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Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834

Source Note

Account with the Camp of Israel, [
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH], [ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834]; handwriting of
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
This account was written on a single leaf ruled both vertically and horizontally and measuring 15½ × 12½ inches (39 × 32 cm). The original leaf was likely folded down the middle, and it eventually separated into two leaves. Adhesive cellophane tape residue indicates an attempt to rejoin them as a single leaf. Debits are displayed on the left leaf and credits on the right leaf. The adjoined leaves were folded together, with the text facing the inside; they were then folded twice widthwise into thirds; a final half-fold resulted in a document measuring approximately 7¾ × 2½ inches (20 × 6 cm). Two dockets were written on the exposed exterior of the right leaf. The first docket, inscribed in black ink in the handwriting of
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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, reads: “May 3, 1834 | Joseph Smith’s account with
Zion’s Camp

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

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”. The second docket, in now-faded red ink in the handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, reads: “May— 1834 | Jos. Smith’s account with | Zion’s Camp”. It is presumed that these pages were originally contained in a large ledger book.
In August 1834,
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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apparently submitted the account to the
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio,
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

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.
1

Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834.


It is listed in the first Historian’s Office inventory, suggesting continuous institutional custody.
2

“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1] , Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834.

  2. [2]

    “Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1] , Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

Historical Introduction

Sometime in August 1834,
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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created this record showing JS’s personal contributions to the
Camp of Israel

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

View Glossary
. Hyde created the list at least partly because
Sylvester Smith

25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...

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accused JS of committing financial improprieties while JS led the camp in spring and summer 1834.
1

Minutes, 11 Aug. 1834.


The record, made in connection with another account with the
Church of Christ

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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, showed JS’s personal transactions involving the camp along with his contributions to the Camp of Israel
2

For more information about the creation of these accounts and possible dates of creation, see Historical Introduction to Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.


. This record provides a line-by-line accounting of JS’s contributions, as well as the cash and property he had remaining when he returned to
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

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in July 1834. It indicates that JS contributed $1,068.44 to the expedition in cash—obtained from
Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...

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, sales of the Book of Mormon, and subscriptions to The Evening and the Morning Star—and in other property, such as horses, a watch, and the use of harnesses and wagons. At the time JS began his return trek to Ohio, he had $424.16 in cash and property remaining, making a net contribution to the camp of $644.28. Hyde listed the $644.28 on the Church of Christ account in two separate entries: the first, for $582.44, was listed as the “amt of cash paid into the general fund,” while the second, for $61.84, was designated as “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c. it being also a balance of an a/c with the camp of Israel.”
3

Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.


It is not clear why
Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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created an account for JS that was separate from the general Camp of Israel account, but there are a few possible explanations. It may be that although JS’s contributions were considered as “paid into the general fund,” he did not physically combine the funds mentioned in this account with the rest of the general fund, but instead retained them in his possession. Alternatively, a detailed account of JS’s contributions may have been warranted because his donations consisted of both cash and material goods. JS may also have had the second account kept because he intended to be reimbursed for his contributions, possibly because the resources he donated came at least partly out of his personal property. The net amount of JS’s contribution appears on the Church of Christ account as a balance owed to him by the church, suggesting that the amount was intended to be credited or repaid to JS. This would explain why JS’s contributions are not included on the Church of Christ account as part of the “consrecrated moneys” in the general fund.
4

Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.


JS’s account does not provide complete explanations of all of the transactions detailed thereon. For example, the credit side of the account shows JS contributing over $450 in material property, but the debit side shows that the property in his possession at the time he departed for
Ohio

French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...

More Info
totaled only $206. Aside from the $61.84 credited to JS for “ware and tare of waggons, harnesses &c.,” he appears to have no other non-cash credit. It is not clear how the non-cash balance was made up, but the $218 JS had in cash upon his return journey (shown on the debit side of the account) may have been seen as payment for those non-cash donations. It is also unclear why the debit side of the account begins only with JS’s return journey to
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio. It is possible that his expenses up to that time were covered by the Camp of Israel’s general fund and that he used his own personal money only on the return trip.
Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

View Full Bio
created this double-entry account on loose-leaf ledger paper. He likely presented it to the
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
high council on 29 August 1834 at the same time that he presented the Church of Christ account. The minutes for that meeting, however, are not clear as to whether this account was submitted. It is also unclear if JS was actually reimbursed for the $644.28.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 11 Aug. 1834.

  2. [2]

    For more information about the creation of these accounts and possible dates of creation, see Historical Introduction to Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

  3. [3]

    Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

  4. [4]

    Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834.

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Account with the Camp of Israel, circa 11–29 August 1834
ID #
2157
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:156–163
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