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Letter from Sybella McMinn Armstrong, 1 May 1843

Source Note

Sybella McMinn Armstrong

ca. 1818–25 May 1888. Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of Robert McMinn and Mary Dull. Married first a Mr. Armstrong, by ca. 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 May 1840, in Philadelphia. Excommunicated, 16 Apr. 1854, in Philadelphia...

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, Letter,
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
, Philadelphia Co., PA, 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 May 1843; handwriting and signature of
Sybella McMinn Armstrong

ca. 1818–25 May 1888. Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of Robert McMinn and Mary Dull. Married first a Mr. Armstrong, by ca. 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 May 1840, in Philadelphia. Excommunicated, 16 Apr. 1854, in Philadelphia...

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; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notation, postal stamps, endorsement, and docket.
Bifolium measuring 10 × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). Each page is ruled with twenty-seven horizontal blue lines that are now faded. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with a red adhesive wafer, and postmarked. A hole was torn in the second leaf when the letter was opened. A remnant of the adhesive wafer remains on the second leaf. The document was refolded for filing. Some separation is evident on the second leaf along fold lines.
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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, 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, endorsed and docketed the document.
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–.

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
2

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


The document’s early endorsement and docket and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest 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]

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

Historical Introduction

On 1 May 1843,
Sybella McMinn Armstrong

ca. 1818–25 May 1888. Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of Robert McMinn and Mary Dull. Married first a Mr. Armstrong, by ca. 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 May 1840, in Philadelphia. Excommunicated, 16 Apr. 1854, in Philadelphia...

View Full Bio
wrote a letter from
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

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, to complain about
Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

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slandering her and disparaging her character. Winchester, who was appointed the
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
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
’s Philadelphia
branch

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...

View Glossary
in April 1841, had been experiencing longstanding difficulties with different members of the branch and with church officials who traveled to Philadelphia.
1

Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 6 Apr. 1841, 17; Historical Introduction to Letter from Eliza Lowry Nicholson, 23 Apr. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

Due to these difficulties, Winchester was removed as presiding elder and replaced by
Peter Hess

5 Feb. 1800–14 Dec. 1877. Cigar manufacturer. Born in Philadelphia. Son of Peter Hess and Fanny. Married Maria Leidy, 21 Dec. 1823, in Philadelphia. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 Aug. 1842. Ordained an elder and appointed to...

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in September 1842.
2

Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 14 Sept. and 15 Oct. 1842, 31, 32.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

Nevertheless, Winchester’s divisive influence persisted in the branch. Hess wrote JS and
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; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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in February 1843 asking that they remove Winchester from the branch entirely and explaining that they would receive more information in letters from Armstrong and others.
3

Letter from Peter Hess, 16 Feb. 1843.


On 21 and 22 April, a council of the Philadelphia branch’s
priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

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officers investigated an accusation that Winchester had defamed the character of
Eliza Lowry Nicholson

ca. 1800–29 Dec. 1845. Dressmaker. Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of David Lowry and Dorothy Maybury. Married John Nicholson, ca. 1819, in Philadelphia. Moved to St. Louis, 1819. Returned to Philadelphia, by 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter...

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, another member of the Philadelphia branch. During the same council meeting, Armstrong claimed that Winchester had spoken against her, a charge corroborated by
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

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, a missionary who had been proselytizing in the area.
4

Philadelphia, PA, Council Minutes, 21–22 Apr. 1843, General Ecclesiastical Court Trials, CHL; Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1 May 1843, 42.


Comprehensive Works Cited

General Ecclesiastical Court Trials 1832–1963. CHL.

Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

On 23 April 1843, Nicholson wrote a letter to JS and the Nauvoo
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

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stating that Winchester had slandered her character and that he was “under the influense of the evil one.”
5

Letter from Eliza Lowry Nicholson, 23 Apr. 1843.


One week later, on 1 May 1843,
Armstrong

ca. 1818–25 May 1888. Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of Robert McMinn and Mary Dull. Married first a Mr. Armstrong, by ca. 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 May 1840, in Philadelphia. Excommunicated, 16 Apr. 1854, in Philadelphia...

View Full Bio
wrote a similar letter, featured here. Addressing JS as church president, she outlined the grievances she had with
Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

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. Among other things, Winchester accused her of drunkenness, immorality, and keeping company with an “atrocois villain.”
6

Minutes and Discourse, 27 May 1843.


Armstrong asked JS to present her charges against Winchester to 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
for action.
The letter was mailed from
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
on 2 May and reached
Monmouth

Post village about 120 miles northwest of Springfield. Made county seat, 1831. Population in 1858 about 900.

More Info
, Illinois, by 15 May. It then traveled from Monmouth 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
, a distance of approximately fifty miles. JS received the letter on 22 May, and it was read at a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 23 May.
7

Clayton, Journal, 22 May 1843; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 23 May 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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

On 27 May, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, JS,
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; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
, and other church leaders considered the letter and its contents during a meeting specifically called for that purpose.
8

Minutes and Discourse, 27 May 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 27 May 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 6 Apr. 1841, 17; Historical Introduction to Letter from Eliza Lowry Nicholson, 23 Apr. 1843.

    Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

  2. [2]

    Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 14 Sept. and 15 Oct. 1842, 31, 32.

    Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Peter Hess, 16 Feb. 1843.

  4. [4]

    Philadelphia, PA, Council Minutes, 21–22 Apr. 1843, General Ecclesiastical Court Trials, CHL; Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1 May 1843, 42.

    General Ecclesiastical Court Trials 1832–1963. CHL.

    Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 1840–1854. Microfilm. CHL. Original at CCLA.

  5. [5]

    Letter from Eliza Lowry Nicholson, 23 Apr. 1843.

  6. [6]

    Minutes and Discourse, 27 May 1843.

  7. [7]

    Clayton, Journal, 22 May 1843; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 23 May 1843.

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

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

  8. [8]

    Minutes and Discourse, 27 May 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 27 May 1843.

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

Page [1]

Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
May 1ts 1843
President

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
Joseph Smith, Dear Borether
It is with feelings of no ordinry nature that I adress the following lines to you— but a strong sense of duty to my-self and the causse of Christ alone prompts me, I appeal to you because you— your-self have felt the sting of Slander, and know how sha[r]per then a Serpents tooth it is—
1

The phrase how sharper than a serpent’s tooth derives from Shakespeare’s King Lear. Armstrong may have been referring to the efforts of John C. Bennett, a former member of and leader in the church and the Nauvoo community, who published letters and a book highly critical of JS in 1842. Bennett had also presented several lectures in the eastern United States ridiculing JS. (Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, sc. 4, l. 288, in Wadsworth Shakespeare, 1312; John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism [Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842]; “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842.”)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Wadsworth Shakespeare, Formerly “The Riverside Shakespeare”: The Complete Works. Edited by G. Blakemore Evans, J. J. M. Tobin, Herschel Baker, Anne Barton, Frank Kermode, Harry Levin, Hallett Smith, and Marie Edel. 2nd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 1997.

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

I appeal to you Sir because I know and believe you to be a Man endowed with a Strong sense of Justice! and that you have a disposition to administer the same to the wronged and oppressed! You may think strange that woman as I am I should appeal to You in this matter, I seek redress at the hands of the
Chu[r]ch

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
first because tis my dhutry [duty] so to do— others Counsel when direct[ed] it by the Chu[r]chs—
2

According to an 1831 revelation, a church member who had been offended by another church member who was unrepentant was to seek redress at the hands of a council of church elders “in a meeting and that not before the world.” (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:89].)


When I uniteted myself with the Chu[r]ch of latter day Sa[in]ts God kn[o]ws so far as the world was concernd I parted with my Charctar— I was willing to have my name cast out as evil— and endure all manner of reproaches for the sake and cause of my Master—
3

See Luke 6:22.


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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Sybella McMinn Armstrong, 1 May 1843
ID #
1057
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:269–273
Handwriting on This Page
  • Sybella McMinn Armstrong

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The phrase how sharper than a serpent’s tooth derives from Shakespeare’s King Lear. Armstrong may have been referring to the efforts of John C. Bennett, a former member of and leader in the church and the Nauvoo community, who published letters and a book highly critical of JS in 1842. Bennett had also presented several lectures in the eastern United States ridiculing JS. (Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, sc. 4, l. 288, in Wadsworth Shakespeare, 1312; John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism [Boston: Leland and Whiting, 1842]; “Joseph Smith Documents from May through August 1842.”)

    The Wadsworth Shakespeare, Formerly “The Riverside Shakespeare”: The Complete Works. Edited by G. Blakemore Evans, J. J. M. Tobin, Herschel Baker, Anne Barton, Frank Kermode, Harry Levin, Hallett Smith, and Marie Edel. 2nd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 1997.

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

  2. [2]

    According to an 1831 revelation, a church member who had been offended by another church member who was unrepentant was to seek redress at the hands of a council of church elders “in a meeting and that not before the world.” (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:89].)

  3. [3]

    See Luke 6:22.

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