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Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 1 October 1842

Source Note

John M. Bernhisel

23 June 1799–28 Sept. 1881. Physician, politician. Born in Sandy Hill, Tyrone Township, Cumberland Co. (later in Perry Co.), Pennsylvania. Son of Samuel Bernhisel and Susannah Bower. Attended medical lectures at University of Pennsylvania, 1818, in Philadelphia...

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, Letter,
New York City

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
, New York Co., NY, 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, 1 Oct. 1842; handwriting of
John M. Bernhisel

23 June 1799–28 Sept. 1881. Physician, politician. Born in Sandy Hill, Tyrone Township, Cumberland Co. (later in Perry Co.), Pennsylvania. Son of Samuel Bernhisel and Susannah Bower. Attended medical lectures at University of Pennsylvania, 1818, in Philadelphia...

View Full Bio
; two pages; JS Materials, CCLA. Includes address, postal stamps, postal notations, and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 9⅞ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm) when folded. The first three pages are ruled with twenty-nine printed lines. Embossed in the upper left corner of the recto of the first leaf is “Southworth Co. | W Springfield” encircling foliage, the insignia of a West Springfield, Massachusetts, paper mill established by Wells Southworth in 1839.
1

Parmenter, History of Pelham, Mass., 413.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Parmenter, Charles Oscar. History of Pelham, Mass., from 1738 to 1898, Including the Early History of Prescott. . . . Amherst, MA: Carpenter and Morehouse, 1898.

The first two pages are inscribed. The letter was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with a red adhesive wafer, and postmarked. The outside edge of the second leaf was torn at the wafer site when the letter was opened. The document was refolded for filing and docketed. It was later stapled in the upper left corner; the staple was removed at some point.
The document 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.
2

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.

Another docket is in unidentified handwriting. The letter was likely retained by JS and passed down among Smith family descendants. At some point before 1961, it was transferred to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ).
3

Email, 5 June 2017, copy in editors’ possession.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Parmenter, History of Pelham, Mass., 413.

    Parmenter, Charles Oscar. History of Pelham, Mass., from 1738 to 1898, Including the Early History of Prescott. . . . Amherst, MA: Carpenter and Morehouse, 1898.

  2. [2]

    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.

  3. [3]

    Email, 5 June 2017, copy in editors’ possession.

Historical Introduction

On 1 October 1842,
John M. Bernhisel

23 June 1799–28 Sept. 1881. Physician, politician. Born in Sandy Hill, Tyrone Township, Cumberland Co. (later in Perry Co.), Pennsylvania. Son of Samuel Bernhisel and Susannah Bower. Attended medical lectures at University of Pennsylvania, 1818, in Philadelphia...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter in
New York City

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
to JS 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, expressing sympathy for him amid the ongoing efforts to arrest him and extradite him 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
and updating him on
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
’s efforts to publish his exposé of JS and 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
. Bernhisel was writing in response to a 7 September 1842 letter in which JS described the persistent attempts to arrest him and the resultant need for him to remain in hiding.
1

Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 7 Sept. 1842.


Bernhisel offered JS moral support in his legal circumstances and informed him that the editor of the New York Herald,
James Gordon Bennett

1 Sept. 1795–1 June 1872. Journalist, newspaper owner. Born at Newmill, Keith, Banffshire, Scotland. Catholic. Moved to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, ca. 1815; to Halifax, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, 1819; to Boston; to New York, ca. 1822; to Charleston...

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, was critical of John C. Bennett’s book and had declined to publish it. In addition, Bernhisel informed JS 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...

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’s plans to depart
New York

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
for Nauvoo on 3 October.
2

Richards left Nauvoo on 1 July 1842 to move his family from Massachusetts to Nauvoo and to conduct church business in the eastern United States. When he traveled through New York City in August, he called on James Arlington Bennet and discussed several matters of concern to the church, which apparently included the efforts of John C. Bennett to publish his book. (Richards, Journal, 1 July and 4–6 Aug. 1842; JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 Sept. 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Bernhisel

23 June 1799–28 Sept. 1881. Physician, politician. Born in Sandy Hill, Tyrone Township, Cumberland Co. (later in Perry Co.), Pennsylvania. Son of Samuel Bernhisel and Susannah Bower. Attended medical lectures at University of Pennsylvania, 1818, in Philadelphia...

View Full Bio
mailed the letter on the same day he wrote it. It is unclear when JS received the letter, as he was in hiding for much of October.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 7 Sept. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Richards left Nauvoo on 1 July 1842 to move his family from Massachusetts to Nauvoo and to conduct church business in the eastern United States. When he traveled through New York City in August, he called on James Arlington Bennet and discussed several matters of concern to the church, which apparently included the efforts of John C. Bennett to publish his book. (Richards, Journal, 1 July and 4–6 Aug. 1842; JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 Sept. 1842.)

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

Page [1]

New York

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
October 1, 1842
Dear Brother,
I tender to you an expression of my grateful acknowledgments for your very friendly letter of the 7th. ultimo,
1

Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 7 Sept. 1842.


and I sincerely sympathize with you in your illegal and unjust persecution by those wicked men who bear rule in the states 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
and
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
— I fondly hope that the
Governor elect

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
of the former state will, as soon as he is inaugerated, revoke the writ which has been issued against you, and will refuse to comply with any farther demands of the
Executive

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...

View Full Bio
of the latter state—
2

In the Illinois gubernatorial election held on 1 August 1842, Democratic candidate Thomas Ford defeated Whig candidate Joseph Duncan. Church members voted overwhelmingly for Ford. Shortly after his inauguration on 8 December 1842, he met with Hyrum Smith, Willard Richards, and William Clayton, who requested that he rescind former governor Thomas Carlin’s requisition. Ford declined their request on grounds that he was unsure if he could legally rescind the order of his predecessor. He instead assured JS that he would protect him from illegal violence if he submitted to the law. (“O Yes! O Yes!,” Wasp, 16 July 1842, [2]; Letter from Thomas Ford, 17 Dec. 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

I am happy in being able to inform you that
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
designed to illustrate his proposed publication with so many obscene engravings, that
James Gordon Bennett

1 Sept. 1795–1 June 1872. Journalist, newspaper owner. Born at Newmill, Keith, Banffshire, Scotland. Catholic. Moved to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, ca. 1815; to Halifax, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, 1819; to Boston; to New York, ca. 1822; to Charleston...

View Full Bio
refused to publish it. He told him that it was as bad as the worst French books that were imported, and that if he (
Cook 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
) published it he would get himself into a scrape—
3

In a letter dated 16 August 1842, James Arlington Bennet informed JS that while he had declined to publish John C. Bennett’s book, he believed that James Gordon Bennett would. It is unclear what images John C. Bennett had originally proposed as illustrations. When his book was eventually published, it contained a total of six images, including portraits of JS and John C. Bennett, a map of Nauvoo, and depictions of several alleged Latter-day Saint organizations and ceremonies that Bennett claimed to have witnessed. (Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; Bennett, History of the Saints, frontispiece, 56–57, 188, 263, 269, 273.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

I deem it proper to communicate the preceding to you, lest the Wasp should sting the Lyon of the Herald in his lair,
4

The “Wasp” refers to the Nauvoo newspaper Wasp, and the “Lyon of the Herald” refers to James Gordon Bennett. This phrase may be a variation on the idiom “beard the lion in his den,” which, alluding to the biblical story of David hunting and killing a lion or bear that had stolen a lamb, meant to confront risk or danger head on. (See Maxwell, Run through the United States, 1:290; and 1 Samuel 17:34–35.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Maxwell, Archibald M. A Run through the United States, during the Autumn of 1840. 2 vols. London: Henry Colburn, 1841.

and his roaring might prove detrimental to the cause of truth & righteousness.
5

In the 10 September 1842 issue of the Wasp, the editors reprinted criticism of John C. Bennett’s character from a Zanesville, Illinois, newspaper and followed it with criticism of James Gordon Bennett for allegedly supporting John C. Bennett. (Editorial, Wasp, 10 Sept. 1842, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

I do not believe that
J. 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
will be enabled to procure means in the section of the Union to publish his “awful disclosures.”— He has not done us much if any harm in this
city

Dutch founded New Netherland colony, 1625. Incorporated under British control and renamed New York, 1664. Harbor contributed to economic and population growth of city; became largest city in American colonies. British troops defeated Continental Army under...

More Info
; he is now lecturing in
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
, and I understand with no better success.
6

At least one newspaper article on John C. Bennett’s lectures in Boston reported a mixed reception of his claims by his audience. In Boston, Bennett also found a publisher for his book. (“Mormonism—Gen. Bennett, &c.,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:955–956; John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism [Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 1 October 1842
ID #
2796
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:115–117
Handwriting on This Page
  • John M. Bernhisel

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 7 Sept. 1842.

  2. [2]

    In the Illinois gubernatorial election held on 1 August 1842, Democratic candidate Thomas Ford defeated Whig candidate Joseph Duncan. Church members voted overwhelmingly for Ford. Shortly after his inauguration on 8 December 1842, he met with Hyrum Smith, Willard Richards, and William Clayton, who requested that he rescind former governor Thomas Carlin’s requisition. Ford declined their request on grounds that he was unsure if he could legally rescind the order of his predecessor. He instead assured JS that he would protect him from illegal violence if he submitted to the law. (“O Yes! O Yes!,” Wasp, 16 July 1842, [2]; Letter from Thomas Ford, 17 Dec. 1842.)

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

  3. [3]

    In a letter dated 16 August 1842, James Arlington Bennet informed JS that while he had declined to publish John C. Bennett’s book, he believed that James Gordon Bennett would. It is unclear what images John C. Bennett had originally proposed as illustrations. When his book was eventually published, it contained a total of six images, including portraits of JS and John C. Bennett, a map of Nauvoo, and depictions of several alleged Latter-day Saint organizations and ceremonies that Bennett claimed to have witnessed. (Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; Bennett, History of the Saints, frontispiece, 56–57, 188, 263, 269, 273.)

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

  4. [4]

    The “Wasp” refers to the Nauvoo newspaper Wasp, and the “Lyon of the Herald” refers to James Gordon Bennett. This phrase may be a variation on the idiom “beard the lion in his den,” which, alluding to the biblical story of David hunting and killing a lion or bear that had stolen a lamb, meant to confront risk or danger head on. (See Maxwell, Run through the United States, 1:290; and 1 Samuel 17:34–35.)

    Maxwell, Archibald M. A Run through the United States, during the Autumn of 1840. 2 vols. London: Henry Colburn, 1841.

  5. [5]

    In the 10 September 1842 issue of the Wasp, the editors reprinted criticism of John C. Bennett’s character from a Zanesville, Illinois, newspaper and followed it with criticism of James Gordon Bennett for allegedly supporting John C. Bennett. (Editorial, Wasp, 10 Sept. 1842, [2].)

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

  6. [6]

    At least one newspaper article on John C. Bennett’s lectures in Boston reported a mixed reception of his claims by his audience. In Boston, Bennett also found a publisher for his book. (“Mormonism—Gen. Bennett, &c.,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1842, 3:955–956; John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism [Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842].)

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

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