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Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 October 1843

Source Note

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
, Letter,
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 the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
(including JS) and
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
,
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, 4 Oct. 1843; handwriting and signature of
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
; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, wafer seals, postal stamps, postal notations, dockets, notations, and use marks.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was inscribed on the recto and the verso of the first leaf and on the recto of the second leaf. It was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with two small red adhesive wafers, and postmarked. The recto and the verso of the second leaf contain wafer residue; there are tears near the residue that likely occurred when the letter was opened, resulting in a loss of text. The letter was later refolded for filing.
The letter 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–.

Jonathan Grimshaw, who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office from 1853 to 1856, docketed it a second time.
2

Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

The notation “A.J. Printed” was added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
3

Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

The document was listed in a Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) inventory from circa 1904.
4

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], 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).
5

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


The document’s early dockets and notation, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection 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]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 7 June 1853; Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 30 Aug. 1856, in Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 364.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

    Historian’s Office. Letterpress Copybooks, 1854–1879, 1885–1886. CHL. CR 100 38.

  3. [3]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  4. [4]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  5. [5]

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

Historical Introduction

On 4 October 1843,
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
, the newly appointed
presiding elder

A leader over a local ecclesiastical unit of the church; also a title indicating the leading officers of the church. When the church was organized, JS and Oliver Cowdery were ordained as first and second elders, respectively, distinguishing them as the church...

View Glossary
of the British mission who was based 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
, wrote to the
First Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
and 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
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, to report on his 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
and the general state of the British mission. Hedlock had previously served a proselytizing mission to England along with eight members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles between April 1840 and May 1841.
1

George A. Smith, Journal, 9 Mar. 1840; Woodruff, Journal, 20 Apr. and 19 May 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, George Albert. Journals, 1839–1875. George Albert Smith, Papers. 1834–1877. CHL.

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

During their time in England, the apostles, Hedlock, and other missionaries
baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
thousands of converts, organized new congregations, and facilitated the emigration of British
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
to Nauvoo. While preparing to leave England in early 1841, the quorum determined that apostle
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
should remain in that country to oversee the British mission and continue editing the church newspaper Millennial Star.
2

The Twelve also appointed Levi Richards and Lorenzo Snow to “assist brother Pratt in the general superintendence of the church in this country.” (Parley P. Pratt, Liverpool, England, to Aaron Frost, East Bethel, ME, 19 Apr. 1841, Parley P. Pratt, Letters to Aaron Frost, CHL; “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:309–311; Nameplate, Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:289; May 1841, 2:1; Woodruff, Journal, 15–20 Apr. 1841.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Pratt, Parley P. Letters, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 5828.

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

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

The quorum also appointed
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
as a church
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
to assist British Saints emigrating to America and counseled emigrants to cross the Atlantic in steamships chartered by the church. In April 1841, Hedlock and the remaining apostles departed England for the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
.
3

“An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:311; Parley P. Pratt, Liverpool, England, to Aaron Frost, East Bethel, ME, 19 Apr. 1841, Parley P. Pratt, Letters to Aaron Frost, CHL; Woodruff, Journal, 19–20 Apr. 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Pratt, Parley P. Letters, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 5828.

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

After returning 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
, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made additional changes to the administrative structure of the British mission. In June 1842, the quorum voted that
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
go to the British Isles to “take charge of the Emigration 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
instead of
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
.” They also instructed Fielding to “come immediately to this place with his family.”
4

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842. In March 1842, Fielding led a group of 230 British converts to Nauvoo, arriving in the city in May. Fielding remained in Nauvoo until at least 12 June and returned to Liverpool by mid-September 1842. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842; Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, “Emigration,” Millennial Star, Mar. 1842, 2:176; JS, Journal, 14 May 1842; Editorial, Times and Seasons, 16 May 1842, 3:790; Letter to Parley P. Pratt and Others, 12 June 1842; Historical Introduction to Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 Sept. 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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

Clark arrived in England by mid-September 1842, but Fielding did not immediately return to Nauvoo.
5

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


In November 1842, the Twelve learned 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
planned to return to Nauvoo, and the quorum determined that “the Millenial Star & all other publications in England . . . be suspended until further instruction from the Quorum.”
6

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 21 Nov. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Pratt appointed
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
to lead the British mission and edit the Millennial Star following his departure. Ward and his counselor, Hiram Clark, acknowledged the quorum’s directive in a March 1843 letter and indicated that Fielding was “acting contrary to counsel given him by you, in being again engaged in the Emigration business, and all things seem to go wrong, and he does not seem to be able to succeed in anything, but to be an obstacle in the way of success.”
7

Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 1 Mar. 1843.


In a quorum meeting held in May 1843, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (including the recently returned
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
) voted to send
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
to “preside over the church 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
, Scotland, Ireland, and all places connected with the English mission” with
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
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
as his counselors and called several missionaries to labor in other parts of the British Isles. They also voted, as they had the previous year, that
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
return 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
, adding, “and if he do not thus come, that he be cut off from the church.”
8

“Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, pp. 1–2, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL, underlining in original.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

Twelve days later, the quorum instructed Hedlock to assume control over the emigration program and to use funds generated by publishing endeavors in England to “send the worthy poor Saints to this country.”
9

“Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, p. 3, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

Hedlock and the other missionaries departed Nauvoo sometime in the next few months and 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
on 30 September 1843.
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
wrote the featured letter to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles four days after arriving 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
. In this correspondence, Hedlock briefly recounted his journey on the packet ship Columbus, described conversations he had with church members in Liverpool, and offered his opinion regarding the church’s printing endeavors in the British Isles.
10

The Columbus was a packet ship operated by the Black Ball Line, a transatlantic ship company that transported passengers, freight, and mail between New York City and Liverpool. (Clark, Clipper Ship Era, 38, 41, 45; Albion, Square-Riggers on Schedule, 27–28, 276.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clark, Arthur H. The Clipper Ship Era: An Epitome of Famous American and British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders, and Crews, 1843–1869. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1911.

Albion, Robert Greenhalgh. Square-Riggers on Schedule: The New York Sailing Packets to England, France, and the Cotton Ports. [Hamden, CT]: Archon Books, 1965.

Hedlock mailed the letter to
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 was JS’s private secretary and the clerk for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
11

JS, Journal, 21 Dec. 1842; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 7 Nov. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The letter was postmarked in Liverpool, conveyed via steamship to
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 likely received 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
by late October or early November. Extant sources suggest that neither the First Presidency nor the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles responded to Hedlock’s letter.
12

In a 10–21 January 1844 letter to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Hedlock indicated that church member John Hill and his sister had arrived from Nauvoo and informed him that “the Mob spirit had subsided in that country and all was peace in Nauvoo.” This bit of news, wrote Hedlock, was “the most information that I have Received from Nauvoo since I Left New York.” Hedlock lamented, “it seems as if you had forgoten me,” and noted that he had not received any of the copies of the Times and Seasons or Nauvoo Neighbor that John Taylor promised to send him. (Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, [Nauvoo, IL], 10–21 Jan. 1844, p. 1, JS Collection, CHL.)


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    George A. Smith, Journal, 9 Mar. 1840; Woodruff, Journal, 20 Apr. and 19 May 1841.

    Smith, George Albert. Journals, 1839–1875. George Albert Smith, Papers. 1834–1877. CHL.

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

  2. [2]

    The Twelve also appointed Levi Richards and Lorenzo Snow to “assist brother Pratt in the general superintendence of the church in this country.” (Parley P. Pratt, Liverpool, England, to Aaron Frost, East Bethel, ME, 19 Apr. 1841, Parley P. Pratt, Letters to Aaron Frost, CHL; “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:309–311; Nameplate, Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:289; May 1841, 2:1; Woodruff, Journal, 15–20 Apr. 1841.)

    Pratt, Parley P. Letters, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 5828.

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

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

  3. [3]

    “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1841, 1:311; Parley P. Pratt, Liverpool, England, to Aaron Frost, East Bethel, ME, 19 Apr. 1841, Parley P. Pratt, Letters to Aaron Frost, CHL; Woodruff, Journal, 19–20 Apr. 1841.

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

    Pratt, Parley P. Letters, 1838–1839. CHL. MS 5828.

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

  4. [4]

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 June 1842. In March 1842, Fielding led a group of 230 British converts to Nauvoo, arriving in the city in May. Fielding remained in Nauvoo until at least 12 June and returned to Liverpool by mid-September 1842. (Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 13 Mar. 1842; Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, “Emigration,” Millennial Star, Mar. 1842, 2:176; JS, Journal, 14 May 1842; Editorial, Times and Seasons, 16 May 1842, 3:790; Letter to Parley P. Pratt and Others, 12 June 1842; Historical Introduction to Account and Pay Order from Parley P. Pratt and Amos Fielding, 16 Sept. 1842.)

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

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

  5. [5]

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

  6. [6]

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 21 Nov. 1842.

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

  7. [7]

    Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 1 Mar. 1843.

  8. [8]

    “Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, pp. 1–2, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL, underlining in original.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

  9. [9]

    “Extracts from the Record of the Twelve, for the Use and Benefit of Elder Reuben Hedlock, and through Him to the Parties Concerned,” ca. 28 June 1843, p. 3, Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.

    Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL.

  10. [10]

    The Columbus was a packet ship operated by the Black Ball Line, a transatlantic ship company that transported passengers, freight, and mail between New York City and Liverpool. (Clark, Clipper Ship Era, 38, 41, 45; Albion, Square-Riggers on Schedule, 27–28, 276.)

    Clark, Arthur H. The Clipper Ship Era: An Epitome of Famous American and British Clipper Ships, Their Owners, Builders, Commanders, and Crews, 1843–1869. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1911.

    Albion, Robert Greenhalgh. Square-Riggers on Schedule: The New York Sailing Packets to England, France, and the Cotton Ports. [Hamden, CT]: Archon Books, 1965.

  11. [11]

    JS, Journal, 21 Dec. 1842; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 7 Nov. 1843.

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

  12. [12]

    In a 10–21 January 1844 letter to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Hedlock indicated that church member John Hill and his sister had arrived from Nauvoo and informed him that “the Mob spirit had subsided in that country and all was peace in Nauvoo.” This bit of news, wrote Hedlock, was “the most information that I have Received from Nauvoo since I Left New York.” Hedlock lamented, “it seems as if you had forgoten me,” and noted that he had not received any of the copies of the Times and Seasons or Nauvoo Neighbor that John Taylor promised to send him. (Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to JS and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, [Nauvoo, IL], 10–21 Jan. 1844, p. 1, JS Collection, CHL.)

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 October 1843
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

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 4th. 1843
To the
first Presidency

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
&
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
Greeting Dear & much E[s]teemed Breatheren I hasten to informe you of my arival 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
on the the <​30​> day of Sept in Company with
Elders

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
John Cairns

View Full Bio

James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
and Wife
1

Mary Magill Sloan. (1850 U.S. Census, District 21, Pottawattamie Co., IA, 82[B].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

James houston and Wm. G. Jerman [Jarman] We Left 6 of the twelve in the city of
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
2

In April 1843, six members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, and George A. Smith—were appointed agents to collect donations for the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo temple. The Twelve preached to and visited local branches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in late July and early August. In mid-August, the men traveled north to New York, holding a conference there on 26–27 August. (Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843; JS, Journal, 19 Apr. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 27 July–27 Aug. 1843; George A. Smith, New York, NY, to Bathsheba Bigler Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 30 Aug. 1843, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

the 2nd. day of Sept and came on Bord of the Ship Columbus our pasage money was five Dollars we had a very hard passage we were very much Crowded in the Stearage, there was 236 persons Dutch Irish English and Sco[t]ch and as dirty as any I ever Saw We were not much Sick the weather was cold had it been otherwise we should have Sufered more, there is a steamer Leaves for
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
to day
3

This refers to the steamboat Hibernia. (See “Duties on Imports by British Steamers at Boston and New York,” 377; Gibbs, Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean, 41–44, 49; and Smith, Coal, Steam and Ships, 113–114.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

"Duties on Imports by British Steamers at Boston and New York." Hunt's Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review 25, no. 3 (Sept. 1851): 377–379.

Gibbs, C. R. Vernon. Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean: A Record of the North Atlantic Steam and Motor Passenger Vessels from 1838 to the Present Day. London: Staples Press, 1952.

Smith, Crosbie. Coal, Steam and Ships: Engineering, Enterprise and Empire on the Nineteenth-Century Seas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

and I thought I would announce to you my arival by this opertunity and Such information as I was in persession [possession] of, there is a Ship to Sail on the 14 inst by which I shall write you again
4

Hedlock wrote another letter addressed in part to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 16 and 17 October 1843. (See Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 16–17 Oct. 1843.)


I found Elders
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
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
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
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
and they were well and as far as I was informed by them that 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
is in general a good state and on the increase, it numbers some where between Eight and nine thousand members
5

In October 1842, Parley P. Pratt estimated that Latter-day Saints in Europe numbered “near ten thousands, besides thousands who have emigrated to a distant land.” Ward and Clark stated that the “number of members at the General Conference in June [1843] . . . was about 8000 since which time, there has been in every direction a considerable increase.” (Parley P. Pratt, “Farewell Address to Our Readers and Patrons,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:109; Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 3 Oct. 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

there is a great want of Laborers in the winyard there has many of the first Elders Left this for
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
Leaving their places Vacant
6

Eight members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who participated in the 1840–1841 mission to England returned to the United States by October 1842. Another influential leader, Lorenzo Snow, left England in January 1843. (Woodruff, Journal, 20 Apr. and 19–20 May 1841; Hiram Clark, “Extract from Elder Hiram Clark’s Journal, and Address to the Saints in the British Islands,” Millennial Star, Feb. 1844, 4:145–148; Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 1 Mar. 1843; Parley P. Pratt, “From P. P. Pratt,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1843, 3:206.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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.

I persented to the presidency hear
7

Ward and Clark constituted the British mission presidency before Hedlock arrived and later became his counselors. (“Editorial,” Millennial Star, Nov. 1843, 4:109.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

the your dessission [decision] of Relative to the printing of Elders
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
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
they Receved it and manifested a desier to abide By it. [p. [1]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [1]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 4 October 1843
ID #
1172
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:151–157
Handwriting on This Page
  • Reuben Hedlock

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Mary Magill Sloan. (1850 U.S. Census, District 21, Pottawattamie Co., IA, 82[B].)

    Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

  2. [2]

    In April 1843, six members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, and George A. Smith—were appointed agents to collect donations for the Nauvoo House and the Nauvoo temple. The Twelve preached to and visited local branches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in late July and early August. In mid-August, the men traveled north to New York, holding a conference there on 26–27 August. (Minutes and Discourses, 6–7 Apr. 1843; JS, Journal, 19 Apr. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 27 July–27 Aug. 1843; George A. Smith, New York, NY, to Bathsheba Bigler Smith, Nauvoo, IL, 30 Aug. 1843, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.)

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

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

  3. [3]

    This refers to the steamboat Hibernia. (See “Duties on Imports by British Steamers at Boston and New York,” 377; Gibbs, Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean, 41–44, 49; and Smith, Coal, Steam and Ships, 113–114.)

    "Duties on Imports by British Steamers at Boston and New York." Hunt's Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review 25, no. 3 (Sept. 1851): 377–379.

    Gibbs, C. R. Vernon. Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean: A Record of the North Atlantic Steam and Motor Passenger Vessels from 1838 to the Present Day. London: Staples Press, 1952.

    Smith, Crosbie. Coal, Steam and Ships: Engineering, Enterprise and Empire on the Nineteenth-Century Seas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

  4. [4]

    Hedlock wrote another letter addressed in part to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 16 and 17 October 1843. (See Letter from Reuben Hedlock, 16–17 Oct. 1843.)

  5. [5]

    In October 1842, Parley P. Pratt estimated that Latter-day Saints in Europe numbered “near ten thousands, besides thousands who have emigrated to a distant land.” Ward and Clark stated that the “number of members at the General Conference in June [1843] . . . was about 8000 since which time, there has been in every direction a considerable increase.” (Parley P. Pratt, “Farewell Address to Our Readers and Patrons,” Millennial Star, Oct. 1842, 3:109; Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 3 Oct. 1843.)

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

  6. [6]

    Eight members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who participated in the 1840–1841 mission to England returned to the United States by October 1842. Another influential leader, Lorenzo Snow, left England in January 1843. (Woodruff, Journal, 20 Apr. and 19–20 May 1841; Hiram Clark, “Extract from Elder Hiram Clark’s Journal, and Address to the Saints in the British Islands,” Millennial Star, Feb. 1844, 4:145–148; Letter from Thomas Ward and Hiram Clark, 1 Mar. 1843; Parley P. Pratt, “From P. P. Pratt,” Millennial Star, Apr. 1843, 3:206.)

    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.

  7. [7]

    Ward and Clark constituted the British mission presidency before Hedlock arrived and later became his counselors. (“Editorial,” Millennial Star, Nov. 1843, 4:109.)

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

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