, History, Manuscript, ca. 1839; handwriting of ; nineteen pages (several additional leaves missing); CHL.
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.” (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].) 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.
may have intended to tell the entire story himself, but he fell ill shortly after publication began and died 27 May 1840. Partridge’s manuscript, which he did not title, is provided here. The full text of “A History, of the Persecution,” which necessarily relied on other sources following Partridge’s demise, receives comprehensive treatment in volume 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers and is available on this website.
’s history begins with his account of the conflicts in the early 1830s. Partridge was a bishop of the church in Missouri, first in and then in following the Saints’ expulsion from Jackson County. He also served as bishop in after the Saints relocated there from Clay County in 1836. By the time he drafted his account of the Mormon experiences in Missouri, the Saints had been exiled from the state and had relocated to .
’s narrative is based on firsthand observations and may also have relied on other records he kept. It begins, “In presenting to our readers a history of the persecutions,” indicating that Partridge wrote it for publication purposes. However, there are occasionally significant differences between the manuscript version and “A History, of the Persecution” as published.
The early custodial history of the manuscript is somewhat uncertain. However, the manuscript was presumably among materials in the possession of church historian and recorder Joseph Fielding Smith, who held that office from 1921 to 1970 and who had worked in the Church Historian’s Office many years prior. The manuscript became part of the First Presidency’s papers when Smith became church president in 1970, and, with other records (including Revelation Book 1 and two drafts of JS’s history), was transferred from the First Presidency’s office to the Church History Library in 2005.
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The church <saints> did not like the idea of leaving the <And> few if any believed <at first> that they should <would> have to leave <it> but that they would be protected by thinking that government would protect them in their Constitutional rights. A petition The mob party threatened the<m> saints <with destruction> if they made any effort to get any assistance from any quarter but notwithstanding their threats a petition was carefully got up circulated and obtained the signature of <a> great many of the saints and was sent to the of the before it became at all public. This petition set forth <in> a concise <manner> history of the<ir> persecutions and solicited the aid of the in obtaining their protecting them in their rights that they might sue and obtain damages for loss of property, abuse, defamation &.C.. The in his answer expressed a willingness to help them but <could not untill they law could not be executed without force> had not the authority
He advised. us <them> to make complaint to the circuit Judge or the justice of thepeace <and obtain warrant, against for> ofsuch as should threatenour <their> livesandwe<they>believed them in danger <to try the law bothto against those who <should> threatend their lives and if the law was resisted give him official information of the fact & he see that the law was enforced.> * <*Put the warrants in the hands of the sheriff & if they could not be served then he the would enforce the law> Accordingly <about the 1st of Nov., when the mob raged again> application was made to a Justice <of the peace> who had not then openly joined the mob, but he refused <to give a warrant> saying that if he <did> granted <it> a warrant he feared that his life would be in danger. They then sent 40 miles to the circuit Judge and after considerable delay obtained a warrant against a number of individuals. When the warrants arrived it was to late to do any thing with them for the whole was getting up in arms and the Saints had as much as they could do to take care of themselves
He also advised them to sue for their damages. They accordingly employed four counsellors at $250. <each> to commence and carry their suits <more or less> through to final judgement— <They commenced by starting <with> 3 or 4 <or 5>— 2 of which were afterwards withdrawn>
Two or three suits were planted which were kept along for some time when a change of Venue was obtained by <their> paying near $300. before the time of final trial which was 2 or 3 years from the commencement of the suits when it was expected that a trial would be had their lawyers evidently turned against them making <made a> a sort of compromise with the mob party discontinuing a<n> principal <important suit> without obtaining any thing not even the paying <payment> of the costs <&> this was done without the knowledge or consent of their clientBut employer and on the <an>other principal suit there <was something obtained>. was <but> not enough <as much> obtained as had been paid the <for> lawyers <fees> & costs [p. [5]]