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“A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri,” December 1839–October 1840

Installment 1, December 1839 Page 17 Installment 2, January 1840 Page 33 Installment 3, February 1840 Page 49 Installment 4, March 1840 Page 65 Installment 5, April 1840 Page 81 Installment 6, May 1840 Page 97 Installment 7, June 1840 Page 113 Installment 8, July 1840 Page 129 Installment 9, August 1840 Page 145 Installment 10, September 1840 Page 161 Installment 11, October 1840 Page 177

Source Note

“A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in ,” in Times and Seasons (Commerce/Nauvoo, IL), vol. 1, nos. 2–12: Dec. 1839, pp. 17–20; Jan. 1840, pp. 33–36; Feb. 1840, pp. 49–51; Mar. 1840, pp. 65–66; Apr. 1840, pp. 81–82; May 1840, pp. 97–99; June 1840, pp. 113–116; July 1840, pp. 129–131; Aug. 1840, pp. 145–150; Sept. 1840, pp. 161–165; Oct. 1840, pp. 177, 184–185; edited by and . The copy used for transcription is currently part of a bound volume held at CHL; includes light marginalia and archival marking.
Each segment in the eleven-part series begins on the first page of its respective number of the Times and Seasons. Each issue comprises eight leaves (sixteen pages) that measure 8⅝ x 5¼ inches (22 x 13 cm). The text on each page is set in two columns. At some point, the editors of the Times and Seasons reset and reprinted the December 1839 and January 1840 issues of the Times and Seasons; based on textual analysis, the version used for transcription appears to be the earlier typesetting of both. It is unknown how long this volume has been in church custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:94–95.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

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.” 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. This series gave the first extended account of the Missouri period to be printed in the Latter-day Saint press. The editors of the Times and Seasons, and , announced in its first issue that the newspaper would “commence publishing the history of the disturbances in Missouri, in regular series,” and the first installment appeared in the second issue.
“A History, of the Persecution” begins with ’s account of the conflicts in the early 1830s. Partridge was a bishop of the church in Missouri, first in , then in following the Latter-day Saints’ expulsion from Jackson, and finally in after the Saints relocated from Clay. By the time he wrote this account of the Mormons’ experiences in Missouri, the Saints had been exiled from the state and had relocated to . Partridge lived first at Pittsfield, then at . In July 1839 he settled in the area, where he served again as a bishop in the new Mormon community being established there. Partridge’s narrative is based on firsthand observations and may also have relied on other records he kept. The manuscript version of the history begins, “In presenting to our readers a history of the persecutions,” indicating that Partridge wrote it for publication purposes. He may have intended to tell the entire Missouri story himself, but he fell ill shortly after publication of the “History of the Persecution” began, and he died 27 May 1840.
The fourth installment of “History, of the Persecution” provides a brief transition from ’s account, which ends in 1836 as the Saints were settling in what became , to the conflicts in Caldwell and adjoining counties beginning in 1838. Though the source or author of this portion is not known, it may have been written by editors and . Perhaps prompted by Partridge’s illness, the editors sought elsewhere for source materials to continue the series. In April 1840, the fifth installment reprinted passages from ’s History of the Late Persecution Inflicted by the State of Missouri upon the Mormons (Detroit: Dawson and Bates, 1839), and the sixth in May excerpted ’s An Appeal to the American People: Being an Account of the Persecutions of the Church of Latter Day Saints; and of the Barbarities Inflicted on Them by the Inhabitants of the State of Missouri (Cincinnati: Glezan and Shepard, 1840). In June the editors again excerpted Pratt’s History of the Late Persecution, and in the three articles published from July to September they reprinted more of Rigdon’s work. The series concluded in the October 1840 issue with a reprint of the speech that , a major general of the Missouri state militia, made to the Latter-day Saints at , Caldwell County, on 5 November 1838.
The “History, of the Persecution” is representative of the many histories and individual petitions written at the time to document the Saints’ experiences in . Its excerpts from ’s History of the Late Persecution and ’s Appeal to the American People provide a useful sampling of two published histories of the period and demonstrate that documenting these events was a widespread effort. Publication in the church’s periodical lent credibility to the series and ensured that it was the source from which many new Mormon converts learned the details of the church’s history in Missouri. What they read was not the work of neutral historians detached from the events described. When , Pratt, and Rigdon wrote their histories, the persecutions and injustices against them were still fresh in their memories. All three authors suffered personally during the Missouri hardships, and as they and other Saints undertook to write about their experiences, their primary focus was to fulfill JS’s directive—to obtain redress by making known the “nefarious and murderous impositions that have been practiced upon this people.”

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    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]. An edited and slightly shortened version of the letter was published in two parts in the Times and Seasons, May and July 1840. The instruction to record the Saints’ Missouri history was part of the July installment. (“Copy of a Letter, Written by J. Smith Jr. and Others, While in Prison,” Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:99–104; “An Extract of a Letter Written to Bishop Partridge, and the Saints in General,” Times and Seasons, July 1840, 1:131–134.)

    Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [2]

    “A Word to the Saints,” Times and Seasons, July 1839, 1:12. After the first copies of the first number were printed in July, publication of the Times and Seasons halted for several months because both editors fell ill amidst a malaria outbreak in the Commerce, Illinois, area. The first number was reissued under the date November 1839.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  3. [3]

    Edward Partridge, Miscellaneous papers, CHL. This collection of Partridge papers includes other autobiographical writings about Missouri events.

    Partridge, Edward. Miscellaneous Papers, ca. 1839–May 1840. CHL.

  4. [4]

    Partridge, History, manuscript, Edward Partridge, Miscellaneous Papers, CHL. Significant differences between the first three installments of “History, of the Persecution” and the Partridge manuscript are described in footnotes herein.

    Partridge, Edward. Miscellaneous Papers, ca. 1839–May 1840. CHL.

  5. [5]

    No manuscript is known to exist for Pratt’s published pamphlet. Rigdon is not named as the author on the title page of Appeal to the American People, but he is credited as such in the “History, of the Persecution” series and in advertisements for the pamphlet in the Times and Seasons. A manuscript version of Rigdon’s Appeal to the American People, titled “To the Publick” and inscribed by George W. Robinson, is found in the JS Collection at the Church History Library. Many textual differences exist between the manuscript and Appeal to the American People, and the editors of the Times and Seasons clearly used the published pamphlet, not the manuscript, as their source. (“History, of the Persecution,” May 1840, 1:99; Advertisement, Times and Seasons, 1 Jan. 1841, 2:272.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [6]

    Earlier published accounts of the Jackson County conflicts from Latter-day Saints include the broadside “The Mormons,” So Called, dated 12 December 1833, and its reprint in The Evening and the Morning Star, Extra, Feb. 1834, [1]–[2]; a series titled “The Outrage in Jackson County, Missouri,” published in The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833–Mar. 1834 and May–June 1834; John P. Greene’s pamphlet Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter Day Saints, from the State of Missouri, under the “Exterminating Order” (Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839); and John Taylor’s eight-page work, A Short Account of the Murders, Roberies, Burnings, Thefts, and Other Outrages Committed by the Mob and Militia of the State of Missouri, Upon the Latter Day Saints (Springfield, IL: By the author, 1839).

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  7. [7]

    JS et al., Liberty, MO, to the church members and Edward Partridge, Quincy, IL, 20 Mar. 1839, in Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 123:5].

    Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.

Page 165

, Illinois[.] This was in February, A. D. 1839.
In the May following, the remainder that were in the , were taken to to be tried by a grand jury of the principal mobbers, in order to see if a , could be found as could be expected from the characters of the jury. Bills were found, they obtained a change of venue to , accordingly the Sheriff of , with guards, started to take them from to . On their way after journeying a day or two, one evening the guard got drunk they left them, and also made their escape to , Illinois.
Those that were in Jail were brought to trial, but no bill of indictment was found against and Norman Shearer, and they were released and sent home.— A bill was found against , Morris Phelps, and for murder, and also a man by the name of for robbery.— They also obtained a change of venue to , and were carried thither and put into jail and there remained until the fourth of July. At this time the town was all hilarity and mirth at the celebration. They also made a flag and had it placed over the jail doors. In the evening when the Jailor brought in their suppers, they walked out at the door: that is, , Morris Phelps, and ; continued, the others were closely pursued and was retaken and carried back; but the other two effected their escape to the state of . Some time afterwards had his trial and was acquitted. remains in prison unto this day, 26th October, 1839.
As to those that were left in the Counties of and , they were making all possible exertions to get away all winter, contrary to the stipulations of and , granting them the privilege of staying until spring. Bodies of armed men were riding through the town of in the County of Caldwell, threatening death to them if they were not out in the month of February, and otherwise insulting them. They continued however to exert themselves with all possible means in their power; many of them had no teams nor waggons. Having been robbed, yes completely robbed of all they had, great exertions therefore had to be made by those who had means. Through great exertions and timely perseverance they succeeded in getting them safely into the State of , where we all are now and where we have met with a kind reception.
Public meetings were held in ; contributions raised to assist the suffering, and every exertion which humanity dictated was made for our relief.— But still we are, as a people, poor and destitute. We have been robbed of our all and many of us are without houses, living in tents and waggons. In consequence of our exposure, we have suffered this summer much sickness and numbers have died, and our prospects for the ensuing winter are gloomy. But gloomy as they are, still we are not discouraged. A large majority of us are farmers, but our teams, as well as our flocks and herds and all our farming materials were taken from us. Many who were independent, are now working by days works, to maintain their families, numbers of them old men, sixty years old and upwards.— Such is our true situation, and as such we make our Appeal to the American People. [p. 165]
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Editorial Title
“A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri,” December 1839–October 1840
ID #
6553
Total Pages
39
Print Volume Location
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Footnotes

  1. [256]

    Rigdon left the jail 5 February 1839, a week and a half after he was officially released. He reached Quincy 16 February. (Sidney Rigdon, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843, pp. [23]–[24], photocopy, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Editorial, Quincy (IL) Whig, 23 Feb. 1839.)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  2. [257]

    JS and his fellow prisoners were moved to Gallatin, Daviess County, 6–8 April 1839. (Hyrum Smith, Diary, Mar.–Apr. 1839, Oct. 1840, [12], [21]–[22]; Baugh, “We Took Our Change of Venue,” 61–62.)

    Smith, Hyrum. Diary, Mar.–Apr. 1839, Oct. 1840. CHL. MS 2945.

    Baugh, Alexander L. “‘We Took Our Change of Venue to the State of Illinois’: The Gallatin Hearing and the Escape of Joseph Smith and the Mormon Prisoners from Missouri, April 1839.” Mormon Historical Studies 2, no. 1 (2001): 59–82.

  3. [258]

    The hearing before the grand jury was held 9–11 April 1839 at Gallatin. Defense counsel requested and obtained a change of venue on the grounds that Judge Thomas Burch, having served as prosecuting attorney at the November court of inquiry at Richmond, should be disqualified from ruling on the case. (Daviess Co., MO, Circuit Court Record, Apr. 1839, vol. A, 66–70, Daviess Co., Courthouse, Gallatin, MO.)

    Daviess County, Missouri. Circuit Court Record, vol. A, July 1837–Oct. 1843. Daviess County Courthouse, Gallatin, MO.

  4. [259]

    The prisoners were escorted from Gallatin by Daviess county sheriff William Morgan, along with William Bowman, John Brassfield, John Pogue, and Wilson McKinney. (William Morgan, Certificate, 1 July 1839; “Preamble,” William Morgan, Papers, CHL.) 

    Morgan, William. Papers, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 19757.

    “Preamble.” William Morgan. Papers, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 19757.

  5. [260]

    JS and his fellow prisoners escaped 16 April 1839, four days after departing Gallatin, while near Yellow Creek in Chariton County. JS wrote that they got away after “the guard got intoxicated.” JS’s brother Hyrum Smith later testified that William Morgan informed the prisoners that Judge Burch privately instructed him not to escort them as far as Boone County. While his companions slept, one of the guards sold the prisoners two horses for their escape, and he later collected payment in Nauvoo. (JS, Journal, 16 Apr. 1839; Lyman Wight, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843, p. 32, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; JS, “Extract, from the Private Journal,” Times and Seasons, July 1839, 1:7; Hyrum Smith, Testimony, Nauvoo, IL, 1 July 1843, pp. 25–26, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Promissory Note, JS to John Brassfield, 16 Apr. 1839, JS Collection, CHL.)

    Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

    Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.

  6. [261]

    Pratt, Phelps, and Gibbs petitioned Judge Austin A. King of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court for a change of venue based on the claim that it was impossible for them to have a fair and impartial trial in the fifth, sixth, or eleventh circuits because of the prejudice against them in those localities. King granted them a change of venue to Boone County, as he did for King Follett, who was indicted by a grand jury in Caldwell County and charged with burglary.a Boone circuit court records reported the change of venue, the detention of the prisoners in the jail at Columbia, and the escape of Pratt and Phelps.b

    (aParley P. Pratt et al., Petition for change of venue, 17 May 1839, State of Missouri v. Pratt et al. [Ray Co. Cir. Ct. 1839]; Trial proceedings, 23 May 1839, State of Missouri v. Follett [Caldwell Co. Cir. Ct. 1839], Western Historical Manuscript Collection, University of Missouri and State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia. bRoger N. Todd, Statement, Columbia, MO, 6 Mar. 1841, Mormon War Papers, MSA; see also Pratt, History of the Late Persecution, 59–64.)

    Western Historical Manuscript Collection. University of Missouri and State Historical Society of Missouri, Ellis Library, University of Missouri, Columbia.

    Trial Proceedings, 23 May 1839. State of Missouri v. King Follett (Caldwell Co. Cir. Ct. 1839). Western Historical Manuscript Collection. University of Missouri and State Historical Society of Missouri, Ellis Library, University of Missouri, Columbia.

    Mormon War Papers, 1838–1841. MSA.

    Pratt, Parley P. History of the Late Persecution Inflicted by the State of Missouri Upon the Mormons, In Which Ten Thousand American Citizens were Robbed, Plundered, and Driven From the State, and Many Others Imprisoned, Martyred, &c. For Their Religion, and All This by Military Force, by Order of the Executive. By P. P. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel. Written During Eight Months Imprisonment in that State. Detroit: Dawson and Bates, 1839.

  7. [262]

    One source reported that Gibbs was also acquitted in a trial before circuit judge David Todd. Boone circuit court records reported Gibbs “was discharged from custody and after continuing the cause on the docket for some time it was dismissed.” Gibbs stated he was discharged by the circuit judge on 4 November 1839. (History of Boone County, Missouri, 216; Roger N. Todd, Statement, Columbia, MO, 6 Mar. 1841, copy, Mormon War Papers, MSA; Luman Gibbs to Emer Harris, ca. Feb. 1840, Emer Harris, Papers, CHL.)

    History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Compiled From the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources. . . . St. Louis: Western Historical Co., 1882.

    Mormon War Papers, 1838–1841. MSA.

    Harris, Emer. Notebook, 1817–1846. Photocopy. CHL. MS 14355.

  8. [263]

    [Rigdon], Appeal to the American People, also noted many were sick.

    [Rigdon, Sidney]. An Appeal to the American People: Being an Account of the Persecutions of the Church of Latter Day Saints; and of the Barbarities Inflicted on Them by the Inhabitants of the State of Missouri. Cincinnati: Glezen and Shepard, 1840.

  9. [264]

    Public meetings were held in Quincy 27 and 28 February 1839 focusing attention on the sufferings and injustices to which the Latter-day Saints were subjected in Missouri and soliciting aid for the refugees. Merchants and individuals responded promptly with donations of food, clothing, and cash. (Editorial, Quincy [IL] Whig, 2 Mar. 1839, [2]; “The Mormons,” Quincy [IL] Whig, 16 Mar. 1839, [1]; Mace, Autobiography, 23–24.)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

    Quincy Argus. Quincy, IL. 1836–1841.

    Mace, Wandle. Autobiography, ca. 1890. CHL. MS 1924.

  10. [265]

    A malaria epidemic occurred in Commerce, Illinois, and vicinity from early summer to late fall 1839. (JS, Journal, 8 July–15 Sept. 1839.)

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