, History, Manuscript, ca. 1839; handwriting of ; nineteen pages (several additional leaves missing); CHL.
Historical Introduction
While incarcerated at , Missouri, in March 1839, JS addressed a letter to the Saints and to “ in particular” in which he called for the Saints to gather up “a knoledge of all the facts and sufferings and abuses put upon them” in that they might publish the records “to all the world” and “present them to the heads of the government.” (JS et al., Liberty, MO, to the church members and Edward Partridge, Quincy, IL, 20 Mar. 1839, in Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 123:1, 6].) Apparently in response to this assignment, Edward Partridge wrote a history that became the first three installments of “A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri,” an eleven-part series published in the church’s newspaper, Times and Seasons, between December 1839 and October 1840.
may have intended to tell the entire story himself, but he fell ill shortly after publication began and died 27 May 1840. Partridge’s manuscript, which he did not title, is provided here. The full text of “A History, of the Persecution,” which necessarily relied on other sources following Partridge’s demise, receives comprehensive treatment in volume 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers and is available on this website.
’s history begins with his account of the conflicts in the early 1830s. Partridge was a bishop of the church in Missouri, first in and then in following the Saints’ expulsion from Jackson County. He also served as bishop in after the Saints relocated there from Clay County in 1836. By the time he drafted his account of the Mormon experiences in Missouri, the Saints had been exiled from the state and had relocated to .
’s narrative is based on firsthand observations and may also have relied on other records he kept. It begins, “In presenting to our readers a history of the persecutions,” indicating that Partridge wrote it for publication purposes. However, there are occasionally significant differences between the manuscript version and “A History, of the Persecution” as published.
The early custodial history of the manuscript is somewhat uncertain. However, the manuscript was presumably among materials in the possession of church historian and recorder Joseph Fielding Smith, who held that office from 1921 to 1970 and who had worked in the Church Historian’s Office many years prior. The manuscript became part of the First Presidency’s papers when Smith became church president in 1970, and, with other records (including Revelation Book 1 and two drafts of JS’s history), was transferred from the First Presidency’s office to the Church History Library in 2005.
Page [10]
one of the company drew a pistol and swore that he would blow out his brains but the ball laid bare his skull without fracturing of it— and <thus narrowly> his life was preserved he escaped with his life. A party of the saints were collected near by who hearing the disturbance went to the place the mob began to fire upon them and they returned the compliment, a few guns were discharged from both parties though the fire was not general at length a young man of the mob was shot through the thigh which caused <Soon after> the mob to disperse<d> soon after for that night
Sunday Nov. 3d. much <Many> threatenings were heard from the mobbers that day they were <greatly enraged and were> exerting themselves to strengthen their party; for as yet some appeared friendly to the brn. such told them that <that> they expected that they all would all be massacred for the enemy were about to get a six pounder and come out openly against them the next day.
Monday the <Nov.> 4thinst, came A large mob collected <at ’s store about a mile> west of the big Blue <they came to the Blue,> and took the ferry boat <and> at the big Blue, they also threatened some lives &.C., but for some cause unknown they left the Blue and returned to s store again. [p. [10]]