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 .
where Tom was? (meaning her husband.) Mrs. Pugmire answered she did not know. After this Mrs. Cartwright went out and met them returning from the waters of baptism, and shouted ‘Damn you I’ll dip ye’, and expressing her determination to have revenge upon Pugmire’s family she used a great deal of very bad language. Some of the neighbors (not belonging to the church) advised her not to speak so much against the Latter-day Saints, as she might yet become convinced of the truth of their doctrines and be baptized herself. She replied ‘I hope to God if ever I am such a damned fool that I’ll be drowned in the attempt.” A short time afterwards in consequence of her husband talking to her about the truths of the Gospel she consented to go to Pugmire’s house and hear for herself. After attending a few times she told her husband she had a dream in which she saw it was a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, and requested to be baptized. Mrs. Pugmire talked with her reminding her of her harsh expressions, she confessed all, and said ‘I am very sorry, and as my conduct is known to all this neighborhood I do not wish to have my baptism public, but to have it done privately; and I wish no female to accompany me to the water but you’. On the night of her baptism (Nov. 23. 1843) she was conducted to the water by her husband, and Elder Pugmire witnessed by Mrs. Pugmire and James Moor. Previous to this time Elder Pugmire had baptized eight or ten persons in the same place. On arriving at the water they found the Creek had overflowed its banks in consequence of a heavy rain which had fallen that day. Elder Pugmire examined its banks, and concluded he could attend to the ordinance without going into the regular bed of the creek. This was done, but on raising Mrs. Cartwright, and as they were walking out, they both went under the water. It was afterwards discovered, that the water had undermined the bank, and it gave way under their feet; meantime Thomas Cartwright leapt into the creek and seized hold of his wife’s petticoat, but the water carried her off, and left the garment in his hand. James Moor got hold of Elder Pugmire by the hair of his head. Mrs. Pugmire holding Moor’s hand and thus they dragged him out. Moor then ran to the village to give the alarm, on his return he found Cartwright about one hundred yards from where he leapt in [HC 6:161] with his head above water, holding on to the stump of a tree; he said he could not have remained in that situation one minute longer. George Knowlen swam the stream and got him out, but his wife was not found until the day following, when she was found about two hundred yards from where the accident occurred standing upon her feet, with her head above water, the stream having fallen about two feet. On Pugmire reaching home, a Church of England minister had him arrested and dragged from his family the same evening and kept in custody of a Constable until a Coroner’s inquest was held on the body of the deceased. After she was buried, Cartwright was arrested, and both were sent to Chester jail to wait their trial before the Judge of Assize. They were in confinement six weeks and three days before their trial came on. The Judge (Whitehead) remarked to the Jury that baptism was an ordinance of our religion and that it was a mere accident which had occurred, he advised the jurymen to be very careful how they examined the case before them, that it was an ordinance instituted by God. (at that moment the Lord spoke by the voice of thunder which shook the court house) and advised the prisoners to be very careful in the future to select a proper place for the performance of that rite. They were then set free.
During their imprisonment Pugmire had a vision in which he was informed that they would be liberated & he told Cartwright to be of good cheer, for they certainly would be acquitted.” [p. 1850]