addenda book, page 3. [HC 4:237] A Great part of the City of Messina, Sicily, was this day destroyed by an Earthquake, such was the force of the first shock, that the Inhabitants of the Town were buried in an instant beneath the ruins.

see Addenda book pages 3 & 4. [HC 4:238]

10 December 1840 • Thursday

10 Thursday Elder left for Herefordshire—

13 December 1840 • Sunday

x13 Sunday— I attended the High Council at my Office. was on trial for lying, slandering the authorities of the Church, profane Swearing &c Witnesses were examined in part, and trial adjourned to the 20th.

14 December 1840 • Monday

14 and dissolved Co-partnership, The Times and Seasons are to be continued by —

16 December 1840 • Wednesday

16 Wednesday 16. This day the Charters of the “City of ”, the “Nauvoo Legion” and the “University of the City of Nauvoo”, were signed by the , having previously passed the House and Senate, as follows

“An Act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo” Sec.1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of represented in [p. 1123]

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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. 826
  “War in the East,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:303.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
2. 827
  See 1 Nov. 1840 entry in History Draft.
3. 828
  George A. Smith, Autobiography, 191.
  
  Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.
4. 829
  See 21 Nov. 1840 entry in History Draft.
5. 830
  Young, Journal, 21 Nov. 1840, p. [33].
  
  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. 831
  Young, Journal, 25–28 Nov. 1840, pp. [33]–[34]; “News From The Elders,” LDS Millennial Star, Jan. 1841, 1:238–239.
  
  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.
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
7. 832
  See 4 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
8. 833
  “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:306–307.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
9. 834
  See 5 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
10. 835
  “Earthquakes, Floods, and Shipwrecks,” LDS Millennial Star, Feb. 1841, 1:260.
  
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
11. 836
  See 10 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
12. 837
  See 13 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
13. 838
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 12–13 Dec. 1840.
  
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
14. 839
  See 14 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
15. 840
  “Dissolution,”Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1840, 2:256.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
16. 841
  See 16 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
17. 842
  “Miscellaneous,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1841, 2:281–286.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.