, “Brief History,” Manuscript, ca. 6 April 1838– ca. 26 January 1839; handwriting of and an unidentified scribe; seventy pages numbered 20–90, plus three unnumbered pages; John Fletcher Darby Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
, a careful observer, had enjoyed a close association with Mormon leaders, and consequently his account provides valuable insights into the development and structure of the early church. He summarized many of the doctrines taught by JS and provided a detailed description of the conflict between the Latter-day Saints and other settlers. But his chronicle also related the story of a personal spiritual journey into and then out of the church as came to disapprove of the church’s course in 1838 in Missouri. Yet despite his estrangement from the church and his excommunication in 1839, he retained a degree of sympathy for the Saints and maintained some contact.
apparently began compiling portions of his account while serving as an officially appointed church historian in . He probably completed his narrative by 11 February 1839, when he secured a copyright with the district federal copyright office. He arranged for Thomas Watson & Son of to print A Brief History. The entire print run may have included up to twelve hundred copies.
The document presented here, ’s circa 1838–1839 rough draft of his history, is incomplete. It includes the title page, copyright notice, and preface but is missing twenty-one pages, including the nineteen pages that constitute chapters 1 through 6. The manuscript is almost entirely in Corrill’s handwriting, though some of the chapter summaries (added after he drafted the narrative) were written in a different hand, possibly that of the printer.
’s published version of A Brief History receives comprehensive treatment in volume 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers and is available on this website as part of the history series.
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got up in , in which they took some exceptions to ’s orations, but they resolved to do nothing contrary to law in, nor approbate a mob. This I thought had a good effect in suppressing unlawful proceedings. But the law must be enforced. A writ was issued for Smith and , and the Sheriff, it is said, informed of it, but through fear of s threatnings, desisted from <trying> <to> taking <take> him, but went to for advice. He advised him to try to serve the precept, but if resisted, then command assistance of the citizens, and if they were resisted by a superior force, then to call for the militia, untill he got force enough. Runne[r]s went into other counties to solicit assistance They requested <citizens> to gather in by a day appointed, and be in readiness to assist the sheriff in taking . Accordingly <they> gathered in to a considerable number. This excited and alarmed the Mormons. They began to think that there was some other object in view besides taking ; for Smith had previously told the Sheriff that he had never resisted but was perfectly willing to surrender and said he would persuade to do so. For this purpose he sent for to come to and see him, which he did, and agreed to submit, saying that the Sheriff had never attempted to take him. The citizens continued to gather, and news came to Smith that there would be four thousand together in a few days. This alarmed Smith, and he sent a messenger to to come out to and see him, and to advise what to do. he <He> did so, and also went to and advised Smith and and Such othrs a[s] were accused, to surrender, and [p. 62]