Petition from John Hammond and Others, 18 October 1842

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Petition from John Hammond and Others, 18 October 1842
Source Note

John Hammond
22 July 1795–27 Dec. 1858. Farmer. Born in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Son of George Hammond and Susannah Camp. Married Lovica Parker, 15 Dec. 1819. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1836. Immigrated to U.S.; settled in Kirtland, ...
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and others, Petition,
Golden’s Point
Located on bluff between Larry Creek and Waggoner Creek in southwestern portion of present-day Sonora Township. Named after Abram Golden, early settler in Hancock Co. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established in area, Sept. 1842.
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, Hancock Co., IL, to JS and the Nauvoo
high council
A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...
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,
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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, Hancock Co., IL, 18 Oct. 1842; handwriting possibly of
John Hammond
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; signatures in the handwriting of
Levi Jackman
28 July 1797–23 July 1876. Carpenter, wainwright. Born at Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Moses French Jackman and Elizabeth Carr. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, 1810. Married first Angeline Myers Brady, 13 Nov. 1817, at Alexander, Genesee...
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and seven unidentified scribes; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.

Single leaf, measuring 12⅝ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm). Both sides of the leaf are ruled horizontally with forty printed lines. The bottom of the recto was divided into three columns for signatures with inscribed column lines. The leaf was folded for transmission and refolded for filing.

The petition was docketed by
Hosea Stout
18 Sept. 1810–2 Mar. 1889. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, sawmill operator, lawyer. Born near Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith. Moved to Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, 1819; to Wilmington, Clinton Co., fall 1824; to...
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, the clerk of the
Nauvoo
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, Illinois,
high council
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. It was later docketed by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
1
Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.
Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.
Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.
Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.
By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
2
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
The petition’s dockets and inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.
Footnotes
[1]
Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.
Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.
Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.
Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.
Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.
[2]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
On 18 October 1842,
John Hammond
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and members of the Union
branch
An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...
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of the
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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in and around
Golden’s Point
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, Illinois, petitioned JS and other church leaders in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, to reorganize the boundaries of the branch. The Union branch had been established at a
conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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at Golden’s Point on 4 September 1842 with L. W. Brandon as president. It is unclear what the boundaries of the branch were at that time, but Golden’s Point appears to have been the meeting point near the branch’s geographic center.
1
“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

The petitioners requested the change in boundaries presumably so the branch included more church members. The petition proposed boundaries in relation to the
Mississippi River
Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...
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and to the locations of several church members’ property in
Hancock County
Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...
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, Illinois. However, extant county records do not include information on most of the properties mentioned. According to an April 1844 census conducted by the church, the revised boundaries included sections 15 and 16 of present-day Sonora Township in Hancock County.
2
Nauvoo 11th Ward Census, Apr. 1844, CHL.
Nauvoo Stake. Ward Census, 1842. CHL.
The main body of the petition, apparently written by
Hammond
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, a counselor to
Bishop
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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David Evans of the
Nauvoo
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Eleventh Ward, is dated 18 October 1842, and the initial signatories probably signed the petition the same day.
3
Hartley, “Nauvoo Stake, Priesthood Quorums, and the Church’s First Wards,” 61–62.
Hartley, William G. “Nauvoo Stake, Priesthood Quorums, and the Church’s First Wards.” BYU Studies 32, nos. 1–2 (1992): 57–80.
Some of the later signatures may have been collected in subsequent days. There are few original signatures, as some signatories signed for others, including entire families.

Golden’s Point
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was approximately seven miles south of
Nauvoo
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, so the petition could have easily been delivered to Nauvoo within a day. It is unclear when JS, who was in hiding for much of October, first received the petition. The high council received this petition by 29 October, when the council considered it and resolved that it “be laid over untill Prest.
Hiram 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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return home” from a mission to the eastern
United States
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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.
4
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 29 Oct. 1842, 14; Letter from George Miller, 4 Sept. 1842.
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, ca. 1839–ca. 1843. Fair copy. In Oliver Cowdery, Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL.
The council considered the petition again on 19 November; council member
Alpheus Cutler
29 Feb. 1784–10 June 1864. Stonemason. Born in Plainfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Knight Cutler and Elizabeth Boyd. Married Lois Lathrop, 17 Nov. 1808, in Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Moved to Upper Lisle, Broome Co., New York, ca. 1808...
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reported “that Presidents Joseph & Hyrum Smith wished the council to grant the petition of a part of the Union Branch of Oct the 18th inst inasmuch as it was their desire.” The high council subsequently resolved that the petition be granted and the boundaries adjusted.
5
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 19 Nov. 1842, 16.

The petition was copied into the minutes of the 29 October high council meeting, although the signatures of branch members were excluded in that version.
6
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 29 Oct. 1842, 14–15.
The original version is featured here.
Footnotes
[1]
“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.
[2]
Nauvoo 11th Ward Census, Apr. 1844, CHL.
Nauvoo Stake. Ward Census, 1842. CHL.
[3]
Hartley, “Nauvoo Stake, Priesthood Quorums, and the Church’s First Wards,” 61–62.
Hartley, William G. “Nauvoo Stake, Priesthood Quorums, and the Church’s First Wards.” BYU Studies 32, nos. 1–2 (1992): 57–80.
[4]
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 29 Oct. 1842, 14; Letter from George Miller, 4 Sept. 1842.
[5]
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 19 Nov. 1842, 16.
[6]
Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 29 Oct. 1842, 14–15.
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October the 18th 1842

To the Honorable
President
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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Joseph Smith and
High Counselors
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of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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at the City of
Nauvoo
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WE the under signed Subscribers members of the aforesaid Church belonging the Union
Branch
An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...
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at
Goldens Point
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do petition Your most honorable body with president Smith also to grant unto us the privilege of Organizing a new or in other <words> Set us of[f] in to a new branch in cluding all <who> live in the following boundary to wit

Beginning at the
Mississippi <river>
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so as to include Br. Luce
1
Possibly Malatiah Luce, who had joined the church on North Fox Island, Maine, before moving to Illinois. (Woodruff, Journal, 14 Nov. 1841.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
and running East so <as> to exclude Jn Manfest’s place Continuing Easterly so as to include John Egbert
2
According to Hancock County records, these coordinates covered what was likely a forty-acre plot in the northeast portion of the southwest quarter of section 28 in Township 6 North, Range 8 West. (Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 20P, pp. 52–53, 26 Jan. 1846, microfilm 954,602, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
and Joseph Curtis
3
Curtis joined the church in 1833 and lived in Kirtland, Ohio, and Caldwell County, Missouri, before moving to Illinois in 1839. He was a member of the branch of the church organized at Warsaw, Illinois, in 1839. Extant Hancock County records do not indicate the location of Curtis’s property, but, according to his journal, he was not present at the meeting in which Hammond and others decided to petition the church for a reorganization of the Union branch’s boundaries. (Curtis, Reminiscences and Diary, 4–11, 53–54.)
Curtis, Joseph. Reminiscences and Diary, 1839–1881. CHL.
thence South 4 miles thence West to the
Mississippi
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So as to include the brethren at Montabello thence North to the beginning. We the under signed petitioners praying the for favour of the most honorable and dignified high Councelors at
Nauvoo
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do hereby certify that this arrangement would be greatly to our advantage and convenience wherefore we subscribe our selves

Your humble petitioners and obedient servants

Signatures of John Hammond and George W. Brandon in the handwriting of first unidentified scribe, possibly John Hammond, which is the handwriting of the main text.
John Hammond
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<we forward our petition by one of Bishop [David] Evans’s Councilors>

G[eorge] W. Brandon
20 Oct. 1809–ca. 1849. Born at Spartanburg, Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. Son of John Brandon and Diana Scott. Moved to Henry Co., Tennessee, 1826. Married Keziah Fowler, 1828. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Wilford Woodruff...
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Elder
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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Signatures of Eveline Cownover, A. W. Davis, Pheby Davis, and Frances Williams are in the handwriting of fourth unidentified scribe, possibly Eveline Cownover.
Eveline Cownover

Signatures of Aaron H. Golden, Nancy Golden, Emely Parks, and Kissiah Brunson are in the handwriting of second unidentified scribe, likely Aaron H. Golden.
Aaron H. Golden
Priest
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...
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4
At the conference at which the branch was organized, Golden was selected as the branch’s clerk. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
A. W. Davis Elder

Nancy Golden Pheby Davis

Emely Parks Frances Williams

Kissiah Brunson
Signature of Alexander Williams in the handwriting of fifth unidentified scribe, most likely Alexander Williams.
Alexander Williams Elder

Signatures from M. B. Walton to the bottom of the column (P. W. Cownover) are in the handwriting of third unidentified scribe and are all rewritten in a darker inscription.
M B Walton Elder
Signatures of Jesse Spurgin, Lydia Spurgin, and Susanna Spurgin in the handwriting of sixth unidentified scribe, most likely Jesse Spurgin.
Jesse Spurgin priest

Hannah Walton Lydia Spurgin

Isaac Walton Susanna Spurgin

Sarah Stephenson
Signature of Levi Jackman.
Levi Jackman
28 July 1797–23 July 1876. Carpenter, wainwright. Born at Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Moses French Jackman and Elizabeth Carr. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, 1810. Married first Angeline Myers Brady, 13 Nov. 1817, at Alexander, Genesee...
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H Priest
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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J L Harvey
Signatures of James McMinds, Ann McMinds, and Benjamin Denton in the handwriting of seventh unidentified scribe.
James Mc.minds elder

Sarah Harvey Ann Mc.minds

Lewis Harvey Benjamin Denton

Elizabeth Harvey

P W Cownover
5
Likely Peter W. Cownover, who had joined the church with his wife in Nauvoo in 1840. The September 1842 conference to organize the branch took place in P. W. Cownover’s home at Golden’s Point. (Cownover, Autobiographical Sketch, 2; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
Cownover, Peter W. Autobiographical Sketch, no date. Peter W. Cownover, Reminiscences, no date. CHL.

Teacher
Generally, one who instructs, but also an ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The Book of Mormon explained that teachers were to be ordained “to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end...
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Document Information
Footnotes
[1]
Possibly Malatiah Luce, who had joined the church on North Fox Island, Maine, before moving to Illinois. (Woodruff, Journal, 14 Nov. 1841.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
[2]
According to Hancock County records, these coordinates covered what was likely a forty-acre plot in the northeast portion of the southwest quarter of section 28 in Township 6 North, Range 8 West. (Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 20P, pp. 52–53, 26 Jan. 1846, microfilm 954,602, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
[3]
Curtis joined the church in 1833 and lived in Kirtland, Ohio, and Caldwell County, Missouri, before moving to Illinois in 1839. He was a member of the branch of the church organized at Warsaw, Illinois, in 1839. Extant Hancock County records do not indicate the location of Curtis’s property, but, according to his journal, he was not present at the meeting in which Hammond and others decided to petition the church for a reorganization of the Union branch’s boundaries. (Curtis, Reminiscences and Diary, 4–11, 53–54.)
Curtis, Joseph. Reminiscences and Diary, 1839–1881. CHL.
Signatures of John Hammond and George W. Brandon in the handwriting of first unidentified scribe, possibly John Hammond, which is the handwriting of the main text.
Signatures of Eveline Cownover, A. W. Davis, Pheby Davis, and Frances Williams are in the handwriting of fourth unidentified scribe, possibly Eveline Cownover.
Signatures of Aaron H. Golden, Nancy Golden, Emely Parks, and Kissiah Brunson are in the handwriting of second unidentified scribe, likely Aaron H. Golden.
[4]
At the conference at which the branch was organized, Golden was selected as the branch’s clerk. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
Signature of Alexander Williams in the handwriting of fifth unidentified scribe, most likely Alexander Williams.
Signatures from M. B. Walton to the bottom of the column (P. W. Cownover) are in the handwriting of third unidentified scribe and are all rewritten in a darker inscription.
Signatures of Jesse Spurgin, Lydia Spurgin, and Susanna Spurgin in the handwriting of sixth unidentified scribe, most likely Jesse Spurgin.
Signature of Levi Jackman.
Signatures of James McMinds, Ann McMinds, and Benjamin Denton in the handwriting of seventh unidentified scribe.
[5]
Likely Peter W. Cownover, who had joined the church with his wife in Nauvoo in 1840. The September 1842 conference to organize the branch took place in P. W. Cownover’s home at Golden’s Point. (Cownover, Autobiographical Sketch, 2; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1843, 4:111.)
Cownover, Peter W. Autobiographical Sketch, no date. Peter W. Cownover, Reminiscences, no date. CHL.