History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell,
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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, and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.

The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian
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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, who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with
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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in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.

Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed
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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’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)

Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.

The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include

• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.

• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, 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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Legion, and Mormon voting practices.

• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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and
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
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.

• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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and revocation of his priesthood license.

• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by
Addison Pratt
21 Feb. 1802–14 Oct. 1872. Sailor, farmer, carpenter. Born in Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Henry Pratt and Rebekah Jewell. Married Louisa Barnes, 3 Apr. 1831, in Dunham, Lower Canada. Settled on banks of Lake Erie, in New York, where he...
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.

• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of
George J. Adams
7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
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’s appointment to a mission to Russia.

• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.

• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of
Vermont
Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...
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, inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.

• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by
Eliza R. Snow
21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church...
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commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by
Lorenzo Snow
3 Apr. 1814–10 Oct. 1901. Schoolteacher. Born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio. Son of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Attended Oberlin College. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John F. Boynton, 19 June 1836, in Kirtland...
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.

• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the
United States
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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.

• An account of JS’s
King Follett
24/26 July 1788–9 Mar. 1844. Born at Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Follett and Hannah Oak (Oake) Alexander. Married Louisa Tanner, by 1815. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spring 1831. Member of Whitmer branch...
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sermon, 7 April 1844.

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<December 25> the Lord, and said that he thought at first that a cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such heavenly music to him.

At home all day. About noon gave council to some brethren who called on me from Morley Settlement, <and> told them to keep law on their side, and they would come out well enough.

At two o’clock, about 50 couple sat down at my table to dine, while I was eating my called, requesting me to solemnize the marriage of his brother Dr. and , but as I could not leave I referred him to Prest. who married them.

A large party supped at my house, and spent the evening in music, Dancing &c. in a most cheerful and friendly manner. During the festivities, a man with his hair long and falling over his shoulders, and apparently drunk, came in, and acted like a Missourian. I requested the Captain of the Police to put him out of doors, a scuffle ensued, and I had an opportunity to look him full in the face, when to my great surprize and joy untold, I discovered it was my long tried, <warm but cruelly persecuted friend> [HC 6:134] , just arrived from nearly a year’s imprisonment without conviction in .

The following is his statement of his experience and sufferings by that accursed people.

“I was on my way from to , and while at on the 4th. March 1843 was arrested by a Mr Fox, on oath of Elias Parker, who swore I was the advertized in the papers, as having attempted to assassinate — <and was taken> before a Magistrate in . I was then put into <the County> Jail and kept 2 days with a pair of Iron Hobbles on my ankles; about midnight was taken into the Stage Coach in charge of Fox, and started for . there were 9 Passengers, 2 of them women. I sat on the middle seat— one of the men behind me commenced gonging me in the back— I spoke to him, and told him that it was dark and I could not see him but <that> he was no gentleman, one of the Ladies whispered to him, and he ceased the operation. The next night the driver being drunk, run against a Tree, and broke the king bolt, and not knowing what to do, ironed as I was, I crawled into the Boot, and found an extra bolt, and in the dark fixed the coach, got it off the Tree, and we started on, soon after run against a Bank and could not move. I was asleep at the time, but the bustle awoke me, when I told them if they would take off my Irons I would get off and drive, as the driver was too drunk, to manage the horses; they refused. I however got hold of the lines and by the help of other passengers lifting at the wheels, got it righted, and I drove to the next stand <near the Osage River>— the roads were very bad & the load heavy so we got along slowly.

There was an officer of the U.S. army in the coach, was <We were> 2 days and 2 nights <from> in reaching , where I was lodged in the Jail 2 days and 2 nights. the U.S. officer went on. Started on for still in charge of Fox, at Boonville overtook the U.S. officer. We three were all that were in the coach all the way, <from Boonville> to . told me afterwards that when he looked into the stage that he took me for the guard and the officer for the prisoner, for he looked like the guilty one. Was about 4 Days going to , arrived there just at night, a large crowd gathered around making many remarks, some [HC 6:135] were for hanging me at once. I was then placed in the Jail, in 2 or 3 days under went a shame trial before a Justice of the Peace, the was crowded and the men were armed with Hickory clubs— they set on boys from 10 to 12 years of age to kick and punch me which they did repeatedly: while in court Fox was the main witness introduced and he swore falsely, <Fox swore that I had stated to him that I had not been in the Country for 5 years. I informed the Court that Fox swore falsely, in proof thereof, that the people of knew that I had travelled thro several times, during that time, for the people were all well aware of my having visited this place, which fact alone should satisfy them that Fox was swearing for money, which I afterwards learned that he obtained and divided with Parker. The Magistrate committed me to prison, for my safe preservation, as he was afraid the people would kill me, but he could find no crime against me, this was told the officer, who conveyed me to prison—> I was re-committed to Jail still wearing the Iron hobbles <and> was kept in the upper part in the day time, and in the dungeon at night with a little dirty [p. 1827]

December 25 the Lord, and said that he thought at first that a cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such heavenly music to him.

At home all day. About noon gave council to some brethren who called on me from Morley Settlement, and told them to keep law on their side, and they would come out well enough.

A large party supped at my house, and spent the evening in music, Dancing &c. in a most cheerful and friendly manner. During the festivities, a man with his hair long and falling over his shoulders, and apparently drunk, came in, and acted like a Missourian. I requested the Captain of the Police to put him out of doors, a scuffle ensued, and I had an opportunity to look him full in the face, when to my great surprize and joy untold, I discovered it was my long tried, warm but cruelly persecuted friend [HC 6:134] , just arrived from nearly a year’s imprisonment without conviction in .

The following is his statement of his experience and sufferings by that accursed people.

“I was on my way from to , and while at on the 4th. March 1843 was arrested by a Mr Fox, on oath of Elias Parker, who swore I was the advertized in the papers, as having attempted to assassinate — and was taken before a Magistrate in . I was then put into the County Jail and kept 2 days with a pair of Iron Hobbles on my ankles; about midnight was taken into the Stage Coach in charge of Fox, and started for . there were 9 Passengers, 2 of them women. I sat on the middle seat— one of the men behind me commenced gonging me in the back— I spoke to him, and told him that it was dark and I could not see him but that he was no gentleman, one of the Ladies whispered to him, and he ceased the operation. The next night the driver being drunk, run against a Tree, and broke the king bolt, and not knowing what to do, ironed as I was, I crawled into the Boot, and found an extra bolt, and in the dark fixed the coach, got it off the Tree, and we started on, soon after run against a Bank and could not move. I was asleep at the time, but the bustle awoke me, when I told them if they would take off my Irons I would get off and drive, as the driver was too drunk, to manage the horses; they refused. I however got hold of the lines and by the help of other passengers lifting at the wheels, got it righted, and I drove to the next stand near the Osage River— the roads were very bad & the load heavy so we got along slowly.

There was an officer of the U.S. army in the coach, We were 2 days and 2 nights from in reaching , where I was lodged in the Jail 2 days and 2 nights. the U.S. officer went on. Started on for still in charge of Fox, at Boonville overtook the U.S. officer. We three were all that were in the coach all the way, from Boonville to . told me afterwards that when he looked into the stage that he took me for the guard and the officer for the prisoner, for he looked like the guilty one. Was about 4 Days going to , arrived there just at night, a large crowd gathered around making many remarks, some [HC 6:135] were for hanging me at once. I was then placed in the Jail, in 2 or 3 days under went a sham trial before a Justice of the Peace, the was crowded and the men were armed with Hickory clubs— they set on boys from 10 to 12 years of age to kick and punch me which they did repeatedly: while in court Fox was the main witness introduced and he swore falsely, Fox swore that I had stated to him that I had not been in the Country for 5 years. I informed the Court that Fox swore falsely, in proof thereof, that the people of knew that I had travelled thro several times, during that time, for the people were all well aware of my having visited this place, which fact alone should satisfy them that Fox was swearing for money, which I afterwards learned that he obtained and divided with Parker. The Magistrate committed me to prison, for my safe preservation, as he was afraid the people would kill me, but he could find no crime against me, this was told the officer, who conveyed me to prison— I was re-committed to Jail still wearing the Iron hobbles and was kept in the upper part in the day time, and in the dungeon at night with a little dirty [p. 1827]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
ID #
8112
Total Pages
448
Handwriting on This Page
- Robert L. Campbell
Footnotes
1. 581
  JS, Journal, 25 Dec. 1843.
2. 582
  Orrin Porter Rockwell, Statement, in History Draft [1 March–31 December 1843].

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

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