In January 1844 Reuben Hedlock, president of the British Mission, described the “sad worke in the London Conference” in a letter to JS, Brigham Young, and Willard Richards. Hedlock reported that, among other problems, “the Elders were inexperanced and there had Been some strange teachings.” An Elder Booth had denounced the British Government “in the public squares” and—citing the prophecies in Daniel 2—declared that the “kingdom now set up was to Break in peeciess [pieces].” In response, a warrant was issued for his arrest. However, according to Hedlock, an Elder Benson “in the General Poleice office got Nuse [news] of it and gave Elder Booth timly Warning.” This Elder Benson was probably William Benson, who joined the church in 1842, lived near Hyde Park in London, and apparently immigrated to the United States in April 1845. A William or Willmer Benson was a member of the London police from May 1839 to January 1845 and may have been the same individual mentioned by Hedlock and listed in church records. (Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to JS et al., Nauvoo, IL, 10 Jan. 1844, JS Collection, CHL; London Conference, British Mission, Record of Members, 1–2; Alphabetical Registers of Joiners, vol. 2, p. 40.)

London Conference, British Mission. Record of Members, 1841–1851. CHL.

Alphabetical Registers of Joiners, 1830–1842. Metropolitan Police, Office of the Commissioner, Miscellaneous Books and Papers, 1818–1987. Records of the Office of the Commissioner and Successors, 1803–1998. Records of the Metropolitan Police Office, 1803–2012. National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England.