History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
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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; 71 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 6 August 1838 to 30 December 1839.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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<Joseph starts for .> <August.> <7> Tuesday morning an at a report came from to <by way of those missourians not belonging to the >. that at the Election at . yesterday. 2 or 3 of our brethren, were killed by the Missourians, and left upon the ground, <and not suffred to be interr[e]d,> and <that.> the brethrn were preventd from voting and a majority of the inhabitants of were determind to drive the saints from the .— On hearig this report. I started for to assist the brethrn accompand by, , . & 15 or 20 others, who were armed for their own protection. & the command was given, to a colonel in the Militia.— On our way we were joined by the brethren from different part— of the . some of whom were attacked by the mob. but we all reached s that night in safety.— where we found, some if <of> not all the brethren who were <Mobbed> at the fight at , with others, waiting for counsel. Here we received the cheering intellegne [intelligence] that none of the brethrn were killed, although several were badly wounded,— from the best information about 150 Mo◊◊◊. <warred> against forcee <some> 6 to 12 of the <our> brethren who fought like tigers <Lions>, and cleared the ground.— Several Missourions had their skulls cracked,— blessed be the memory of those few brethen who contended so strenuously for their constitionel [constitutional] rights— & religious freedom, againt such an overwhelming forced of unprincipled mobocrats, desperadoes

8 August 1838 • Wednesday

<Wednesday 8th> After spending the night in council at ’s, we called I rode out, with some others <of the brethren>, to view the situation of affairs in that region, and amongst othrs called on Justice of the peace, & Judge elect. for , who had some time prevous sold his farm to <Bro> , & received past pay according to agreement, and afterward united himself with a band of Mobbers to drive the Saints from. & prevent their settling in in .— On interrogation he confessed what he had done and in consequence of this violation of his oath as magistrate I asked <we> him to give us some satisfaction so that we might know whether he was our friend or enemy, <whether he would administer the Law in Justice,> and politely requested him to sign an agreement of peace, but sein◊ <being> as jealous [p. 3]

7 August 1838 • Tuesday

Joseph starts for . August. 7 Tuesday morning a report came to by way of those not belonging to the . that at the Election at . yesterday. 2 or 3 of our brethren, were killed by the Missourians, and left upon the ground, and not suffred to be interred, that. the brethrn were preventd from voting and a majority of the inhabitants of were determind to drive the saints from the .— On hearig this report. I started for to assist the brethrn accompand by, , . & 15 or 20 others, who were armed for their own protection. & the command was given, to a colonel in the Militia.— On our way we were joined by the brethren from different part— of the . some of whom were attacked by the mob. but we all reached s that night in safety.— where we found, some of the brethren who were Mobbed at , with others, waiting for counsel. Here we received the cheering intellegne [intelligence] that none of the brethrn were killed, although several were badly wounded,— from the best information about 150 Mo. warred against some 6 to 12 of our brethren who fought like Lions, .— Several Missourions had their skulls cracked,— blessed be the memory of those few brethen who contended so strenuously for their constitionel [constitutional] rights— & religious freedom, againt such an overwhelming forced of unprincipled , desperadoes

8 August 1838 • Wednesday

Wednesday 8th After spending the night in council at ’s, I rode out, with some of the brethren, to view the situation of affairs in that region, and among othrs called on Justice of the peace, & Judge elect. for , who had some time prevous sold his farm to Bro , & received past pay according to agreement, and afterward united himself with a band of Mobbers to drive the Saints from. & prevent their settling in in .— On interrogation he confessed what he had done and in consequence of this violation of his oath as magistrate I we him to give us some satisfaction so that we might know whether he was our friend or enemy, whether he would administer the Law in Justice, and politely requested him to sign an agreement of peace, but being jealous [p. 3]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]
ID #
8472
Total Pages
74
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 6
  See 7 Aug. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. B-1, p. 813.
2. 7
  See 8 Aug. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. B-1, p. 813.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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