JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
<December 28> my in the prison; said he was forced at the point of a bowie knife to make an affidavit against me, but he knew I was innocent. I tried to be left with him in Jail, but no I was compelled to go to Palmyra, where I arrived the next evening. The Sheriff thrust me into the dungeon without waiting to eat, warm, or anything else. The next morning the blacksmith came into the Jail and ironed me to the middle of a great chain that was fast to the floor. Where I remained in the horrid gloom of a prison two weeks. From thence the deputy Sheriff started with me chained upon the horse in this wise, he chained my right leg and then passed the chain up to my left hand: In this way I travelled 9 miles, when we stopped and he changed the chain from my hand to the horse’s neck. We arrived at Monticello and I was chained all night. The next day I was conveyed to Waterloo and delivered into the custody of the Sheriff of Clark County. I was kept under a strong guard by day and at night chained to one of the guard or the bed post. [HC 6:147] I was informed that Middleton and McCoy procured an indictment against me by giving bonds to the amount of some two or three hundred dollars, that they would hunt up testimony to the point for next court. There being nothing against me but the affidavit of my before alluded to, and so the grand Jury found a bill. Ellison my lawyer, deceived me, and put over my case for six months, because, as I suppose, I being kidnapped had no fees for him. I objected to having my trial put off 6 months; I did not fancy the dungeon of Palmyra prison. The Court concluded to let me to bail under bonds of $1,000 but this I could not obtain: subsequently it was reduced to $500 but all in vain for I was unacquainted with the people. This was on Saturday and I was thus left to meditate on the mischief that may be made out of a little matter by meddlesome men; On Monday I sued out a writ of and after a fair hearing of the matter I received the following Order:—
“State of )
sct
County of Clark)
December 25th. 1843
Ordered by the Clark County Court that Samuel Musgrove Sheriff of Clark County, discharge from imprisonment on an indictment found against him for the alleged crime of stealing a mare of Joseph McCoy’s.
L. S. By order of Court
Witness Willis Curd Clerk of said Court and seal of office this 25th. December 1843. Done at <office in> Waterloo date above.
Willis Curd Clerk.
Hons. John W. Dewellen)
Judges”
Henry Snively)
Very early on Tuesday morning your said affiant started for and arrived the same evening about sundown a distance of near twenty miles so crippled from the Iron bondage and hard usage of that he is hardly able to walk. To those who assisted your said affiant to obtain his release from bondage he tenders his grateful acknowledgements, and further your affiant saith not.
.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th. day of December 1843.