Footnotes
Charles E. Bidamon, Statement of Sale, 10 July 1937, microfilm, Wilford C. Wood, Collection of Church Historical Materials, CHL; Wilford C. Wood, Statement, 10 July 1937, microfilm, Wilford C. Wood, Collection of Church Historical Materials, CHL.
”Documents Obtained By Wilford Wood,” Deseret News [Salt Lake City], 21 July 1937, 13; David O. McKay to Arthur Winter, 21 July 1937, microfilm, Wilford C. Wood, Collection of Church Historical Materials, CHL.
Footnotes
JS’s history stated, “On the 22d day of Sept of this same year [1827] I obtained the plat[e]s—and in December following we mooved to Susquehana by the assistence of a man by the name of Martin Har[r]is.” Joseph Knight Sr. recalled that JS and Emma moved in November, while Martin Harris said they left in late October or early November. (JS History, ca. Summer 1832, 5; Knight, Reminiscences, 3; “Mormonism—No. II,” Tiffany’s Monthly, July 1859, 170.)
Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.
“Mormonism,” Tiffany’s Monthly 5 (May 1859): 46–51; (July 1859): 119–121; (Aug. 1859): 163–170. Tiffany's Monthly. New York City. 1856–1859.
Susquehanna Co., PA, Tax Assessment Records, 1813–1865, Harmony Township, PA, Tax Record for 1828, p. [11], microfilm 1,927,832, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. JS was taxed on the house (but not the property) on 3 January 1828. He and Emma likely moved into the house in February.
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
JS History, ca. Summer 1832, [6]; JS, History, vol. A-1, 13.
Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:14.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
See Report to New York Common Schools Superintendent, 1 July 1829, microfilm, Manchester, NY, Public School Records, 1828–1915, BYU; and Adams v. Cowdery and Cowdery [J.P. Ct. 1829], Jameson, Docket Book, 309. Cowdery may have alluded to JS’s financial transaction with Isaac Hale when he later recalled that when JS and his family “were poor, and hated,” he gave “the last cent of my honest earnings to save him [JS] from being turned into the streets.” (Oliver Cowdery, Far West, MO, to Warren Cowdery, 21 Jan. 1838, Cowdery, Letterbook, 81.)
Manchester Commissioners of Common Schools, report “To the Superintendent of Common Schools of the State of New York,” 1 July 1829, microfilm, Manchester Town Office, Clifton Springs, NY, Public School Records, 1828–1915, BYU.
Jameson, Hugh. Docket Book, 1828–1829. Typescript excerpt in editors’ possession.
Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
JS History, vol. A-1, 53; JS History, vol. A-1, 92–93; Deed to Joseph McKune, 28 June 1833.
The next three notations are in Oliver Cowdery’s handwriting, except for Isaac Hale’s signatures.
Original signatures of Isaac Hale.
This fifty-dollar payment may have been contributed by Joseph Knight Jr. Remembered Knight: “I left my Father [Joseph Knight Sr.], purchased a building spot adjoining my Father’s and began to work for myself, and nearly ready to build a large house[.] Joseph [Smith] had commenced to translate the plates, he told my Father he wanted fifty dollars; my Father could not raise it; he then came to me, the same day I sold my house lot and sent him a one horse wagon. Father and I often went to see him and carry him something to live upon: at last Oliver Cowdery came to write for him, then he got along faster.” In the local economy of the time, based as much on barter as on cash, the wagon may have been used for JS’s fifty-dollar payment to Isaac Hale. (Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1.)
Knight, Joseph, Jr. Autobiographical Sketch, 1862. CHL. MS 286.
Oliver Cowdery handwriting ends; John Whitmer begins.
This later notation in John Whitmer’s handwriting was presumably made near the designated date, 26 August 1830, since Whitmer was on hand on 25 August 1830 to sign as one of the witnesses on the deed giving JS title to the property. JS acquired the funds by arranging what amounted to a loan from Harmony businessman George Noble. (Deed from Isaac and Elizabeth Hale, 25 Aug. 1830; Transcript of Judgment, 26 Aug. 1830, George H. Noble & Co. v. JS [J.P. Ct. 1830], Susquehanna Co. Historical Society, Montrose, PA.)
Transcript of Judgment, 26 Aug. 1830. George H. Noble & Co. v. Joseph Smith (Susquehanna Co. C.P. 1830). Susquehanna County Historical Society, Montrose, PA.