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Letter from Hiram Clark and Others, 21 October 1842

Source Note

Hiram Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
, Letter with postscript by
Thomas Ward

9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...

View Full Bio
,
Hiram Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
, and
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
,
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
, Lancashire, England, 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, 21 Oct. 1842; handwriting of
Thomas Ward

9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...

View Full Bio
; signatures of
Thomas Ward

9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...

View Full Bio
,
Hiram Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
, and
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 8⅞ × 7¼ inches (23 × 18 cm) when folded. A manufacturer’s embossment with illegible script is visible in the upper right corner of the first page. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer; the wafer is still attached to the verso of the second leaf. The second leaf of the bifolium is torn where the letter was opened. The letter was later refolded for filing.
The document was docketed 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...

View Full Bio
, 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–.

The document was later docketed by
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
2

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

It was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904.
3

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, 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).
4

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


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

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]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  4. [4]

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

Historical Introduction

On 21 October 1842,
Hiram Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
, England, to JS 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
, Illinois, regarding financial issues and other matters. On 14 June 1842, 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
assigned Clark to travel to Liverpool and superintend the emigration of British Latter-day Saints.
1

Woodruff, Journal, 14 June 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

In addition to giving him this responsibility, the Twelve directed Clark to “collect means for building the
Temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
” and to “purchase goods.”
2

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

Clark arrived in
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
by mid-September and immediately began taking part in both the financial management and the leadership of the British mission.
3

Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 Sept. 1842.


Soon after Clark’s arrival in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
,
apostle

A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...

View Glossary
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
and
Thomas Ward

9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...

View Full Bio
, who succeeded Pratt as president of the British mission, published a notice in 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
’s British newspaper that Clark was authorized “to receive and forward the
tithings

A free-will offering of one-tenth of a person’s annual interest or income, given to the church for its use. The Book of Mormon and JS’s revision of the Bible explained that “even our father Abraham paid tithes of one tenth part of all he possessed.” Additionally...

View Glossary
and consecrations” for the Nauvoo temple and to “attend to whatever business may be necessary for the general welfare of the society.”
4

Parley P. Pratt and Thomas Ward, “Tithings for the Temple,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:112.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
’s letter of 21 October 1842 appears to have been prompted by his desire to report his efforts to collect funds for the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
that
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
could take back 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
. Along with this correspondence, Clark forwarded to JS sixty-two pounds and eight shillings that could be used at JS’s discretion toward the construction of the temple or of the
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

More Info
. In addition to reporting on these transmitted funds, Clark asked JS to direct the temple committee to build a house for his wife,
Thankful Gill Clark

8 Jan. 1808–16 Nov. 1872. Born in Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York. Daughter of Daniel Gill and Sarah. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22 Mar. 1835. Married Hiram Clark, before 1839. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co....

View Full Bio
, by drawing upon personal funds he had left in the hands of
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
before departing for
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
. Hiram Clark presumably intended the house to be built on property he had purchased from JS in March 1842.
5

In March 1842, Clark purchased the east half of lot 1 in block 147 in Nauvoo from JS and Emma Smith for $500. (Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 20P, p. 320, 10 Mar. 1842, microfilm 954,602, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)


At the end of the letter,
Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
,
Thomas Ward

9 Sept. 1808–4 Mar. 1847. Newspaper editor, schoolmaster. Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Son of Richard Ward and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Dec. 1840. Ordained an elder by Parley P. Pratt. Moved to Manchester...

View Full Bio
, and former church emigration
agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

View Glossary
Amos Fielding

16 July 1792–5 Aug. 1875. Clerk, matchmaker, surveyor. Born in Lancashire, England. Son of Matthew Fielding and Mary Cooper. Christened Anglican. Immigrated to U.S., 1811; returned to Lancashire, by 1829. Married Mary Haydock, 28 June 1829, in Eccleston, ...

View Full Bio
wrote a short postscript expressing their warm feelings for JS and sending well-wishes to the Saints 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
. Ward and Clark wrote as members of the “General Presidency of the Church in Europe,” having been appointed to that presidency by 10 October because of
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
’s impending return to Nauvoo.
6

Parley P. Pratt, “To the Saints in Europe,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:110.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Fielding’s position at this time is unclear, but it seems that he was continuing to function as an emigration agent for the church in
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
, albeit informally.
7

Fielding does not appear to have had any official position at this time. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had stipulated that Clark was to “take charge of the Emigration in England instead of Amos Fielding.” Fielding, on the other hand, was to go to England only long enough to retrieve his family and then “come immediately” to Nauvoo. Disregarding these instructions for some unknown reason, Fielding had remained in Liverpool and continued to assist Clark in supervising emigration. Evidently in response to Fielding’s disregard for these instructions, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles voted during a May 1843 meeting “that elder Amos Fielding come immediately to Nauvoo or be cut off from the church.” (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842 and 11 May 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 14 June 1842; “Emigration,” Millennial Star, May 1843, 4:14–16.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Clark

22 Sept. 1795–28 Dec. 1853 Born in Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Lyman Clark and Parmela. Married first Mary Fenno. Moved to Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1820. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1835. Married second Thankful...

View Full Bio
sent the letter 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
in the care of
Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
, who sailed from
Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
for
New Orleans

Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...

More Info
on 29 October 1842 and arrived in Nauvoo on 7 February 1843. However, the funds, and perhaps this letter, may have remained behind at
St. Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

More Info
with Pratt’s family and his company of Saints until their arrival in Nauvoo on 12 April.
8

JS, Journal, 12 Apr. 1843.


In his journal,
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
noted that on 17 April he “rode to P. P. Pratts for £50” in gold sovereigns, which were earmarked “for the
templ

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
&
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

More Info
.”
9

Clayton, Journal, 17 Apr. 1843; JS, Journal, 17 Apr. 1843. Assuming that these were the funds Clark forwarded, it is unclear what happened to the additional twelve pounds eight shillings that Clark had sent to JS with Pratt. Clayton entered the fifty-pound donation into the Book of the Law of the Lord on or shortly after 18 April 1843. For some unknown reason, he later canceled the contribution. (Book of the Law of the Lord, 300.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

There is no known reply from JS.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Woodruff, Journal, 14 June 1842.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  2. [2]

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 Sept. 1842.

  4. [4]

    Parley P. Pratt and Thomas Ward, “Tithings for the Temple,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:112.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  5. [5]

    In March 1842, Clark purchased the east half of lot 1 in block 147 in Nauvoo from JS and Emma Smith for $500. (Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 20P, p. 320, 10 Mar. 1842, microfilm 954,602, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

  6. [6]

    Parley P. Pratt, “To the Saints in Europe,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:110.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  7. [7]

    Fielding does not appear to have had any official position at this time. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had stipulated that Clark was to “take charge of the Emigration in England instead of Amos Fielding.” Fielding, on the other hand, was to go to England only long enough to retrieve his family and then “come immediately” to Nauvoo. Disregarding these instructions for some unknown reason, Fielding had remained in Liverpool and continued to assist Clark in supervising emigration. Evidently in response to Fielding’s disregard for these instructions, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles voted during a May 1843 meeting “that elder Amos Fielding come immediately to Nauvoo or be cut off from the church.” (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842 and 11 May 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 14 June 1842; “Emigration,” Millennial Star, May 1843, 4:14–16.)

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 12 Apr. 1843.

  9. [9]

    Clayton, Journal, 17 Apr. 1843; JS, Journal, 17 Apr. 1843. Assuming that these were the funds Clark forwarded, it is unclear what happened to the additional twelve pounds eight shillings that Clark had sent to JS with Pratt. Clayton entered the fifty-pound donation into the Book of the Law of the Lord on or shortly after 18 April 1843. For some unknown reason, he later canceled the contribution. (Book of the Law of the Lord, 300.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

Page [1]

Liverpool

Seaport, city, county borough, and market-town in northwestern England. Experienced exponential growth during nineteenth century. Population in 1830 about 120,000. Population in 1841 about 290,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries to England arrived in...

More Info
, Oct. 21st. 1842.
Beloved Brother Joseph
I send you by the hand of
Brother [Parley P.] Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

View Full Bio
,
1

By this time, Pratt had likely booked passage to the United States on the Emerald, which departed Liverpool on 29 October. (News Item, Millennial Star, Feb. 1843, 3:175.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

Sixty-two Pounds, eight shillings, to be at your disposal to expend on the
Temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
,
2

By the end of October 1842, a temporary floor had been laid in the temple. The Saints held their first meeting there on 30 October. (Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 32.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

or the
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

More Info
,
3

Despite efforts to urge the Saints to be more committed in their efforts to build the Nauvoo House during this period, little progress had been made on the structure by October 1842. (See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 25 Feb. 1843; Smith, “Symbol of Mormonism,” 114–128; and Godfrey, “Monument of the Saints’ Industry,” 132–133.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, Alex D. “Symbol of Mormonism: The Nauvoo Boarding House.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 35, no. 2 (Fall/Winter 2015): 109–136.

Godfrey, Matthew C. “A Monument of the Saints’ Industry: The Nauvoo House and the Council of Fifty.” In The Council of Fifty: What the Records Reveal about Mormon History, edited by Matthew J. Grow and R. Eric Smith, 131–140. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2017.

as you deem expedient.
4

The Book of the Law of the Lord includes an entry that reads “received of Hiram Clark 50 Gold Sovereigns value $242.” These sovereigns were likely the funds that Clark had forwarded to JS through Pratt. (Book of the Law of the Lord, 300, canceled text in original.)


I have also left in the hands of
Brother [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
One hundred and <​forty​> fifty dollars, in notes of one hundred dollars against
Bro. Hadlock [Reuben Hedlock]

1809–5 July 1869. Printer, carpenter, journeyman. Born in U.S. Married first Susan Wheeler, 1827. Married second Lydia Fox. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by 1836. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, and ordained an elder, by ...

View Full Bio
— and forty against
Bro. [Stephen] Markham

9 Feb. 1800–10 Mar. 1878. Carpenter, farmer, stock raiser. Born at Rush (later Avon), Ontario Co., New York. Son of David Markham and Dinah Merry. Moved to Mentor, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1809. Moved to Unionville, Geauga Co., 1810. Married Hannah Hogaboom, before...

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— which I have left for the purpose of building a house for myself. Should you think
Sister Clarke [Thankful Gill Clark]

8 Jan. 1808–16 Nov. 1872. Born in Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York. Daughter of Daniel Gill and Sarah. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22 Mar. 1835. Married Hiram Clark, before 1839. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co....

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worthy of a better house to dwell in—
5

An 1842 description of Nauvoo’s city lots listed Clark as owning property in block 147, lot 1. This was presumably the Nauvoo residence of Clark and his wife, Thankful Gill Clark, at the time of this letter, as an 1842 census of Nauvoo wards listed them as being members of the Nauvoo Fourth Ward. (“Abstracts Containing a Description of All City Lots,” 1842, White Purchase, block 147, lot 1, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Platt, Nauvoo, 79.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845. CHL.

Platt, Lyman De. Nauvoo: Early Mormon Records Series, 1839–1846. Vol. 1. Highland, UT, 1980.

you will please direct the
Building Committee

A committee assigned to raise funds and direct the building of the Nauvoo temple; also called the building committee or temple building committee. On 3 October 1840, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon, and Elias Higbee were appointed as a committee responsible...

View Glossary
6

The Nauvoo temple committee was occasionally referred to simply as “the building committee.” (See, for example, Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; Reynolds Cahoon, Alpheus Cutler, and Elias Higbee, to JS, Receipt, 12 Apr. 1841, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU; and Alpheus Cutler et al., “To the Churches Abroad and Near By,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842, 3:909.)


to build one next spring about the size of Brother Dunn’s,
7

This is possibly a reference to Simeon A. Dunn, who owned property in block 140, lot 1, north of Clark’s property in block 147, lot 1. Both Clark and Dunn were listed as members of the Nauvoo Fourth Ward in 1842. (“Abstracts Containing a Description of All City Lots,” 1842, White Purchase, block 140, lot 1, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Platt, Nauvoo, 80.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

Platt, Lyman De. Nauvoo: Early Mormon Records Series, 1839–1846. Vol. 1. Highland, UT, 1980.

and of the same materials,
8

George Miller later recalled that “a great deal of the lumber” that had been obtained through “toil and sacrifice” for the temple and the Nauvoo House had been used for other purposes, including building private homes in Nauvoo. Miller stated that the “Temple Committee said that the workmen must needs have houses” and had accordingly become “house builders.” (George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 27 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 23 Aug. 1855, [1].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

to be finished agreeably to the will of my
Wife

8 Jan. 1808–16 Nov. 1872. Born in Antwerp, Jefferson Co., New York. Daughter of Daniel Gill and Sarah. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22 Mar. 1835. Married Hiram Clark, before 1839. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co....

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.
Whatever means may come into my hands shall be subject to your order either to be transmitted to you in [p. [1]]
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Page [1]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Hiram Clark and Others, 21 October 1842
ID #
942
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:177–181
Handwriting on This Page
  • Thomas Ward

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    By this time, Pratt had likely booked passage to the United States on the Emerald, which departed Liverpool on 29 October. (News Item, Millennial Star, Feb. 1843, 3:175.)

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  2. [2]

    By the end of October 1842, a temporary floor had been laid in the temple. The Saints held their first meeting there on 30 October. (Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 32.)

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  3. [3]

    Despite efforts to urge the Saints to be more committed in their efforts to build the Nauvoo House during this period, little progress had been made on the structure by October 1842. (See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 25 Feb. 1843; Smith, “Symbol of Mormonism,” 114–128; and Godfrey, “Monument of the Saints’ Industry,” 132–133.)

    Smith, Alex D. “Symbol of Mormonism: The Nauvoo Boarding House.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 35, no. 2 (Fall/Winter 2015): 109–136.

    Godfrey, Matthew C. “A Monument of the Saints’ Industry: The Nauvoo House and the Council of Fifty.” In The Council of Fifty: What the Records Reveal about Mormon History, edited by Matthew J. Grow and R. Eric Smith, 131–140. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2017.

  4. [4]

    The Book of the Law of the Lord includes an entry that reads “received of Hiram Clark 50 Gold Sovereigns value $242.” These sovereigns were likely the funds that Clark had forwarded to JS through Pratt. (Book of the Law of the Lord, 300, canceled text in original.)

  5. [5]

    An 1842 description of Nauvoo’s city lots listed Clark as owning property in block 147, lot 1. This was presumably the Nauvoo residence of Clark and his wife, Thankful Gill Clark, at the time of this letter, as an 1842 census of Nauvoo wards listed them as being members of the Nauvoo Fourth Ward. (“Abstracts Containing a Description of All City Lots,” 1842, White Purchase, block 147, lot 1, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Platt, Nauvoo, 79.)

    Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845. CHL.

    Platt, Lyman De. Nauvoo: Early Mormon Records Series, 1839–1846. Vol. 1. Highland, UT, 1980.

  6. [6]

    The Nauvoo temple committee was occasionally referred to simply as “the building committee.” (See, for example, Minutes, 7–11 Apr. 1841; Reynolds Cahoon, Alpheus Cutler, and Elias Higbee, to JS, Receipt, 12 Apr. 1841, Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU; and Alpheus Cutler et al., “To the Churches Abroad and Near By,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1842, 3:909.)

  7. [7]

    This is possibly a reference to Simeon A. Dunn, who owned property in block 140, lot 1, north of Clark’s property in block 147, lot 1. Both Clark and Dunn were listed as members of the Nauvoo Fourth Ward in 1842. (“Abstracts Containing a Description of All City Lots,” 1842, White Purchase, block 140, lot 1, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Platt, Nauvoo, 80.)

    Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

    Platt, Lyman De. Nauvoo: Early Mormon Records Series, 1839–1846. Vol. 1. Highland, UT, 1980.

  8. [8]

    George Miller later recalled that “a great deal of the lumber” that had been obtained through “toil and sacrifice” for the temple and the Nauvoo House had been used for other purposes, including building private homes in Nauvoo. Miller stated that the “Temple Committee said that the workmen must needs have houses” and had accordingly become “house builders.” (George Miller, St. James, MI, to “Dear Brother,” 27 June 1855, in Northern Islander, 23 Aug. 1855, [1].)

    Northern Islander. St. James, MI. 1850–1856.

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