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Letter from Edward Southwick, 7 August 1843

Source Note

Edward Southwick

10 Aug. 1812–26 Nov. 1857. Lawyer. Born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of Edward Southwick and Catherine Wilkinson. Studied law in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. Admitted to New York bar, 1836. Moved to Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, fall 1836. Admitted...

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, Letter,
Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
, Lee 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....

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, Hancock Co., IL, 7 Aug. 1843; handwriting of
Edward Southwick

10 Aug. 1812–26 Nov. 1857. Lawyer. Born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of Edward Southwick and Catherine Wilkinson. Studied law in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. Admitted to New York bar, 1836. Moved to Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, fall 1836. Admitted...

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; two pages; photocopy in Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes address, postal notation, docket, and endorsements. Transcription from photocopy.
Three leaves measuring 14 × 8½ inches (36 × 22 cm). The photocopy does not contain an image of the third page. The original letter was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with an adhesive wafer. The letter was torn when opened, and the final page contains wafer residue. The leaves were later stapled together in the upper left corner of the recto.
The letter was docketed and endorsed by
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854.
1

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

In late 1844, following JS’s death,
Bishop

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...

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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 Smith Whitney

26 Dec. 1800–15 Feb. 1882. Born at Derby, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Daughter of Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley. Moved to Ohio, 1819. Married Newel K. Whitney, 20 Oct. 1822, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Shortly after, joined reformed Baptist (later Disciples...

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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 its 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; Wilkinson et al., Brigham Young University, 4:255.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Andrus, Hyrum L., and Chris Fuller, comp. Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers. Provo, UT: Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, 1978.

Wilkinson, Ernest L., Leonard J. Arrington, and Bruce C. Hafen, eds. Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years. Vol. 4. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1976.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  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; Wilkinson et al., Brigham Young University, 4:255.

    Andrus, Hyrum L., and Chris Fuller, comp. Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers. Provo, UT: Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, 1978.

    Wilkinson, Ernest L., Leonard J. Arrington, and Bruce C. Hafen, eds. Brigham Young University: The First One Hundred Years. Vol. 4. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1976.

Historical Introduction

On 7 August 1843,
Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
, Illinois, attorney
Edward Southwick

10 Aug. 1812–26 Nov. 1857. Lawyer. Born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of Edward Southwick and Catherine Wilkinson. Studied law in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. Admitted to New York bar, 1836. Moved to Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, fall 1836. Admitted...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter to JS seeking information about the recent congressional election and requesting that JS pay the legal fees he incurred the previous month. On 23 June 1843,
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
, Illinois, constable
Harmon T. Wilson

1 Feb. 1815–27 June 1851. Merchant, deputy sheriff. Born in Montgomery Co., Virginia. Son of John Wilson and Elizabeth Cummins. Moved to Christianburg, Montgomery Co., by 7 Aug. 1820; to Newbern, Montgomery Co., by June 1830; and to Hancock Co., Illinois,...

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arrested JS near Dixon and turned him over 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
sheriff
Joseph H. Reynolds

1813–29 Mar. 1884. Grocer, government official. Born in Lincoln Co., Kentucky. Moved to Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, 1834. Elected county coroner, Aug. 1836, and justice of the peace, 1837. Served in Seminole War. Married first, by June 1840. Served...

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, the agent authorized to convey JS to Missouri. Shortly after, JS retained Southwick,
Shepherd Patrick

28 Mar. 1815–2 Oct. 1877. Lawyer, farmer. Born in Wysox, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Shepard Patrick and Catherine Goodwin. Admitted to bar, 1841, in Bradford Co. Practiced law in Dixon, Lee Co., Illinois, by early 1840s. Served as legal counsel for...

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, and
Cyrus Walker

6 May 1791–Dec. 1875. Lawyer. Born in Rockbridge Co., Virginia. Son of Alexander Walker and Mary Magdalene Hammond. Presbyterian. Moved to Adair Co., Kentucky, ca. 1794. Lived in Columbia, Adair Co., by 1810. Married Flora Montgomery, 30 Jan. 1817, in Adair...

View Full Bio
as legal counsel. Over the next week, JS and his attorneys employed several strategies to prevent his extradition to Missouri. On 1 July, JS appeared before 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
Municipal Court on a writ of
habeas corpus

“Have the body”; a written order from a court of competent jurisdiction commanding anyone having a person in custody to produce such person at a certain time and place and to state the reasons why he or she is being held in custody. The court will determine...

View Glossary
, resulting in a discharge from custody.
1

Historical Introduction to Extradition of JS for Treason; Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; Minutes, 1 July 1843, Extradition of JS for Treason (Nauvoo Mun. Ct. 1843), JS Collection, CHL.


Following this episode,
Southwick

10 Aug. 1812–26 Nov. 1857. Lawyer. Born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of Edward Southwick and Catherine Wilkinson. Studied law in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. Admitted to New York bar, 1836. Moved to Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, fall 1836. Admitted...

View Full Bio
provided the Warsaw Message with an account of JS’s arrest, his treatment by his captors, his arrival 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
, and the habeas corpus hearing, which the newspaper printed in a 12 July extra.
2

JS, Journal, 5 July 1843; [Edward Southwick], “Statement,” Warsaw (IL) Message, Extra, 12 July 1843, [1].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

The Warsaw Message reprinted the account in the full edition of that week’s paper, issued on 15 July, but editor Thomas Gregg noted that
Wilson

1 Feb. 1815–27 June 1851. Merchant, deputy sheriff. Born in Montgomery Co., Virginia. Son of John Wilson and Elizabeth Cummins. Moved to Christianburg, Montgomery Co., by 7 Aug. 1820; to Newbern, Montgomery Co., by June 1830; and to Hancock Co., Illinois,...

View Full Bio
asserted that Southwick’s statement contained “two unqualified falsehoods.” Specifically, Wilson denied Southwick’s claims that
Reynolds

1813–29 Mar. 1884. Grocer, government official. Born in Lincoln Co., Kentucky. Moved to Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, 1834. Elected county coroner, Aug. 1836, and justice of the peace, 1837. Served in Seminole War. Married first, by June 1840. Served...

View Full Bio
prevented JS from communicating with his legal counsel while in
Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
and that the
Latter-day Saints

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...

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who met the company near Nauvoo were unarmed.
3

[Edward Southwick], “Statement,” and Editor, Notice, Warsaw (IL) Message, 12 [15] July 1843, [3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

Angered by the “falsehood and vilianous conduct of Wilson,” Southwick promptly sent Gregg two affidavits supporting his original account. Fearing that Gregg would not print his response, Southwick also sent the affidavits to JS on 29 July, requesting that he have them published.
4

Letter from Edward Southwick, 29 July 1843. The affidavits were published in the Nauvoo Neighbor in November 1843. (Affidavits, Nauvoo Neighbor, 8 Nov. 1843, [2]–[3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

On 7 August 1843,
Southwick

10 Aug. 1812–26 Nov. 1857. Lawyer. Born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of Edward Southwick and Catherine Wilkinson. Studied law in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York. Admitted to New York bar, 1836. Moved to Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois, fall 1836. Admitted...

View Full Bio
wrote the letter featured here to JS. Southwick reiterated his desire for JS to publish the affidavits he sent him ten days earlier, asked for the results of the congressional election 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
and in
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
, and requested payment for the legal services he had provided JS. Southwick mailed the letter, presumably from
Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
, and JS received it in Nauvoo. An endorsement in the handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
indicates that JS responded to Southwick’s letter on 16 August, though the response is apparently not extant.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Historical Introduction to Extradition of JS for Treason; Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; Minutes, 1 July 1843, Extradition of JS for Treason (Nauvoo Mun. Ct. 1843), JS Collection, CHL.

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 5 July 1843; [Edward Southwick], “Statement,” Warsaw (IL) Message, Extra, 12 July 1843, [1].

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

  3. [3]

    [Edward Southwick], “Statement,” and Editor, Notice, Warsaw (IL) Message, 12 [15] July 1843, [3].

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

  4. [4]

    Letter from Edward Southwick, 29 July 1843. The affidavits were published in the Nauvoo Neighbor in November 1843. (Affidavits, Nauvoo Neighbor, 8 Nov. 1843, [2]–[3].)

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Page [1]

Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
, Lee Co. Ills. August 7th 1843.
Gen. Joseph Smith
My Dear Sir.
I hope you have received my Communication for the Warsaw Message sent you a few days since, as I deem its publication of consequence to me as it vindicates my Character from the aspersions of a man who if well known I should take no trouble to contradict, as I am satisfied no one who knows him will believe him. I refer to
H[armon] T. Wilson

1 Feb. 1815–27 June 1851. Merchant, deputy sheriff. Born in Montgomery Co., Virginia. Son of John Wilson and Elizabeth Cummins. Moved to Christianburg, Montgomery Co., by 7 Aug. 1820; to Newbern, Montgomery Co., by June 1830; and to Hancock Co., Illinois,...

View Full Bio
the Gentleman who lately arrested You.
I wish you to <​do​> me the favour to send me by return of mail the result of the Election for member to Congress in the County of
Hancock

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
and also the result of said Election for said Member of Congress in the precinct in which the 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
is situate.
1

It is possible that Southwick was interested in this information because Cyrus Walker, who was also involved in JS’s defense during his July habeas corpus hearing, was a candidate in the election. In the 7 August 1843 election, 2,088 Hancock County citizens voted for Democrat Joseph P. Hoge, while 733 voted for Whig candidate Walker. In the city of Nauvoo, 1,080 citizens voted for Hoge and 98 voted for Walker. (Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; Pease, Illinois Election Returns, 1818–1848, 140; “Election Returns,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 16 Aug. 1843, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Pease, Theodore Calvin, ed. Illinois Election Returns, 1818–1848. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

I wish you also to send me by mail if you can procure Current bills the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars.
If you will send it to me within two or three weeks from this date I will [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Edward Southwick, 7 August 1843
ID #
1133
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:27–30
Handwriting on This Page
  • Edward Southwick

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    It is possible that Southwick was interested in this information because Cyrus Walker, who was also involved in JS’s defense during his July habeas corpus hearing, was a candidate in the election. In the 7 August 1843 election, 2,088 Hancock County citizens voted for Democrat Joseph P. Hoge, while 733 voted for Whig candidate Walker. In the city of Nauvoo, 1,080 citizens voted for Hoge and 98 voted for Walker. (Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; Pease, Illinois Election Returns, 1818–1848, 140; “Election Returns,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 16 Aug. 1843, [2].)

    Pease, Theodore Calvin, ed. Illinois Election Returns, 1818–1848. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

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