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Appendix 2: William Clayton, Journal Excerpt, 1–4 April 1843

1 April 1843 • Saturday Page 65 2 April 1843 • Sunday Page 66 3 April 1843 • Monday Page 74 4 April 1843 • Tuesday Page 74

Source Note

William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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, Journal excerpt, 1–4 Apr. 1843; handwriting of
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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; ten pages, measuring 6 x 3⅞ inches (15 x 10 cm); in William Clayton, Journals, 3 vols., Nov. 1842–Jan. 1846, CHL. Includes redactions and use marks.

Historical Introduction

William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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’s personal journal from 1–4 April 1843 served as a source for JS’s journal entries for those dates. Clayton accompanied JS on a trip from
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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to
Ramus

Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...

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, Illinois, and kept detailed notes of JS’s activities and teachings, while
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, JS’s journal keeper, remained in Nauvoo. Richards evidently later composed JS’s journal entries for these dates from Clayton’s journal and from conversations he had with those who made the trip. As an important primary source for Richards’s information about JS’s activities at this time, Clayton’s journal entries for 1–4 April are reproduced here in full.

Page 74

of a beast to represent the kingdom of heaven— when they were made use of it was to represent an apostate church.
We slept at
B. F. Johnsons [Benjamin F. Johnson’s]

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

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.
3 April 1843 • Monday
<​Monday 3rd.​> About 2 o clock we left
Ramus

Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...

More Info
for
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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. We arrived about 4 at
Mr [Jacob B.] Backenstos

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert...

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’s. After supper I went to do some business at the Court house. I slept in company with the Sheriff in the Court house.
4 April 1843 • Tuesday
Tuesday 4— Spent the forenoon hearing pres. J. talk to
Mr Backman [George Bachman]

ca. 1802–after Mar. 1857. Possibly born in New York. Son of Jacob Bachman and Sarah Borzenbanack. Practiced law in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, and in Hancock Co., Illinois, 1840s. Member of jury that testified about manner of deaths of JS and Hyrum...

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who seemed disposed to believe the truth. We left
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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about 2 and arrived at home
3

TEXT: Possibly “house”.


about 5½. [p. 74]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 74

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Appendix 2: William Clayton, Journal Excerpt, 1–4 April 1843
ID #
7636
Total Pages
10
Print Volume Location
JSP, J2:403–406
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [3]

    TEXT: Possibly “house”.

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