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Letter from Nathan Haswell, circa 29 January 1844

Source Note

Nathan Haswell

20 Jan. 1786–6 June 1855. Government worker. Born in Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont. Son of Anthony Haswell and Lydia Baldwin. Studied law, 1800–1804, in Bennington. Attended University of Vermont, ca. 1804, at Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Customs...

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, Letter,
Burlington

Town located about forty miles northwest of Montpelier, Vermont. Situated on east side of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783. County seat. Population in 1830 about 3,500. Population in 1840 about 4,300. Nathan Haswell wrote to JS from town regarding land in Nauvoo...

More Info
, Chittenden Co., VT, 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, ca. 29 Jan. 1844; handwriting and signature presumably of
Nathan Haswell

20 Jan. 1786–6 June 1855. Government worker. Born in Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont. Son of Anthony Haswell and Lydia Baldwin. Studied law, 1800–1804, in Bennington. Attended University of Vermont, ca. 1804, at Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Customs...

View Full Bio
; two pages; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Included enclosure (not extant); includes address, postal stamp, endorsement, and archival markings.
Bifolium measuring 10⅜ × 8 inches (26 × 20 cm). The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer, the remnants of which are present on the recto and verso of the second leaf. The top portion of the document has marked water damage that has discolored portions of both leaves. Portions of both leaves are missing, resulting in a loss of text. Four small, water-damaged fragments, presumably from the first leaf’s missing section, survive. The document has undergone conservation.
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.
1

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 their collection of Newel K. Whitney’s papers to the J. Reuben Clark Library (renamed Harold B. Lee Library in 1973) at Brigham Young University.
2

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]

    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.

  2. [2]

    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

Sometime on or before 29 January 1844,
Nathan Haswell

20 Jan. 1786–6 June 1855. Government worker. Born in Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont. Son of Anthony Haswell and Lydia Baldwin. Studied law, 1800–1804, in Bennington. Attended University of Vermont, ca. 1804, at Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Customs...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Burlington

Town located about forty miles northwest of Montpelier, Vermont. Situated on east side of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783. County seat. Population in 1830 about 3,500. Population in 1840 about 4,300. Nathan Haswell wrote to JS from town regarding land in Nauvoo...

More Info
, Vermont, 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, requesting his aid in making some land transactions 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
, Illinois. Haswell had apparently visited Nauvoo on 20 November 1843, when he stayed at the
Nauvoo Mansion

Large, two-story, Greek Revival frame structure located on northeast corner of Water and Main streets. Built to meet JS’s immediate need for larger home that could also serve as hotel to accommodate his numerous guests. JS relocated family from old house ...

More Info
.
1

Willard Richards noted that two Vermont gentlemen stayed at the Nauvoo Mansion on this date and that a worship service occurred in the evening, which matches Haswell’s newspaper account. William Clayton also recorded the presence of two gentlemen who rode around Nauvoo with JS, which also agrees with Haswell’s narrative. (JS, Journal, 20 Nov. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 20 Nov. 1843; see also “Nauvoo,” Burlington [VT] Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

While there, he received a pamphlet about
Latter-day Saint

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
beliefs, which he subsequently lost during his journey home to
Vermont

Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...

More Info
. In his letter, Haswell asked JS to send him a replacement tract. He also sent JS a copy of the Sentinel and Democrat—a Burlington newspaper—containing a positive report that Haswell had authored about his experiences in Nauvoo.
2

The article provided favorable portraits of JS, Hyrum Smith, and Emma Smith. Haswell also made observations about the physical landscape, the temple, the Nauvoo House, Latter-day Saint worship, JS’s family life, and the arrival of “eleven people of color” from Connecticut. After his visit, Haswell felt “confident that many of the reports made against Joe Smith are false.” Moreover, he concluded that “before giving credit to the thousand rumors in circulation, persons would do well to visit Nauvoo.” (“Nauvoo,” Burlington [VT] Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

Most of Haswell’s letter, however, focused on business dealings. Apparently, he wanted JS to assist him in either securing his title to several parcels of land outside of Nauvoo or selling them. The full extent of Haswell’s request, though, is unclear because of damage to the document.
The letter was postmarked 29 January in
Burlington

Town located about forty miles northwest of Montpelier, Vermont. Situated on east side of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783. County seat. Population in 1830 about 3,500. Population in 1840 about 4,300. Nathan Haswell wrote to JS from town regarding land in Nauvoo...

More Info
. JS received the letter by 29 February, when he answered it. JS’s response to
Haswell

20 Jan. 1786–6 June 1855. Government worker. Born in Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont. Son of Anthony Haswell and Lydia Baldwin. Studied law, 1800–1804, in Bennington. Attended University of Vermont, ca. 1804, at Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Customs...

View Full Bio
’s letter is not extant.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Willard Richards noted that two Vermont gentlemen stayed at the Nauvoo Mansion on this date and that a worship service occurred in the evening, which matches Haswell’s newspaper account. William Clayton also recorded the presence of two gentlemen who rode around Nauvoo with JS, which also agrees with Haswell’s narrative. (JS, Journal, 20 Nov. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 20 Nov. 1843; see also “Nauvoo,” Burlington [VT] Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].)

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

    Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

  2. [2]

    The article provided favorable portraits of JS, Hyrum Smith, and Emma Smith. Haswell also made observations about the physical landscape, the temple, the Nauvoo House, Latter-day Saint worship, JS’s family life, and the arrival of “eleven people of color” from Connecticut. After his visit, Haswell felt “confident that many of the reports made against Joe Smith are false.” Moreover, he concluded that “before giving credit to the thousand rumors in circulation, persons would do well to visit Nauvoo.” (“Nauvoo,” Burlington [VT] Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].)

    Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

Page [1]

[Estimated one line of text missing]
1

TEXT: Top of page damaged.


[Burlin]gton

Town located about forty miles northwest of Montpelier, Vermont. Situated on east side of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783. County seat. Population in 1830 about 3,500. Population in 1840 about 4,300. Nathan Haswell wrote to JS from town regarding land in Nauvoo...

More Info
2

TEXT: “[page torn]gton”. The supplied text is from a fragment that had separated from the document.


Dr Sir
[P]resumming
3

TEXT: “[page torn]resumming”.


the notice I have caused to be published respecting your self and
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
will be acceptable, I have by the present mail enclosed you a
Burlington

Town located about forty miles northwest of Montpelier, Vermont. Situated on east side of Lake Champlain. Settled 1783. County seat. Population in 1830 about 3,500. Population in 1840 about 4,300. Nathan Haswell wrote to JS from town regarding land in Nauvoo...

More Info
pap[er]
4

TEXT: “pap[hole in page]”.


containing a hasty sketch of the short visit I made in November last.
5

“Nauvoo,” Burlington (VT) Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

I regret that I lost the Tract, which the Doctor
6

“The Doctor” is likely a reference to Willard Richards, JS’s secretary, although it could be a reference to either John M. Bernhisel or Robert D. Foster, who also used the title “doctor.” (See JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1843; 5, 13, and 17 Nov. 1843.)


gave me containing the Mormon faith, but some one took it from me as I passed up the Ohio.— please present my respects to him and request him to send me one by mail please also present my kind regards to your good
lady

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

View Full Bio
. Brother
Hiram [Hyrum Smith]

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by...

View Full Bio
, and the friends I was introduced to.
I have been expecting to hear from you respecting the land of which I left a memorandum and you will oblige me much if you let me hear from you. I ought to save a part of it, and I have indulged the belief that you would continue some way to aid me in getting possession or getting a Tax title,—
7

A tax title was a title to land based on a sale of the property to pay delinquent taxes. (See An Act Supplemental to an Act, Entitled “An Act to Provide for Raising a Revenue” [19 Jan. 1829], Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois [1828–1829], p. 123, sec. 11.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois, Enacted at the Fifth General Assembly, at Their Session Held at Vandalia, Commencing on the Fourth Day of December, 1826, and Ending the Nineteenth of February, 1827. Vandalia, IL: Robert Blackwell, 1827.

can you not persuade the person who is on one of the lots to take a lease under me for one or both lots.— you will recollect they are the South East and South West Quarters of Section three, in Township Six North in Range Eight West [p. [1]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Nathan Haswell, circa 29 January 1844
ID #
1666
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Nathan Haswell

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: Top of page damaged.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “[page torn]gton”. The supplied text is from a fragment that had separated from the document.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “[page torn]resumming”.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “pap[hole in page]”.

  5. [5]

    “Nauvoo,” Burlington (VT) Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]–[3].

    Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.

  6. [6]

    “The Doctor” is likely a reference to Willard Richards, JS’s secretary, although it could be a reference to either John M. Bernhisel or Robert D. Foster, who also used the title “doctor.” (See JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1843; 5, 13, and 17 Nov. 1843.)

  7. [7]

    A tax title was a title to land based on a sale of the property to pay delinquent taxes. (See An Act Supplemental to an Act, Entitled “An Act to Provide for Raising a Revenue” [19 Jan. 1829], Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois [1828–1829], p. 123, sec. 11.)

    The Revised Code of Laws, of Illinois, Enacted at the Fifth General Assembly, at Their Session Held at Vandalia, Commencing on the Fourth Day of December, 1826, and Ending the Nineteenth of February, 1827. Vandalia, IL: Robert Blackwell, 1827.

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