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Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842

Source Note

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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, 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, 9 Aug. 1842; handwriting 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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; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The recto of the first leaf is ruled with twenty-six lines (now faded), and the verso of the first leaf and the recto of the second leaf are ruled with twenty-eight lines (also faded). There is an illegible embossment in the upper left-hand corner of the recto of the first leaf. The letter was written on the recto and verso of both leaves; writing on the verso of the second leaf is interrupted by space reserved for the address block. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. Much of the wafer remains on both sides of the second leaf. The document was later folded for filing.
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, docketed the document.
1

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 was added by
Leo Hawkins

19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...

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, who was a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office from 1853 to 1859.
2

“Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904.
3

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, 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).
4

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


The document’s early dockets, the circa 1904 inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    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.

  2. [2]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

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

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  4. [4]

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

Historical Introduction

On 9 August 1842,
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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wrote a letter from
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, reporting on his visit with
James Arlington Bennet

21 Dec. 1788–25 Dec. 1863. Attorney, newspaper publisher, educator, author. Born in New York. Married first Sophia Smith, 8 May 1811. Served as third and later second lieutenant in First U.S. Artillery, 1 Aug. 1813–14 Oct. 1814. Published American System ...

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. Richards had been assigned to travel to the eastern
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
in July 1842 to collect donated funds for the construction of the Nauvoo
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
and to serve as an
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
on general
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
business.
1

Richards, Journal, 1–6 July 1842; “To the Eastern Churches,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, 3:814.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

He also planned to reunite with his wife,
Jennetta Richards Richards

21 Aug. 1817–9 July 1845. Born in Walker Fold, Lancashire, England. Daughter of John Richards and Ellin Charnock. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber C. Kimball, 4 Aug. 1837, in River Ribble, Lancashire. Married Willard Richards...

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, and son, who had been staying with Willard’s relatives in
Richmond

Post village located along Housatonic River about 160 miles west of Boston. Settled 1760; incorporated 1765. Population in 1850 about 900. Jennetta Richards Richards corresponded with JS from village regarding his friendship with her husband, Willard Richards...

More Info
, Massachusetts, and bring them to Nauvoo.
2

Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], to Jennetta Richards Richards, [Richmond, MA], 26 Feb. 1842, Jennetta Richards Richards, Collection, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

In addition, JS wanted Richards to visit Bennet, a prominent New Yorker who had shown himself in past months to be a friend to the Latter-day Saints,
3

Bennet, for example, had defended JS and the Saints in a letter to the New York Herald written under the pseudonym “Cincinnatus.” (James Arlington Bennet [Cincinnatus, pseud.], “The Mormons,” New York Herald, 16 May 1842, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

and explain to him “all the facts relative” to
John C. Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

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and his conduct in Nauvoo.
4

For more information on John C. Bennett’s conduct in Nauvoo, see Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842.


Richards was also to convey to Bennet information on the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
, in which Bennet was an officer, and to tell him of “the prog[r]ess of the City, prospects of business, or any other matter.”
5

Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 30 June 1842.


On 5 August, Richards and his wife arrived at
Arlington House

Long Island residence of James Arlington Bennet, who corresponded with JS, 1842–1843. Bennet purchased a hundred acres of land in New Utrecht, New York, in 1825 and there built the residence known as “Arlington House.” He deeded it to his son, James H. A....

More Info
, where Bennet lived on
Long Island

Island off mainland New York state; located on east coast of United States and separated from mainland by Long Island Sound and East River. One hundred twenty miles long and average of about ten miles wide. Settled 1636. Population in 1835 about 71,000. Branch...

More Info
; on 7 August, the Richardses traveled to New York City with Bennet and his wife, Sophia.
6

Richards, Journal, 7 Aug. 1842.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

In this letter,
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
shared
Bennet

21 Dec. 1788–25 Dec. 1863. Attorney, newspaper publisher, educator, author. Born in New York. Married first Sophia Smith, 8 May 1811. Served as third and later second lieutenant in First U.S. Artillery, 1 Aug. 1813–14 Oct. 1814. Published American System ...

View Full Bio
’s thoughts about JS’s actions in exposing
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 alleged misconduct. Richards also forwarded Bennet’s advice on how to weather the storm brought on by John C. Bennett’s charges against JS. In addition, Richards provided a description of Bennet’s status in society and his religious beliefs. Finally, Richards discussed Bennet’s April 1842 appointment to an office in the Nauvoo Legion and his willingness to accept that appointment. Richards clarified that his letter was not intended for publication.
According to the letter,
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
sent it to JS using a “Mr Pratt” as courier, although it is unclear whom “Mr Pratt” refers to.
7

The most prominent Pratts in the church—Parley, Orson, William, and Addison—seem to have been in either England or Nauvoo at this time.


It appears that the letter was actually carried to JS 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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and
David Rogers

27 May 1807–26 Apr. 1884. Artist, portrait painter. Born in Cold Spring Harbor, Suffolk Co., New York. Son of Jacob Rogers and Elisabeth Bunce. Moved to New York City, by 1827. Married first Catherine, ca. 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter...

View Full Bio
, who were traveling from
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
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
.
8

By 15 August 1842, the two were in Pittsburgh, where they met with apostle John E. Page. (Letter from John E. Page, 15 Aug. 1842.)


They delivered it to JS with several other letters on 7 September 1842.
9

JS, Journal, 7 Sept. 1842.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Richards, Journal, 1–6 July 1842; “To the Eastern Churches,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, 3:814.

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

  2. [2]

    Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], to Jennetta Richards Richards, [Richmond, MA], 26 Feb. 1842, Jennetta Richards Richards, Collection, CHL.

    Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Bennet, for example, had defended JS and the Saints in a letter to the New York Herald written under the pseudonym “Cincinnatus.” (James Arlington Bennet [Cincinnatus, pseud.], “The Mormons,” New York Herald, 16 May 1842, [2].)

    Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.

  4. [4]

    For more information on John C. Bennett’s conduct in Nauvoo, see Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842.

  5. [5]

    Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 30 June 1842.

  6. [6]

    Richards, Journal, 7 Aug. 1842.

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

  7. [7]

    The most prominent Pratts in the church—Parley, Orson, William, and Addison—seem to have been in either England or Nauvoo at this time.

  8. [8]

    By 15 August 1842, the two were in Pittsburgh, where they met with apostle John E. Page. (Letter from John E. Page, 15 Aug. 1842.)

  9. [9]

    JS, Journal, 7 Sept. 1842.

Page [1]

Bishop [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
’s
1

John M. Bernhisel was appointed bishop of the New York City branch on 15 April 1841. (Minutes, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:499.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

office 176 <​Hudson st​>
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
. Aug. 9[th]. 1842
President Joseph Smith}
Beloved President,
As I have the opportunity of of sending directly 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
, by Mr Pratt, who starts to morrow morning, I improve the the few moments I can spare from previous engagements, in apologising for any neglect. in not writing before this,
2

Richards had arrived in Richmond, Massachusetts, on 14 July 1842. (Richards, Journal, 14 July 1842.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

to him whom I esteem the dearest. on earth, & whose absence I continually feel, for but my time is continually occupied with Something or other, & Since I left
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
. one of the greatest burdens that can be put upon me is to take up a pen, indeed it Seems as though I Loathed the Sight of Ink & paper,
3

Richards had been appointed a scribe to JS on 13 December 1841 and kept JS’s journal until departing for the eastern United States. (“Nauvoo Journals, December 1841–April 1843.”)


& perhaps I have given way to such feelings too much. but be assured that neither time nor distance, can obliterate those emotions of Love, of friendship, of attachment, to yourself & the cause you have espoused, which are interwoven with my very existence.— & which grow Stronger & stronger eve[r]y day.
4

JS had expressed similar thoughts about Richards in a letter to Jennetta Richards Richards in June 1842, stating that he had never had “greater intimacy with any man than with him.” (Letter to Jennetta Richards Richards, 23 June 1842.)


& my my greatest Source of enjoyment constantly is. that I am permitted to bear Some little share of in those base slanders, falsehoods & calumnies that are so copiously heaped upon the head of God’s proph[e]t. in these last days,
5

In John C. Bennett’s 2 July 1842 letter to the editor of the Sangamo Journal, published in the 15 July 1842 issue of that newspaper, he accused Richards of being “up to his eyes” in JS’s alleged marriage proposal to Nancy Rigdon. In another letter, Bennett claimed that JS sold “valuable property” to Richards before applying for bankruptcy, thereby hiding the property from creditors. (John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 2 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal [Springfield, IL], 15 July 1842, [2]; John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 4 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal, 15 July 1842, [2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

— but, as like all others, I shall hereafter be known by my fruits.
6

See Matthew 7:20; and Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 471 [3 Nephi 14:20].


I turn the subject to tell you that hitherto hath the Lord prospered me. so that I am now in this place with.
Mrs. [Jennetta Richards] Richards

21 Aug. 1817–9 July 1845. Born in Walker Fold, Lancashire, England. Daughter of John Richards and Ellin Charnock. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber C. Kimball, 4 Aug. 1837, in River Ribble, Lancashire. Married Willard Richards...

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, whose health [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Willard Richards, 9 August 1842
ID #
901
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:366–372
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    John M. Bernhisel was appointed bishop of the New York City branch on 15 April 1841. (Minutes, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, in Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:499.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  2. [2]

    Richards had arrived in Richmond, Massachusetts, on 14 July 1842. (Richards, Journal, 14 July 1842.)

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

  3. [3]

    Richards had been appointed a scribe to JS on 13 December 1841 and kept JS’s journal until departing for the eastern United States. (“Nauvoo Journals, December 1841–April 1843.”)

  4. [4]

    JS had expressed similar thoughts about Richards in a letter to Jennetta Richards Richards in June 1842, stating that he had never had “greater intimacy with any man than with him.” (Letter to Jennetta Richards Richards, 23 June 1842.)

  5. [5]

    In John C. Bennett’s 2 July 1842 letter to the editor of the Sangamo Journal, published in the 15 July 1842 issue of that newspaper, he accused Richards of being “up to his eyes” in JS’s alleged marriage proposal to Nancy Rigdon. In another letter, Bennett claimed that JS sold “valuable property” to Richards before applying for bankruptcy, thereby hiding the property from creditors. (John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 2 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal [Springfield, IL], 15 July 1842, [2]; John C. Bennett, Carthage, IL, 4 July 1842, Letter to the Editor, Sangamo Journal, 15 July 1842, [2].)

    Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.

  6. [6]

    See Matthew 7:20; and Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 471 [3 Nephi 14:20].

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