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Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840

Source Note

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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, Letter,
Fairfield

Town in southern Illinois, approximately 150 miles southeast of Springfield. County seat. Laid out, 1819. John C. Bennett lived in town when he began corresponding with JS, July 1840.

More Info
, Wayne Co., IL, to
Sidney Rigdon

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

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and 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, 27 July 1840. Featured version copied [probably ca. Aug. 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 170–171; handwriting of
Howard Coray

6 May 1817–16 Jan. 1908. Bookkeeper, clerk, teacher, farmer. Born in Dansville, Steuben Co., New York. Son of Silas Coray and Mary Stephens. Moved to Providence, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, ca. 1827; to Williams, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, by 1830; and...

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

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 ...

View Full Bio
wrote to
Sidney Rigdon

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

View Full Bio
and JS on 27 July 1840, repeating much of the message from a letter he had written to them two days earlier.
1

Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840.


Bennett reiterated that he intended to retain his recently acquired position as quartermaster general of the
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
militia and that he had offered to assist 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...

View Glossary
during their difficulties in
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
. Bennett also reminded JS and Rigdon of his decision to move to
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, to join with the Saints. In this slightly lengthier 27 July letter, he more explicitly stated that he intended not only to move to the Saints’ new gathering place but also to become a member of their faith. He also requested more information about the
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Illinois, area. In his response, dated 8 August 1840, JS answered this question in detail and addressed other topics from Bennett’s letter.
2

Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840.


The original letter is apparently not extant, but
Howard Coray

6 May 1817–16 Jan. 1908. Bookkeeper, clerk, teacher, farmer. Born in Dansville, Steuben Co., New York. Son of Silas Coray and Mary Stephens. Moved to Providence, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, ca. 1827; to Williams, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, by 1830; and...

View Full Bio
copied the letter into JS Letterbook 2, probably soon after JS received it.
3

Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840.

  2. [2]

    Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840.

  3. [3]

    Coray, Autobiographical Sketch, 17, 19.

    Coray, Howard. Autobiographical Sketch, after 1883. Howard Coray, Papers, ca. 1840–1941. Photocopy. CHL. MS 2043, fd. 1.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 171

with my present views and feelings than with any other. I hope that time will soon come when your people will become my people and your God my God,
4

See Ruth 1:16.


At the time of your peril and bitter persecution in
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
you are aware I proffered you my utmost energies,
5

Bennett was referring to a letter he wrote during the “Mormon War” in Missouri. He mentioned this same letter in his letters of 25 and 30 July 1840, but the earlier letter has not been located. However, in a January 1841 letter to the “Saints scattered abroad,” JS, Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith described having earlier received a letter from Bennett in which he offered “his assistence in delivering us out of the hands of our enemies, and restoring us again to our privileges . . . with all the forces he could raise for that purpose.” (Letters from John C. Bennett, 25 and 30 July 1840; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.)


and had not the conflict have terminated so speedily I should have been with you then. God be thanked for your rescue from the hands of a savage but cowardly, foe! I do not expect to resign my office of “Quarter Master General of the State of
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
,” in the event of my removal to
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, unless you advise otherwise:
6

Bennett was commissioned “Quarter-Master-General of the Militia of the State of Illinois” on 20 July 1840, seven days before writing this letter to JS and Rigdon. (Commission for John C. Bennett, 20 July 1840, Governor’s Correspondence, 1840, Military Affairs, in Illinois Governor’s Correspondence, 1816–1852, Illinois State Archives, Springfield; Bennett, History of the Saints, 15.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Illinois Governor’s Correspondence, 1816–1852. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.

Bennett, John C. The History of the Saints; or, an Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842.

I shall likewise expect to practice my profession; but at the same time your people shall have all the benifit of my speaking powers and my untiring energies in behalf of the good and holy faith. In necissariis unitas, in non necessariis libertas, in omnibus charitas,
7

This Latin phrase means “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.” It is a popular Christian saying sometimes attributed to Augustine. (Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 650.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church. Vol. 7, Modern Christianity, the German Reformation. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, [1958]. Reproduction of the 1910 edition published by Charles Scribner’s Sons.

shall be my motto, with the suaviter in modo fortiter in re.
8

This Latin phrase means “gently in manner, strongly in deed.”


Be so good as to inform me circumstantially of the population of
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
&
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
, the face of the country, climate, soil, health etc etc How many of your people are concentrated there?
9

In his 8 August 1840 reply, JS described the physical setting of Nauvoo, Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi River; the town’s population of nearly three thousand; and the prospects for commercial growth in the area. (Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840.)


Please to write me in full immediately. Louisvill[e] paper will accompany this— please inquire for this it.
10

Bennett had enclosed an extract from the Louisville Journal, edited by George Prentice and George Weissinger, with his letter two days earlier. (Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840.)


With sentiments of profound respect and esteem, suffer me to subscribe myself—
Yours Respectfully
J[ohn] 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 ...

View Full Bio
. [p. 171]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 171

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840
ID #
558
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:350–353
Handwriting on This Page
  • Howard Coray

Footnotes

  1. [4]

    See Ruth 1:16.

  2. [5]

    Bennett was referring to a letter he wrote during the “Mormon War” in Missouri. He mentioned this same letter in his letters of 25 and 30 July 1840, but the earlier letter has not been located. However, in a January 1841 letter to the “Saints scattered abroad,” JS, Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith described having earlier received a letter from Bennett in which he offered “his assistence in delivering us out of the hands of our enemies, and restoring us again to our privileges . . . with all the forces he could raise for that purpose.” (Letters from John C. Bennett, 25 and 30 July 1840; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.)

  3. [6]

    Bennett was commissioned “Quarter-Master-General of the Militia of the State of Illinois” on 20 July 1840, seven days before writing this letter to JS and Rigdon. (Commission for John C. Bennett, 20 July 1840, Governor’s Correspondence, 1840, Military Affairs, in Illinois Governor’s Correspondence, 1816–1852, Illinois State Archives, Springfield; Bennett, History of the Saints, 15.)

    Illinois Governor’s Correspondence, 1816–1852. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.

    Bennett, John C. The History of the Saints; or, an Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842.

  4. [7]

    This Latin phrase means “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.” It is a popular Christian saying sometimes attributed to Augustine. (Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 650.)

    Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church. Vol. 7, Modern Christianity, the German Reformation. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, [1958]. Reproduction of the 1910 edition published by Charles Scribner’s Sons.

  5. [8]

    This Latin phrase means “gently in manner, strongly in deed.”

  6. [9]

    In his 8 August 1840 reply, JS described the physical setting of Nauvoo, Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi River; the town’s population of nearly three thousand; and the prospects for commercial growth in the area. (Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840.)

  7. [10]

    Bennett had enclosed an extract from the Louisville Journal, edited by George Prentice and George Weissinger, with his letter two days earlier. (Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840.)

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