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Certificate from Joshua Seixas, 30 March 1836

Source Note

Joshua Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
, Certificate, to JS,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, 30 Mar. 1836; handwriting of
Joshua Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
One leaf, measuring 9¾ × 7⅞ inches (25 × 20 cm). The top, bottom, and right edges of the recto have the square cut of manufactured paper; the left edge is torn. The leaf contains a watermark: “DEWDNEY & TREMLETT | 1831”. Dewdney & Tremlett was a papermaker in Bradninch, Devon, England.
1

“Dewdney & Tremlett,” Yoward/Logan database no. 4206, Mills Archive.


Comprehensive Works Cited

“Dewdney & Tremlett.” Yoward/Logan, database no. 4206, Mills Archive. Accessed 24 Mar. 2016. https://millsarchive.org.

The embossed left corner of the recto is now illegible. The verso of the certificate was docketed by
Joshua Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
prior to folding. The certificate was folded in a parallel fold twice, then folded again to 3⅞ × 2½ inches (10 × 6 cm). The placement of
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

View Full Bio
’s docket suggests the certificate was folded when it was docketed. It also suggests the certificate was in institutional custody as early as the
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, period.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Dewdney & Tremlett,” Yoward/Logan database no. 4206, Mills Archive.

    “Dewdney & Tremlett.” Yoward/Logan, database no. 4206, Mills Archive. Accessed 24 Mar. 2016. https://millsarchive.org.

Historical Introduction

On 29 March 1836, JS and other members of the
Hebrew School

An educational program established in Kirtland, Ohio, in January 1836 for the study of the Hebrew language. On 4 January 1836, JS organized the school and served as its temporary instructor for three weeks. A committee composed of JS, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick...

View Glossary
in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, finished their seven-week course of study under
Joshua Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
, the Hebraist who began teaching the class on 26 January.
1

See Letter to Henrietta Raphael Seixas, between 6 and 13 Feb. 1836.


JS and the other students of the school—which had grown from a single class to four classes by early February—gathered each Monday through Saturday to receive oral instruction in Hebrew grammar; pupils also read aloud from and translated parts of the Hebrew Bible.
2

JS, Journal, 1 and 4–5 Feb. 1836; 7–8 Mar. 1836; Cowdery, Diary, 1–2 and 4 Feb. 1836; Seixas, Manual Hebrew Grammar, iii–iv; Joshua Seixas, Supplement to J. Seixas’ Manual Hebrew Grammar (New York: West and Trow, 1836).


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cowdery, Oliver. Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL. MS 3429. Also available as Leonard J. Arrington, “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book,’” BYU Studies 12 (Summer 1972): 410–426.

Seixas, Joshua. Manual Hebrew Grammar for the Use of Beginners. 2nd ed., enl. and impr. Andover, MA: Gould and Newman, 1834.

Seixas, Joshua. Supplement to J. Seixas’ Manual Hebrew Grammar, for the Kirtland, Ohio, Theological Institution. New York: West and Trow, 1836.

On 30 March, Seixas issued a certificate to JS verifying that he had completed the Hebrew course to Seixas’s satisfaction and had been “indefatigable in acquiring the principles of the sacred language.”
By all accounts, JS was a diligent student of Hebrew. After
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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returned to
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
with “a quantity of Hebrew books” on 20 November 1835, JS commenced an earnest study of the language. Though he participated in the formal classes taught by
Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
, he also devoted considerable time to studying the language on his own. Between 23 November 1835 and 29 March 1836, JS’s journal mentions his studying of Hebrew—whether in class, with colleagues, or by himself—no fewer than seventy times.
3

See various JS journal entries, 20 Nov. 1835–29 Mar. 1836.


JS was apparently among a small group of students selected by Seixas for private instruction beyond regular class time; he may have also received individual instruction from the Hebrew teacher on occasion.
4

JS, Journal, 19 Feb. 1836; 10 and 11 Mar. 1836.


According to JS’s journal, Seixas remarked that JS and the other students in the class were “the most forward of any class he ever taught, the same length of time.”
5

JS, Journal, 15 Feb. 1836.


The document featured here affirms JS’s progress in learning the Hebrew language. Besides JS, at least one other student,
Orson Pratt

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall...

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, was issued a similar certificate by Seixas attesting to his linguistic proficiency.
6

“History of Orson Pratt,” LDS Millennial Star, 11 Feb. 1865, 27:87.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Letter to Henrietta Raphael Seixas, between 6 and 13 Feb. 1836.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 1 and 4–5 Feb. 1836; 7–8 Mar. 1836; Cowdery, Diary, 1–2 and 4 Feb. 1836; Seixas, Manual Hebrew Grammar, iii–iv; Joshua Seixas, Supplement to J. Seixas’ Manual Hebrew Grammar (New York: West and Trow, 1836).

    Cowdery, Oliver. Diary, Jan.–Mar. 1836. CHL. MS 3429. Also available as Leonard J. Arrington, “Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book,’” BYU Studies 12 (Summer 1972): 410–426.

    Seixas, Joshua. Manual Hebrew Grammar for the Use of Beginners. 2nd ed., enl. and impr. Andover, MA: Gould and Newman, 1834.

    Seixas, Joshua. Supplement to J. Seixas’ Manual Hebrew Grammar, for the Kirtland, Ohio, Theological Institution. New York: West and Trow, 1836.

  3. [3]

    See various JS journal entries, 20 Nov. 1835–29 Mar. 1836.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 19 Feb. 1836; 10 and 11 Mar. 1836.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 15 Feb. 1836.

  6. [6]

    “History of Orson Pratt,” LDS Millennial Star, 11 Feb. 1865, 27:87.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Page [1]

Mr Joseph Smith Junr has attended a full course of
Hebrew lessons

An educational program established in Kirtland, Ohio, in January 1836 for the study of the Hebrew language. On 4 January 1836, JS organized the school and served as its temporary instructor for three weeks. A committee composed of JS, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick...

View Glossary
under my tuition; & has been indefatigable in acquiring the principles of the sacred language of the Old Testament Scriptures in their original tongue.
1

Concerning his study of Hebrew, JS’s 17 February 1836 journal entry notes, “Read and translated with my class as usual, and my soul delights in reading the word of the Lord in the original, and I am determined to persue the study of languages untill I shall become master of them.” (JS, Journal, 17 Feb. 1836.)


He has so far accomplished a knowledge of it, that he is able to translate to my entire satisfaction; & by prosecuting the study he will be able to become a proficient in Hebrew. I take this opportunity of thanking him for his industry, & his marked kindness towards me
J[oshua] Seixas

4 June 1802–1874. Hebraist, textbook writer, teacher. Probably born at New York City. Son of Gershom Mendez Seixas and Hannah Manuel. Married Henrietta Raphael of Richmond, Henrico Co., Virginia. Taught Hebrew at New York and Charlestown, Massachusetts. His...

View Full Bio
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
Ohio March 30th 1836 [1/3 page blank] [p. [1]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Certificate from Joshua Seixas, 30 March 1836
ID #
318
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:214–216
Handwriting on This Page
  • Joshua Seixas

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Concerning his study of Hebrew, JS’s 17 February 1836 journal entry notes, “Read and translated with my class as usual, and my soul delights in reading the word of the Lord in the original, and I am determined to persue the study of languages untill I shall become master of them.” (JS, Journal, 17 Feb. 1836.)

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