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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oaths they could invent, but they took no cognizance of it. The 10 mobbers went home after their guns to shoot ,— & the <gr[a]nd> Jury brought in a bill for “Murder, Treason, Burglary, arson, Larceny, Theft and Stealing” againt vs. , , , & Joseph Smith Jr.—

<Committe.> This evening the committe[e] assembled at Daniel Sheerers. After prayer by Bro . he was an on the recomendati[o]n of under the ha[n]ds of , , & . reported that Jesse P. Maupin. the $30 messenger they sent to us had retu[r]ned, that the prisone[r]s were well & in good spirits. who had returnd from repo[r]ted that he had sold all the lands in .— was request[e]d to attend a meeting of the tomorrow, and as an individual mention the case of the committe & breth[re]n generally, and learn their feelings. wheth[e]r they would procatet [protect] the brethn from the abuse of the mob, in case they come immediately to drive them out, as they had recently threaten[e]d.

<11> During this night the visions of the futuer [future] were opened to my view, <understanding> when I saw the way & means & near approach of my escape from prison <imprisonm[e]nt>, & the danger that my belov[e]d was in. I awoke . & told him if he would rise very early & not wait for the Judge & Lawye[r]s as he had contemplat[e]d, but ride briskly. he would get safe home almost before he was aware of it, & if he did not the mob would shoot him on the way.— And tell the breth[re]n to be of good cheer & loose no time in removing from . the country.

12 April 1839 • Friday

<’s Return.> <12> Fridy 12. This morning awoke at dawn of days & rode rapidly towads where he arrived befor 9 A M. The Mobbers pursu[e]d him to shoot him but did not overtake him.

<carry forward> <. Letter> <12> Friday 12[th] <This day> I rec[e]ived the following communication “Dear Sir X (L. 50) ” A curious idea, that I, who had been a prisoner for many months should be called upon to hunt up lost property, or propety, most likely dest[r]oyed by the mob, but it is no more curious than a thousand other things that have happen[e]d, & I feel to do all I can to oblige any of my fellow creatures.— “ X (Facts 40, 41) ” <(See pagee 52)> [p. 51]

oaths they could invent, but they took no cognizance of it. The 10 mobbers went home after their guns to shoot ,— & the grand Jury brought in a bill for “Murder, Treason, Burglary, arson, Larceny, Theft and Stealing” vs. , , , & Joseph Smith Jr.—

Committe. This evening the committee assembled at Daniel Sheerers. After prayer by Bro . he was an on the recomendation of under the hands of , , & . reported that Jesse P. Maupin. the $30 messenger they sent to us had returned, that the prisoners were well & in good spirits. who had returnd from reported that he had sold all the lands in .— was requested to attend a meeting of the tomorrow, and as an individual mention the case of the committe & brethren generally, and learn their feelings. whether they would procatet [protect] the brethn from the abuse of the mob, in case they come immediately to drive them out, as they had recently threatened.

11 During this night the visions of the futuer [future] were opened to my , understanding when I saw the way & means & near approach of my escape from imprisonment, & the danger that my beloved was in. I awoke . & told him if he would rise very early & not wait for the Judge & Lawyers as he had contemplated, but ride briskly. he would get safe home almost before he was aware of it, & if he did not the mob would shoot him on the way.— And tell the brethren to be of good cheer & loose no time in removing from the country.

12 April 1839 • Friday

’s Return. 12 Fridy 12. This morning awoke at dawn of days & rode rapidly towads where he arrived befor 9 A M. The Mobbers pursued to shoot him but did not overtake him.

carry forward . Letter 12 This day I received the following communication “Dear Sir X (L. 50) ” A curious idea, that I, who had been a prisoner for many months should be called upon to hunt up lost property, or propety, most likely destroyed by the mob, but it is no more curious than a thousand other things that have happened, & I feel to do all I can to oblige any of my fellow creatures.— “ X (Facts 40, 41) ” (See pagee 52) [p. 51]

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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. 181
  TEXT: The following paragraph was written further down the page, but Richards drew a line indicating that it should be moved here.
2. 182
  See 12 Apr. 1839 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 919–920.
3. 183
  TEXT: This insertion and the following paragraph were written earlier on the page, but Richards included this note and a line indicating that it should be moved here.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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