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Commission from Thomas Carlin, 10 March 1841

Source Note

Thomas Carlin

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

View Full Bio
, Commission,
Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
, Sangamon Co., IL, to JS,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 10 Mar. 1841; printed form with manuscript additions in handwriting of
Stephen A. Douglas

23 Apr. 1813–3 June 1861. Lawyer, politician. Born at Brandon, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Stephen Arnold Douglass and Sarah Fisk. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, 1830. Moved to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois, 1833. Served as attorney general of Illinois...

View Full Bio
; includes signatures of
Thomas Carlin

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

View Full Bio
and
Lyman Trumbull

12 Oct. 1813–25 June 1896. Teacher, lawyer, judge, statesman. Born in Colchester, New London Co., Connecticut. Son of Benjamin Trumbull and Elizabeth Mather. Moved to Greenville, Meriwether Co., Georgia, 1833. Admitted to bar, 1837, in Georgia. Moved to Belleville...

View Full Bio
and canceled signature of
Stephen A. Douglas

23 Apr. 1813–3 June 1861. Lawyer, politician. Born at Brandon, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Stephen Arnold Douglass and Sarah Fisk. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, 1830. Moved to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois, 1833. Served as attorney general of Illinois...

View Full Bio
; notation in handwriting of
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes notation and docket.
Single leaf measuring 12⅜ × 15¾ inches (31 × 40 cm), with embossed seal of the state of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
in the bottom left corner. The signature of
Stephen A. Douglas

23 Apr. 1813–3 June 1861. Lawyer, politician. Born at Brandon, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Stephen Arnold Douglass and Sarah Fisk. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, 1830. Moved to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois, 1833. Served as attorney general of Illinois...

View Full Bio
was knife-erased, and
Lyman Trumbull

12 Oct. 1813–25 June 1896. Teacher, lawyer, judge, statesman. Born in Colchester, New London Co., Connecticut. Son of Benjamin Trumbull and Elizabeth Mather. Moved to Greenville, Meriwether Co., Georgia, 1833. Admitted to bar, 1837, in Georgia. Moved to Belleville...

View Full Bio
then signed the document over the erasure.
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
added a notation and his signature on the verso. The commission was folded for filing.
The commission has presumably remained in institutional custody since it was docketed and filed by JS’s clerk
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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, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
1

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456–458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456–458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Historical Introduction

On 10 March 1841,
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
governor
Thomas Carlin

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

View Full Bio
commissioned JS as lieutenant general of the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
of the Illinois state militia. As set forth in the
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....

More Info
city charter, the Nauvoo Legion was subject to the governor and required his authorization to appoint all officers.
1

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840. Illinois records show the Nauvoo Legion officers, along with other state militia participants, listed as subject to the state governor. (Nauvoo Legion, Hancock Co., Illinois State Militia Commission Records, 1834–1855, vol. 14, pp. 1163–1165; vol. 17, pp. 39–44, 46, Illinois State Archives, Springfield.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Illinois State Militia Commission Records, 1834–1855. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.

The
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
state government approved the establishment of
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....

More Info
’s volunteer militia in December 1840.
2

See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.


The legion, however, deviated from traditional militia structure in its designation of JS as lieutenant general. In the traditional chain of command, the governor functioned as commander in chief of the state’s militias, and next in command was each militia’s major general, a position filled in the Nauvoo Legion by
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
.
3

The legion chose to adopt Alexander Macomb’s Concise System of Instructions but deviated from it somewhat in rank and organization. Not only was the rank of major general superseded by the rank of lieutenant general, but the legion also changed the makeup of companies and battalions. In Macomb’s system, an infantry battalion comprised ten companies and a cavalry regiment three squadrons. In the Nauvoo Legion, two companies formed a battalion and two battalions a regiment. (“Record of the ‘Nauvoo Legion,’” 4, 5, Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL; Cooper and Macomb, Concise System of Instructions, pt. 1, p. 59; pt. 2, p. 22.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

Cooper, Samuel, and Alexander Macomb. A Concise System of Instructions and Regulations for the Militia and Volunteers of the United States, Comprehending the Exercises and Movements of the Infantry, Light Infantry, and Riflemen; Cavalry and Artillery: Together with the Manner of Doing Duty in Garrison and in Camp, and the Forms of Parades, Reviews, and Inspections, as Established by Authority for the Government of the Regular Army. Philadelphia: Robert P. Desilver, 1836.

There had not been a standing lieutenant general in the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
Army or any state militia since President John Adams appointed George Washington as the senior officer of the United States Army in July 1798.
4

Lieutenant general ranked immediately below general but above the more common major general. George Washington earned the rank of general during the Revolutionary War but resigned his commission at that war’s conclusion. After Washington retired from political and military life, on 2 July 1798, John Adams reappointed him “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the armies raised,” which was the most senior office in the United States military at that time, in hopes of using Washington’s name to boost morale within the nation during an ongoing conflict with France. (Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate, 1:284; see also “From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 July 1798],” in Syrett, Papers of Alexander Hamilton, 21:534–536.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America, from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1837, Inclusive. Vol. 4. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1887.

Syrett, Harold C., ed. Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961–1987.

Yet the Nauvoo Legion elected JS as their lieutenant general on 4 February 1841, and both the
governor

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

View Full Bio
and the
secretary of state

12 Oct. 1813–25 June 1896. Teacher, lawyer, judge, statesman. Born in Colchester, New London Co., Connecticut. Son of Benjamin Trumbull and Elizabeth Mather. Moved to Greenville, Meriwether Co., Georgia, 1833. Admitted to bar, 1837, in Georgia. Moved to Belleville...

View Full Bio
of Illinois approved the commission.
5

Minutes, 4 Feb. 1841.


The generic printed form featured here required handwritten customization to tailor its contents to the particular commission being granted.
Stephen A. Douglas

23 Apr. 1813–3 June 1861. Lawyer, politician. Born at Brandon, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Stephen Arnold Douglass and Sarah Fisk. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, 1830. Moved to Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Illinois, 1833. Served as attorney general of Illinois...

View Full Bio
, the
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
secretary of state until 27 February 1841, filled in the blanks on the printed form and signed it, likely on 5 February.
6

The office of secretary of state in Illinois had been contested since 1838, when Governor Carlin tried to appoint a new secretary and incumbent Alexander Field refused to resign. With disagreements across party lines causing a stalemate, the matter was taken to court. After hearing the case, the Illinois Supreme Court decided in favor of Field, but eventually Field retired and Carlin appointed Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas only held the office for two months before resigning to take his appointment on the Illinois Supreme Court in mid-February 1841, at which point Lyman Trumbull was appointed the next secretary of state. (See White, Life of Lyman Trumbull, 11; Johannsen, Stephen A. Douglas, 84–87, 96–97; and Ford, History of Illinois, 305.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

White, Horace. The Life of Lyman Trumbull. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1913.

Johannsen, Robert W. Stephen A. Douglas. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973.

Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.

As the new secretary of state,
Lyman Trumbull

12 Oct. 1813–25 June 1896. Teacher, lawyer, judge, statesman. Born in Colchester, New London Co., Connecticut. Son of Benjamin Trumbull and Elizabeth Mather. Moved to Greenville, Meriwether Co., Georgia, 1833. Admitted to bar, 1837, in Georgia. Moved to Belleville...

View Full Bio
erased Douglas’s signature and replaced it with his own apparently by 10 March, when the commission was finalized and issued.
7

Because the commission was finalized after Douglas’s resignation, it is possible that some of the dates were filled in by Trumbull.


Carlin authorized the commission by adding his signature. On 15 March, after receiving the executed commission,
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
administered JS’s oath of office and added a notation to that effect on the back.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840. Illinois records show the Nauvoo Legion officers, along with other state militia participants, listed as subject to the state governor. (Nauvoo Legion, Hancock Co., Illinois State Militia Commission Records, 1834–1855, vol. 14, pp. 1163–1165; vol. 17, pp. 39–44, 46, Illinois State Archives, Springfield.)

    Illinois State Militia Commission Records, 1834–1855. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.

  2. [2]

    See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.

  3. [3]

    The legion chose to adopt Alexander Macomb’s Concise System of Instructions but deviated from it somewhat in rank and organization. Not only was the rank of major general superseded by the rank of lieutenant general, but the legion also changed the makeup of companies and battalions. In Macomb’s system, an infantry battalion comprised ten companies and a cavalry regiment three squadrons. In the Nauvoo Legion, two companies formed a battalion and two battalions a regiment. (“Record of the ‘Nauvoo Legion,’” 4, 5, Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL; Cooper and Macomb, Concise System of Instructions, pt. 1, p. 59; pt. 2, p. 22.)

    Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

    Cooper, Samuel, and Alexander Macomb. A Concise System of Instructions and Regulations for the Militia and Volunteers of the United States, Comprehending the Exercises and Movements of the Infantry, Light Infantry, and Riflemen; Cavalry and Artillery: Together with the Manner of Doing Duty in Garrison and in Camp, and the Forms of Parades, Reviews, and Inspections, as Established by Authority for the Government of the Regular Army. Philadelphia: Robert P. Desilver, 1836.

  4. [4]

    Lieutenant general ranked immediately below general but above the more common major general. George Washington earned the rank of general during the Revolutionary War but resigned his commission at that war’s conclusion. After Washington retired from political and military life, on 2 July 1798, John Adams reappointed him “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the armies raised,” which was the most senior office in the United States military at that time, in hopes of using Washington’s name to boost morale within the nation during an ongoing conflict with France. (Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate, 1:284; see also “From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 July 1798],” in Syrett, Papers of Alexander Hamilton, 21:534–536.)

    Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America, from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1837, Inclusive. Vol. 4. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1887.

    Syrett, Harold C., ed. Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961–1987.

  5. [5]

    Minutes, 4 Feb. 1841.

  6. [6]

    The office of secretary of state in Illinois had been contested since 1838, when Governor Carlin tried to appoint a new secretary and incumbent Alexander Field refused to resign. With disagreements across party lines causing a stalemate, the matter was taken to court. After hearing the case, the Illinois Supreme Court decided in favor of Field, but eventually Field retired and Carlin appointed Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas only held the office for two months before resigning to take his appointment on the Illinois Supreme Court in mid-February 1841, at which point Lyman Trumbull was appointed the next secretary of state. (See White, Life of Lyman Trumbull, 11; Johannsen, Stephen A. Douglas, 84–87, 96–97; and Ford, History of Illinois, 305.)

    White, Horace. The Life of Lyman Trumbull. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1913.

    Johannsen, Robert W. Stephen A. Douglas. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973.

    Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.

  7. [7]

    Because the commission was finalized after Douglas’s resignation, it is possible that some of the dates were filled in by Trumbull.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Commission from Thomas Carlin, 10 March 1841 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [2]

Notation in handwriting of John C. Bennett.


Head Quarters,
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
,
City of
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....

More Info
, Ill., March 15th 1841.
Oath of Office administered by me the day and year above written.

Signature of John C. Bennett.


John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

View Full Bio
, Major General of the Nauvoo Legion. [p. [2]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [2]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Commission from Thomas Carlin, 10 March 1841
ID #
2213
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:66–69
Handwriting on This Page
  • John C. Bennett

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Notation in handwriting of John C. Bennett.

  2. new scribe logo

    Signature of John C. Bennett.

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