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Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 8 August 1842

Source Note

Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

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, Letter,
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
, Philadelphia Co., PA, to the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
(including 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, 8 Aug. 1842; handwriting of
Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
; one page; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes address, docket, and archival marking.
Bifolium measuring 10 × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was inscribed on the recto of the first leaf; the verso of the first leaf and recto of the second leaf are blank. The document was trifolded twice in letter style and addressed. Marked water damage and subsequent decay have resulted in a loss of text.
The letter was docketed by
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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, who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844.
1

JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

In late 1844, following JS’s death,
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...

View Full Bio
became one of the interim church trustees and was appointed “first bishop” among other
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
bishops.
2

Richards, Journal, 9 Aug. 1844; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1844, 5:693; see also Minutes, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

It was presumably during this time that many of the church’s financial and other administrative records passed into his possession. This document, along with many other personal and institutional documents that Whitney kept, was inherited by Newel K. and
Elizabeth Ann 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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’s daughter Mary Jane Whitney, who was married to Isaac Groo. The documents were passed down within the Groo family. Between 1969 and 1974, the Groo family donated their collection of Newel K. Whitney’s papers to the J. Reuben Clark Library (renamed Harold B. Lee Library in 1973) at Brigham Young University.
3

Andrus and Fuller, Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 24.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

  2. [2]

    Richards, Journal, 9 Aug. 1844; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1844, 5:693; see also Minutes, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  3. [3]

    Andrus and Fuller, Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 24.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Historical Introduction

On 8 August 1842,
Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
wrote from
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
to the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
in
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
, Illinois, informing them that the Latter-day Saints in Philadelphia wanted
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
to return to that city to preach. Winchester had been called to preside over the Philadelphia
branch

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...

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in 1840. In 1841 and 1842, local controversies and the presence of
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

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, a member of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
, placed Winchester’s leadership in question.
1

Winchester was occasionally absent from Philadelphia after being called to preside over the branch there, but he resumed his role when he returned.a In an 1841 letter to JS, Winchester expressed frustrations with Page, who was in Philadelphia. Soon after, when Winchester left for Nauvoo, Page began to exert considerable control over the Philadelphia branch. While in Nauvoo, Winchester was reprimanded by JS for “talebearing and slandering his brethren” in Philadelphia.b Divisions over leadership in Philadelphia led to a de facto split of the branch in April 1842.c In May, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published a notice informing church members that Winchester had been “silenced from preaching . . . for not obeying the instruction which he received from the Presidency.” In July, another published notice stated that Winchester was “restored to his former fellowship and standing,” and also instructed him to leave Philadelphia. However, Winchester apparently remained in Philadelphia and continued to act in a leadership capacity.d(aPhiladelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. and 16 Nov. 1840; 6 Apr. 1841; see also “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 May 1841, 2:412.bLetter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 Sept. 1841; JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 19.cPetition from James B. Nicholson and Others, 22 Apr. 1842.d“Notice,” Times and Seasons, 16 May 1842, 3:798; Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842; see also Whittaker, “East of Nauvoo,” 51–59.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Whittaker, David J. “East of Nauvoo: Benjamin Winchester and the Early Mormon Church.” Journal of Mormon History 21 (Fall 1995): 30–83.

In June 1842, although Winchester’s leadership in Philadelphia remained uncertain, he left on a proselytizing trip to
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

More Info
, where he met up with Adams, who was on his own proselytizing trip.
2

Whittaker, “East of Nauvoo,” 55. Adams, a former Methodist preacher and a high priest in the church, had returned to New York from a mission to England in April. (“Letter from Elder George J. Adams,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842, 3:826–828.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Whittaker, David J. “East of Nauvoo: Benjamin Winchester and the Early Mormon Church.” Journal of Mormon History 21 (Fall 1995): 30–83.

While preaching in and around Boston, Adams engaged in public debates with Presbyterian minister George Montgomery West, which caused a small stir in the local press and garnered the attention of members of the
church

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...

View Glossary
. Sometime in July, Adams left New England to continue his preaching elsewhere in the East. In late July or early August, he again debated West “on Mormonism” in Philadelphia.
3

Letter from Lorenzo D. Wasson, 30 July 1842; see also Advertisement, Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 1 Aug. 1842, [2]; and Advertisement, Public Ledger, 2 Aug. 1842, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.

Within days of that debate, over five hundred Latter-day Saints met in Philadelphia and voted to ask church leaders to assign Adams to preach there again.
4

There is no record of this meeting in the minutes of the Philadelphia branch.


Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
presumably wrote the 8 August 1842 letter featured here a few days after the debate. He informed JS and his counselors in the First Presidency of the
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
Saints’ desires and added his own recommendation that
Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
quickly return to take advantage of current interest in the church in his area. Given the letter’s lack of postal markings, it was likely hand delivered to
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
. It is not known who carried the letter, how much time it took to reach Nauvoo, or who received it.
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...

View Full Bio
, a scribe for JS, docketed the letter, suggesting it may have been received by JS or Clayton, or it may have come into their possession sometime later. No reply from the First Presidency or JS is extant or otherwise known to exist. Adams, who was in Nauvoo by September, returned to Philadelphia in late 1842, when he attended a church
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
there.
5

JS, Journal, 7 Sept. 1842; Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 21 Dec. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

Because damage to the letter has resulted in lost and obscured text in several places, some text in the following transcript has been editorially supplied within brackets, based on context.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Winchester was occasionally absent from Philadelphia after being called to preside over the branch there, but he resumed his role when he returned.a In an 1841 letter to JS, Winchester expressed frustrations with Page, who was in Philadelphia. Soon after, when Winchester left for Nauvoo, Page began to exert considerable control over the Philadelphia branch. While in Nauvoo, Winchester was reprimanded by JS for “talebearing and slandering his brethren” in Philadelphia.b Divisions over leadership in Philadelphia led to a de facto split of the branch in April 1842.c In May, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published a notice informing church members that Winchester had been “silenced from preaching . . . for not obeying the instruction which he received from the Presidency.” In July, another published notice stated that Winchester was “restored to his former fellowship and standing,” and also instructed him to leave Philadelphia. However, Winchester apparently remained in Philadelphia and continued to act in a leadership capacity.d

    (aPhiladelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. and 16 Nov. 1840; 6 Apr. 1841; see also “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 May 1841, 2:412. bLetter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 Sept. 1841; JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 19. cPetition from James B. Nicholson and Others, 22 Apr. 1842. d“Notice,” Times and Seasons, 16 May 1842, 3:798; Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842; see also Whittaker, “East of Nauvoo,” 51–59.)

    Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

    Whittaker, David J. “East of Nauvoo: Benjamin Winchester and the Early Mormon Church.” Journal of Mormon History 21 (Fall 1995): 30–83.

  2. [2]

    Whittaker, “East of Nauvoo,” 55. Adams, a former Methodist preacher and a high priest in the church, had returned to New York from a mission to England in April. (“Letter from Elder George J. Adams,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1842, 3:826–828.)

    Whittaker, David J. “East of Nauvoo: Benjamin Winchester and the Early Mormon Church.” Journal of Mormon History 21 (Fall 1995): 30–83.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Lorenzo D. Wasson, 30 July 1842; see also Advertisement, Public Ledger (Philadelphia), 1 Aug. 1842, [2]; and Advertisement, Public Ledger, 2 Aug. 1842, [2].

    Public Ledger. Philadelphia. 1836–1925.

  4. [4]

    There is no record of this meeting in the minutes of the Philadelphia branch.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 7 Sept. 1842; Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 21 Dec. 1842.

    Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

Page [1]

Phil

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
Aug 8th [1842]
1

TEXT: Page torn.


To the
first presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
of [the?] [churc]h
2

TEXT: “of [page torn]h”.


at
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
This is to certify that [illegible] [conv]ening
3

TEXT: “that [page torn]ening”.


a vote was called in a congreg[ation]
4

TEXT: “congreg[page torn]”.


of more than five hundred
5

At an April 1842 conference of the church in Philadelphia, James B. Nicholson reported that the Philadelphia branch consisted of two hundred and seventy-five members. (Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

to exp[ress]
6

TEXT: “exp[page torn]”.


their desire thatt
Elder [George J.] Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
shoul[d re]turn
7

TEXT: “shoul[page torn]turn”.


to this
city

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
to preach who ◊◊◊
8

TEXT: Page torn; possibly “and”.


there was not, a dissenting voice
9

While this kind of vote was apparently an anomaly, local church leaders sometimes wrote to the leaders in Nauvoo asking them to send specific individuals to assist in preaching. In one case, several individuals who were not members of the church in Pittsburgh petitioned church leaders to allow Page to return to preach. (Petition from Richard Savary and Others, ca. 2 Feb. 1842; see also Letter from William Appleby, ca. Mar. 1842.)


For my own part I think it alltogether advisable for him to return immediately for there is now a great excitement on the subject of of our holy religion and a prospect of bringing scores into the kingdom
10

Winchester likely had in mind the stir created by Adams’s debates with West. As Lorenzo Wasson noted, the debate produced “great excitement.” (Letter from Lorenzo D. Wasson, 30 July 1842.)


B[enjamin] Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
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Source Note

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Page [1]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 8 August 1842
ID #
10399
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:364–366
Handwriting on This Page
  • Benjamin Winchester

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: Page torn.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “of [page torn]h”.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “that [page torn]ening”.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “congreg[page torn]”.

  5. [5]

    At an April 1842 conference of the church in Philadelphia, James B. Nicholson reported that the Philadelphia branch consisted of two hundred and seventy-five members. (Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 6 Apr. 1842.)

    Philadelphia, PA, Minutes and Records, 1840–1854. CCLA.

  6. [6]

    TEXT: “exp[page torn]”.

  7. [7]

    TEXT: “shoul[page torn]turn”.

  8. [8]

    TEXT: Page torn; possibly “and”.

  9. [9]

    While this kind of vote was apparently an anomaly, local church leaders sometimes wrote to the leaders in Nauvoo asking them to send specific individuals to assist in preaching. In one case, several individuals who were not members of the church in Pittsburgh petitioned church leaders to allow Page to return to preach. (Petition from Richard Savary and Others, ca. 2 Feb. 1842; see also Letter from William Appleby, ca. Mar. 1842.)

  10. [10]

    Winchester likely had in mind the stir created by Adams’s debates with West. As Lorenzo Wasson noted, the debate produced “great excitement.” (Letter from Lorenzo D. Wasson, 30 July 1842.)

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