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Kirtland Safety Society Daybook, circa 4–16 January 1837

Source Note

Kirtland Safety Society, Daybook,
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. 4–16 Jan. 1837; handwriting of
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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,
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

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, and Marcellus Cowdery; seven pages; JS Office Papers, CHL.

Historical Introduction

The
Kirtland Safety Society Bank

A financial institution formed to raise money and provide credit in Kirtland, Ohio. On 2 November 1836, JS, Sidney Rigdon, and others officially organized the Kirtland Safety Society as a community bank by ratifying its constitution. Sidney Rigdon served ...

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was formed in November 1836; however, the institution did not open for business or operate a banking house until January 1837.
1

Documents, Volume 5, Part 5 Introduction: 5 Oct. 1836–10 Apr. 1837.


When the bank opened, individuals acting as clerks kept a record of daily transactions in an ad hoc daybook composed of four loose, folded sheets of paper.
2

The handwriting of Newel K. Whitney is most prevalent in the daybook. Although he did not serve in an official capacity, Whitney appears to have helped at least in the first weeks of the Safety Society’s operation. Several other individuals also helped keep this record, including Warren Parrish, who became the official clerk of the Kirtland Safety Society between November 1836 and January 1837.


This daybook contains entries for loans as well as for the issuing of Kirtland Safety Society notes in exchange for banknotes from other financial institutions. It was through these loans and exchanges that the Safety Society notes were put into circulation in
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, and surrounding communities.
3

Although most of these transactions involved Kirtland residents, some individuals were from nearby Willoughby or Cleveland, Ohio. Nearly all were Latter-day Saints.


Several of the entries in the daybook were marked with an "x", which has not been captured in the transcript but appears to correlate with payments received. Unfortunately, the daybook captures only a brief period of operation, from about 4 to 16 January 1837. After this time there are no extant records for the daily transactions of the bank.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Documents, Volume 5, Part 5 Introduction: 5 Oct. 1836–10 Apr. 1837.

  2. [2]

    The handwriting of Newel K. Whitney is most prevalent in the daybook. Although he did not serve in an official capacity, Whitney appears to have helped at least in the first weeks of the Safety Society’s operation. Several other individuals also helped keep this record, including Warren Parrish, who became the official clerk of the Kirtland Safety Society between November 1836 and January 1837.

  3. [3]

    Although most of these transactions involved Kirtland residents, some individuals were from nearby Willoughby or Cleveland, Ohio. Nearly all were Latter-day Saints.

Page [1]

Newel K. Whitney handwriting begins.


J[acob] Bump

1791–by 10 Oct. 1865. Brickmason, plasterer, carpenter, mechanic, farmer, craftsman. Born at Butternuts, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Asa Bump and Lydia Dandley. Married Abigail Pettingill, ca. 1811. Moved to Meadville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, by 1826...

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5.00 p[ai]d.
J. Goodson 11.00 pd.
J Smith Jr for curr[enc]y 1.00 not pd.
Danl Susby 6.00 pd.
Redeemd. of Canfield $31.00 [am?] paper
[Redeemd.] of Tucker [$]4.00 [am?] [paper]
[Redeemd.]
Jany. 9 J. Smith Jr To cash on
Jno Smith

16 July 1781–23 May 1854. Farmer. Born at Derryfield (later Manchester), Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Member of Congregational church. Appointed overseer of highways at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1810. Married...

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& D Whitny [Daniel Whitney] &
Durphy [Jabez Durfee]

23 Dec. 1791–Apr. 1867. Carpenter, millwright. Born in Tiverton, Newport Co., Rhode Island. Son of Perry Durfee and Annie Salisbury. Married first Electa Cranston, ca. 1811, in Tiverton. Moved to Lenox, Madison Co., New York, by 1820. Moved to New London,...

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note in Bank amt. of Sd. note
$3100.00
800.00
2,300.00 yet due them
David Whitmer

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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$9.00 pay[men]t. soon
1

The designation "payment" here and elsewhere in the daybook appears to indicate that payment was still owed. This was in contrast to entries marked "pd" or "paid."


J. Smith To $35.00 to exchange payt.
Stranger $1.00 pd.
Stranger $2.00 pd.
D. Wood $1.00 pd.
Mr J. Roger $1.00
Chargd. 1 dollar for currency $1.00 pd.
D. Whitney $6.00 pd.
Redemd of Burt Mr Burton $4.00
Gave $2.00 pd.
J. Smith Jr To Cash pd. Bishop for currency $50.00
J. Smith Jr Exchange $15.00 pd.
10 Jany J. Smith Jr To Cash $704.00
11 Jany
W[arren] Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

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$117.00 payt. to Bank Dr [debit]
S[idney] Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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To $50.00 payt. to Bank
[
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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]
[To] $5.00
H[yrum] Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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[To interest may] 0.30
J. Smith Jr To Cash pd. for currency $5.00
To cash to pay
[Lucian] Foster

12 Nov. 1806–19 Mar. 1876. Photographer, accountant, bookkeeper, clerk. Born in New Marlboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Nathaniel Foster and Polly. Married first Harriet Eliza Burr. Married second Mary Ann Graham. Baptized into Church of Jesus ...

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$50.00
D Eliot Exchange $1.00 pd.
[p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Kirtland Safety Society Daybook, circa 4–16 January 1837
ID #
8043
Total Pages
7
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Newel K. Whitney

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Newel K. Whitney handwriting begins.

  2. [1]

    The designation "payment" here and elsewhere in the daybook appears to indicate that payment was still owed. This was in contrast to entries marked "pd" or "paid."

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