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Letter from Calvin A. Warren, 13 July 1842

Source Note

Calvin A. Warren

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

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, Letter,
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
, Adams 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, 13 July 1842; handwriting of
Calvin A. Warren

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Included enclosures (not extant); includes address, dockets, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 13¾ × 7¾ inches (35 × 20 cm), ruled with thirty-five blue lines (now faded). The letter included an enclosure of bankruptcy notices (not extant). The letter was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. The second leaf was torn when the letter was opened, and both sides of the leaf bear residue from the wafer seal. The letter was subsequently folded for filing. Some discoloration of the paper has occurred in the address block on the verso of the second leaf.
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, docketed the document twice.
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.

A notation, inscribed in graphite in unknown handwriting, is on the recto of the first leaf and reads “
Warren, Calvin | A

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

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”, a style that appears to have been used by Church Historian’s Office employees around the beginning of the twentieth century. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
2

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
3

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s early docket, the circa 1904 inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

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]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  3. [3]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 13 July 1842,
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
attorney
Calvin A. Warren

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

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wrote a letter to JS at the request of
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
members
George Miller

25 Nov. 1794–after July 1856. Carpenter, mill operator, lumber dealer, steamboat owner. Born near Stanardsville, Orange Co., Virginia. Son of John Miller and Margaret Pfeiffer. Moved to Augusta Co., Virginia, 1798; to Madison Co., Kentucky, 1806; to Boone...

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and
Erastus Derby

14 Sept. 1810–3 Dec. 1890. Tailor, carpenter, farmer, joiner. Born in Hawley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Edward Darby and Ruth Phoebe Hitchcock. Moved to Ohio, by 1834. Married Ruhamah Burnham Knowlton, 10 Aug. 1834, in Carthage, Hamilton Co., Ohio...

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to report that JS did not need to fear extradition to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
. Miller and Derby had stopped in
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
, Illinois, on their way to
Jefferson City

City on south bank of Missouri River, about 130 miles west of St. Louis. Became capital of Missouri, 11 Jan. 1822. Population in 1844 about 1,200.

More Info
, Missouri, where they were going to consult with Missouri governor
Thomas Reynolds

12 Mar. 1796–9 Feb. 1844. Attorney, politician, judge. Born at Mason Co. (later Bracken Co.), Kentucky. Son of Nathaniel Reynolds and Catherine Vernon. Admitted to Kentucky bar, 1817. Moved to Illinois, by 1818. Served as clerk of Illinois House of Representatives...

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about JS’s possible extradition from Illinois. Having been arrested in 1841 in connection with a Missouri extradition attempt, JS was apprehensive about the possibility of being taken back to that state, even though the 1841 attempt was ultimately unsuccessful. He had earlier inquired of Illinois 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...

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to learn whether the governor would protect him from being kidnapped and taken to Missouri.
1

Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842.


Carlin had informed JS in a 30 June 1842 letter that “as all men were held amenable to the laws, so in like manner the rights of all would be protected.” However, Carlin also implied that he considered himself duty-bound to comply with extradition requests.
2

Letter from Thomas Carlin, 30 June 1842.


Carlin’s letter raised JS’s concerns—as did a published threat from former Latter-day Saint
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 ...

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that he would deliver JS “up to justice, or die in the attempt,”
3

John C. Bennett, Nauvoo, IL, 27 June 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 8 July 1842, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

along with a reported plot between Bennett and
David

12 Apr. 1803–24 Apr. 1876. Merchant, land agent, postmaster, lawyer, railroad executive. Born in Marlborough, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of David Kilbourn(e) and Lydia Welles. Presbyterian. Married Harriet Rice in Albany, Albany Co., New York, 28 June...

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and
Edward Kilbourne

22 Jan. 1814–3 Feb. 1878. Merchant, land speculator, gas manufacturer, railroad operator. Born at Marlborough, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of David Kilbourn(e) and Lydia Welles. Moved to Lee Co., Iowa Territory, by 1839. In partnership with his brother...

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of
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

More Info
, Iowa Territory, to kidnap JS and take him to Missouri
4

Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842.


—so JS had sent Miller and Derby to consult with Illinois and Missouri government officials.
5

Miller, for example, wrote Reynolds on 28 June 1842 asking for any information he had about Bennett’s attempts to “conspire with” Missouri citizens to incite “mob voilence” against the Latter-day Saints. (George Miller, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Reynolds, 28 June 1842, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 236–237.)


Warren

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

View Full Bio
’s letter also commented on the legal services he was providing to JS and other church members in filing bankruptcy claims. Warren, who practiced law in
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
, stated that he was enclosing six notices that he wanted JS to have printed in the Wasp. Given the lack of postal markings, the letter and notices were apparently hand delivered to JS. It probably took a few days for the letter to travel the approximately fifty miles from Quincy 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
, Illinois. Although no reply from JS to Warren is extant, notices for several bankruptcy cases appeared in the 16 July 1842 issue of the Wasp, indicating that JS had received the letter and the enclosures by that time and that he had arranged for the requested notices to be printed.
6

See the bankruptcy notices for Charles Warner, Windsor P. Lyon, Edward F. Chittenden, Talton E. Fox, William Niswanger, and John S. Fullmer, in Wasp, 16 July 1842, [3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842.

  2. [2]

    Letter from Thomas Carlin, 30 June 1842.

  3. [3]

    John C. Bennett, Nauvoo, IL, 27 June 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 8 July 1842, [2].

    Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

  4. [4]

    Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842.

  5. [5]

    Miller, for example, wrote Reynolds on 28 June 1842 asking for any information he had about Bennett’s attempts to “conspire with” Missouri citizens to incite “mob voilence” against the Latter-day Saints. (George Miller, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Reynolds, 28 June 1842, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 236–237.)

  6. [6]

    See the bankruptcy notices for Charles Warner, Windsor P. Lyon, Edward F. Chittenden, Talton E. Fox, William Niswanger, and John S. Fullmer, in Wasp, 16 July 1842, [3].

    The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.

Page [2]

down here this week, and then fix the time for visiting
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
—
8

“Mr. Caltin” was probably Joel Catlin, who had been appointed assignee for Hancock County. (Letter from Calvin A. Warren, ca. 23 June 1842.)


Enclosed is a letter inquiring for the situation & value & prospect of selling the land described therein?
9

This enclosure is not extant.


Please deliver to some competent person, to send me the desired information as soon as practicable!
My little rifle is a little the greatest Chattel in this
City

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
— the more I think of your parting remark to me about it, the more I feel certain it shall never be used against yourself or friends!
10

In April 1842, a rifle valued at fifty dollars was given to Warren to pay him for helping JS prepare his bankruptcy application. JS’s “parting remark” about the gun may have been made on 30 June 1842, when he met with Warren in Nauvoo. (Trustee-in-Trust, Ledger A, 240; Historical Introduction to Application for Bankruptcy, ca. 14–16 Apr. 1842; JS, Journal, 30 June 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

In haste Very Respectfully
Yours &c
Calvin A. Warren

3 June 1807–22 Feb. 1881. Lawyer. Born in Elizabethtown, Essex Co., New York. Lived at Hamilton Co., Ohio, 1832. Moved to Batavia, Clermont Co., Ohio, by 1835. Married first Viola A. Morris, 25 May 1835, at Batavia. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1836...

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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Calvin A. Warren, 13 July 1842
ID #
879
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:257–260
Handwriting on This Page
  • Calvin A. Warren

Footnotes

  1. [8]

    “Mr. Caltin” was probably Joel Catlin, who had been appointed assignee for Hancock County. (Letter from Calvin A. Warren, ca. 23 June 1842.)

  2. [9]

    This enclosure is not extant.

  3. [10]

    In April 1842, a rifle valued at fifty dollars was given to Warren to pay him for helping JS prepare his bankruptcy application. JS’s “parting remark” about the gun may have been made on 30 June 1842, when he met with Warren in Nauvoo. (Trustee-in-Trust, Ledger A, 240; Historical Introduction to Application for Bankruptcy, ca. 14–16 Apr. 1842; JS, Journal, 30 June 1842.)

    Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

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