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Pay Order to Henry G. Sherwood for John A. Hicks, 7 November 1839
Source Note
Source Note
JS, Pay Order, , Sangamon Co., IL, to , for , [, Hancock Co., IL], 7 Nov. 1839; handwriting of and JS; signature of JS; one page; JS, Papers, 1839–1844, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL. Includes dockets and filing notation.
One leaf of lined paper, measuring 7¾ × 6 inches (20 × 15 cm). The bottom edge of the leaf is torn. The extant portion of the leaf was trifolded in letter style. The verso is blank except for dockets and a notation inscribed in 1845.
The dockets and notation, probably in the handwriting of probate justice of the peace , indicate this document was later submitted as a claim against JS’s estate. At an unknown time, the pay order was removed from the Hancock County Probate Court and came into private possession. The Illinois State Historical Library (now Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library) acquired this document from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop of Chicago in 1972.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
On 7 November 1839, JS wrote a pay order to requesting that he pay fifty dollars. JS was in , Illinois, en route to with a delegation seeking redress for atrocities and deprivations committed against members during the “Mormon War” in . JS wrote to Sherwood in , Illinois, presumably because Sherwood had been selling lots on the plat to newly arriving Latter-day Saints and likely had available funds to pay Hicks. The previous month, the Nauvoo had appointed Sherwood to appraise, show, and sell town lots. Hicks, a member of the church, had apparently lent money to assist with JS’s trip expenses, though it is unclear whether Hicks—who was living in Nauvoo by the following year—gave the money before JS departed from Commerce or sometime during the delegation’s journey.
Footnotes
- [1]
See Historical Introduction to Recommendation from Nauvoo High Council, 27 Oct. 1839.
- [2]
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 21 Oct. 1839, 26.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
- [3]
Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:137].
November 7th. 1839
Mr.
you will please to pay fifty Dollars and charge the same— to me Yours &c
Joseph Smith Jr
The Above order is for mony to bear our expences on the road he will take a lot or land if you have any to please him if not you can sell the lot that Br— was to have I have seen him hes paid me the damage &c &c
Joseph Smith Jr [p. [1]]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Elias Higbee handwriting begins.
Elias Higbee handwriting ends; JS begins.
- [1]
On 10 September 1839, church member Jonathan Hampton agreed to purchase Nauvoo block 157, lot 4, on the northwest corner of Partridge and Lumber streets, from JS, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith for $250. JS may have been referring to this lot or perhaps to a different lot Hampton had earlier been interested in purchasing, as Hampton made full payment on this property by 28 March 1840. (JS, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith to John Hampton, Bond, Nauvoo, IL, 10 Sept. 1839, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU.)