History, circa 1841, fair copy
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Source Note
JS, History, [ca. 1841], fair copy; handwriting of ; 100 pages; CHL.See also source note for JS History, circa 1841, draft.
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Historical Introduction
was a recent convert to Mormonism when he visited in 1840. There he was immediately engaged by JS as a clerk at his office. Coray later reminisced in his autobiography that after he completed his initial assignment, JS requested that he “undertake, in connection with , the compilation of the Church History.”At the time received his charge, JS’s and the church’s “history” had been an ongoing project for a decade. Several early attempts had apparently fallen short and been abandoned. However, JS and ’s 1838 effort initiated with , and JS’s ensuing collaboration with , had begun to bear fruit. Unfortunately, Mulholland had died 3 November 1839 after inscribing fifty-nine pages of text in a large record book subsequently designated as volume “A-1” of the manuscript history of the church. was appointed “general church clerk” in October 1840 and succeeded Mulholland as scribe for A-1.Meanwhile, JS assigned and to draft additional historical material, using sources JS provided. Woolley eventually withdrew from the project and was replaced by a “Dr. Miller,” who remains unidentified. Their work evidently resulted in two different kinds of drafts. According to Coray’s later reminiscences, the first grew out of instructions “not only to combine, and arrange in cronological order, but to spread out or amplify not a little, in as good historical style as may be.” No manuscript matching this description has survived, but their work may have provided the basis for material subsequently copied into the history by other scribes.did, however, produce an edited version of the narrative inscribed in the large history volume (A-1). According to Coray’s later account, JS was directly involved in this reworking of the history, reading aloud and dictating revisions from the large volume. Two drafts of this work have survived. However, the main history endeavor continued in the large history volume, and there is no indication that either draft was used in subsequent compiling or in publication of the history. Though a short-lived effort, Coray’s manuscript represents the intention to revise the history, suggesting that JS had not yet settled on a final historical product even after he had directed scribes to begin inscribing the history in the large, more permanent volume in 1839.’s history draft includes departures from the material recorded in A-1 which, though minor, show an intention to refine the story. Coray deleted passages that seemed to be defensive, to plead the cause of the Saints, or to play on the reader’s sympathies—a list of grievances, for example, or complaints against individuals. The draft often softened wording about the persecution of JS and employed more moderate language in describing opposition, avoiding the word “mob” and glossing over accounts of violence.’s work on JS’s history was not located until 2005, when two manuscripts in Coray’s hand were identified among documents in the possession of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These two manuscripts consisted of a lightly edited draft of the material and had written in the large history volume, and a fair or clean copy of that material that incorporated the revisions Coray made in his earlier draft. The first draft was published in volume 1 of the Histories series of the The Joseph Smith Papers. (See History Drafts, 1838—ca. 1841.) The second or “fair copy” of the two drafts is the document herein featured. An inscription in Coray’s handwriting at the bottom of the first page of this document identifies it as the second copy. In 1869 Coray signed a statement that was later attached to the paper wrapper that enclosed the two drafts: “These hundred pages of History were written by me, under Joseph the Prophet’s dictation. Dr Miller helped me a little in writing the same.”For more information about the relationship between the history drafts, see Introduction to Early Drafts of History, 1838–1856.
I was born in the Town of Sharon, Windsor Co. , on the 23d day of Dec. in the year of our Lord, 1805. When I was 10 years old, my father, emigrated to , Ontario, (now Wayne) County, New York. After residing there, about four years, he removed with his family to of the Same County.
His family at this time, consisted of eleven Souls, Viz , his consort , whose maiden name was Mack (daughter of Soloman Mack [Sr.] of [blank],) my brother, , (now deceased,) . Myself, , , and , my sisters, . , and . During the second year of our residence in this place; I being about 14 years old there was an unusual religious excitement, commencing in the Methodst Society, and soon became general among all the sects in that vicinity. The results of which were that many united with the different sects; causing much strife and division among the people. Some crying lo here, and some lo there. Some contending for one faith and some for another. And notwithstanding the love they expressed at the time of their conversion, and the Zeal of the respective Clergy, who had been active in getting up, and promoting this excitements with the avowed object of “converting every body,” professing to care but little, with what society the converts united: Yet when the converts began to unite with the different sects, it became evident that the professed love and zeal of both Converts and Clergy, were more pretended than real. And a scene of great confusion and bad feelings, ensued. Priest at war with Priest— Convert with Convert, convincing an unprejudiced mind that their professed love [p. 1]
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