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

<March 25> 25. 26 and 27. Elders and were detained at the Post office as witnesses in the case of The Queen vs Joseph Holloway for detaining letters.

27–28 March 1841 • Saturday–Sunday

<27> <Elders and attended a Council of the Official Members of the Staffordshire Conference at Hanley, and on <28> Sunday 28 attended a general meeting of the Staffordshire Conference <at Hanley> where 13 Branches were represented containing 1 High Priest, 17 Elders, 55 Priests *> <*25 Teachers, 14 Deacons, and 663 members; Thos. J. Filcher, J. Taylor, Osmond Shaw, W. Ridge and H. Ridge were ordained Elders, also 8 Priests, 7 Teachers, & 2 Deacons under the hands of , and . There have been 141 baptized during the past three months.>

29 March 1841 • Monday

<29.> Monday 29 I attended City Council and moved that the City Surveyor, be ordered to survey , and Plot the same, so as to correspond with the City Plot of , and make out a map to be recorded, which was carried by the Council— Much was said in Council about fining the owners of dogs, and I contended that it was right to fine individuals [HC 4:322] who would keep unruly dogs to worry cattle, sheep or the Citizens, and an ordainance was passed to that effect— Elders and were at packing Books of Mormon, to pay off those who had loaned them money, to carry forward the printing and binding—

The following are Extracts from s Letter

“Burslem March 29. 1841 Brother — The following is a brief sketch of my journey from to this place. left on the 19 Feb. I left on the 26th. and arrived at Bristol on the same day, where I found Elder [Thomas] Kington, who was busily engaged in the work of the Lord in that City, and had established a small branch of 14 members, I tarried <t>here a short time, and preached three times in a theatre, had full congregations, good attention, and baptized one, and there appears a good prospect of a work in that city. Population of Bristol 200,000. While there I visited the Suspension Bridge now erecting across the River Avon, at St. Vincents Rocks, Clifton; which bridge is 100 feet in height above the river, and 700 in length. I spent one evening in Monmouth, on the borders of Wales, preached to a full congregation, several <applied> for baptism after meeting. On the 8th. March I attended a Conference in Garway, Elder was chosen President, James Morgan Clerk— heard four branches represented, containing 134 members; three were ordained to the Ministry. I also preached at Lugwardine, Shuchnall hill, Ledbury, Dymock and Turkey Hall, to full Congregations, and find the work of the Lord still progressing throughout that region. The excitement upon the subject in the City of Hereford has been so great, that it has assembled together in the Market Place 3,000 persons at a time, to hear something upon the cause of <the> Latter Day Saints. On the 15th. March, I attended the Gadfield Elm Conference, which met at the Gadfield Elm Chapel. Elder was chosen President, John Hill, Clerk, and 18 branches <were> represented, containing 408 members, 8 Elders, 32 Priests, 11 Teachers, [HC 4:323] 1 Deacon; when such business was transacted, as was deemed necessary. I also met large congregations at Heysend Street, Coldville, Browcut, Dunclose, Frooms Hill, and Stanley Hill, and left many churches on the right and left, which time would not permit me to visit— I also met with the Frooms Hill Conference on the 22nd. March at Stanley Hill Herefordshire, there being present 1 of the Travelling High Council. 2 High Priests, 20 Elders, 30 Priests, 9 Teachers, 2 Deacons. Elder was chosen President and , Clerk. On this occasion I heard represented 30 branches containing 997 members, 24 Elders, 66 Priests, 27 Teachers, 7 Deacons, and 6 were ordained to the ministry. The sum total represented at these [p. 1181]

25–27 March 1841 • Thursday–Saturday

March 25 25. 26 and 27. Elders and were detained at the Post office as witnesses in the case of The Queen vs Joseph Holloway for detaining letters.

27–28 March 1841 • Saturday–Sunday

27 Elders and attended a Council of the Official Members of the Staffordshire Conference at Hanley, and on 28 Sunday 28 attended a general meeting of the Staffordshire Conference at Hanley where 13 Branches were represented containing 1 High Priest, 17 Elders, 55 Priests * *25 Teachers, 14 Deacons, and 663 members; Thos. J. Filcher, J. Taylor, Osmond Shaw, W. Ridge and H. Ridge were ordained Elders, also 8 Priests, 7 Teachers, & 2 Deacons under the hands of , and . There have been 141 baptized during the past three months.

29 March 1841 • Monday

29. Monday 29 I attended City Council and moved that the City Surveyor, be ordered to survey , and Plot the same, so as to correspond with the City Plot of , and make out a map to be recorded, which was carried by the Council— Much was said in Council about fining the owners of dogs, and I contended that it was right to fine individuals [HC 4:322] who would keep unruly dogs to worry cattle, sheep or the Citizens, and an ordainance was passed to that effect— Elders and were at packing Books of Mormon, to pay off those who had loaned them money, to carry forward the printing and binding—

The following are Extracts from s Letter

“Burslem March 29. 1841 Brother — The following is a brief sketch of my journey from to this place. left on the 19 Feb. I left on the 26th. and arrived at Bristol on the same day, where I found Elder [Thomas] Kington, who was busily engaged in the work of the Lord in that City, and had established a small branch of 14 members, I tarried there a short time, and preached three times in a theatre, had full congregations, good attention, and baptized one, and there appears a good prospect of a work in that city. Population of Bristol 200,000. While there I visited the Suspension Bridge now erecting across the River Avon, at St. Vincents Rocks, Clifton; which bridge is 100 feet in height above the river, and 700 in length. I spent one evening in Monmouth, on the borders of Wales, preached to a full congregation, several applied for baptism after meeting. On the 8th. March I attended a Conference in Garway, Elder was chosen President, James Morgan Clerk— heard four branches represented, containing 134 members; three were ordained to the Ministry. I also preached at Lugwardine, Shuchnall hill, Ledbury, Dymock and Turkey Hall, to full Congregations, and find the work of the Lord still progressing throughout that region. The excitement upon the subject in the City of Hereford has been so great, that it has assembled together in the Market Place 3,000 persons at a time, to hear something upon the cause of the Latter Day Saints. On the 15th. March, I attended the Gadfield Elm Conference, which met at the Gadfield Elm Chapel. Elder was chosen President, John Hill, Clerk, and 18 branches were represented, containing 408 members, 8 Elders, 32 Priests, 11 Teachers, [HC 4:323] 1 Deacon; when such business was transacted, as was deemed necessary. I also met large congregations at Heysend Street, Coldville, Browcut, Dunclose, Frooms Hill, and Stanley Hill, and left many churches on the right and left, which time would not permit me to visit— I also met with the Frooms Hill Conference on the 22nd. March at Stanley Hill Herefordshire, there being present 1 of the Travelling High Council. 2 High Priests, 20 Elders, 30 Priests, 9 Teachers, 2 Deacons. Elder was chosen President and , Clerk. On this occasion I heard represented 30 branches containing 997 members, 24 Elders, 66 Priests, 27 Teachers, 7 Deacons, and 6 were ordained to the ministry. The sum total represented at these [p. 1181]

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. 957
  See 25–27 Mar. 1841 entry in History Draft.
2. 958
  Woodruff, Journal, 27–28 Mar. 1841; George A. Smith, Burslem, England, 29 Mar. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:434.
  
  Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
3. 959
  TEXT: Insertion written vertically in the margin.
4. 960
  See 29 Mar. 1841 entry in History Draft.
5. 961
  Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 29 Mar. 1841 , 17.
  
  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.
6. 962
  Young, Journal, 29–30 Mar. 1841, [30].
  
  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.
7. 963
  Wilford Woodruff, Burslem, England, 29 Mar. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:435.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.