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Letter from William Worthyson, 31 May 1842

Source Note

William Worthyson, Letter,
Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
, Sangamon Co., IL, 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, 31 May 1842; handwriting of William Worthyson; one page; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes address, postal stamp, postal notations, docket, and archival marking.
Single leaf, which has separated into two pieces, with the upper section of the leaf measuring 3¼ × 8 inches (8 × 20 cm) and the lower section of the leaf measuring approximately 7½–8 × 7¾–8 inches (20 × 20 cm). When intact, the letter was trifolded twice in letter style, then later folded again for filing. Marked water damage has caused severe deterioration, separating the letter at horizontal and vertical folds, resulting in the loss of text. Three additional fragments, each measuring less than one-inch square, are also detached.
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 letter.
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.

In late 1844, following JS’s death,
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

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...

View Glossary
.
2

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...

View Full Bio
’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.
3

Andrus and Fuller, Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 24.


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.

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]

    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.

  3. [3]

    Andrus and Fuller, Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 24.

    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.

Historical Introduction

On 31 May 1842, William Worthyson wrote from
Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
, Illinois, 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 the progress 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
in Springfield and on local news. Little is known about Worthyson. His letter suggests he was a relatively new member of the church in Springfield. Church leaders had created a
stake

Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...

View Glossary
in Springfield, the state capital, in November 1840, with Edwin P. Merriam as president.
1

Although labeled a “branch” in some sources, the church unit created in November 1840 included a presidency and a bishop’s court, which suggests it was a stake. Furthermore, in 1842, Abraham C. Hodge described the unit that was organized in 1840 as a “stake.” The terms stake and branch were sometimes used interchangeably during this period. (JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 3; Letter from Abraham C. Hodge and Springfield, IL, Branch, 25 Jan. 1842; see also “Branch” and “Stake” in the glossary.)


The Springfield stake was discontinued in May 1841 when 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
dissolved all stakes outside of
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, and
Lee County

First permanent settlement established, 1820. Organized 1837. Population in 1838 about 2,800; in 1840 about 6,100; in 1844 about 9,800; and in 1846 about 13,000. Following expulsion from Missouri, 1838–1839, many Saints found refuge in eastern Iowa Territory...

More Info
, Iowa, and directed the Saints to
gather

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
to Nauvoo.
2

Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841.


In January 1842, a Springfield
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
was organized with
James Adams

24 Jan. 1783–11 Aug. 1843. Lawyer, judge, insurance agent, land speculator. Born at Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Parmenio Adams and Chloe. In New York militia, served as ensign, 1805; as lieutenant; as captain, 1807; and as major, 1811–1815...

View Full Bio
, a probate judge and close friend of JS, as president.
3

Letter from Abraham C. Hodge and Springfield, IL, Branch, 25 Jan. 1842; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.


Presumably, Worthyson was a member of this branch.
Worthyson’s 31 May letter to JS emphasized the healthy state of the church in
Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
and noted the recent mechanical failure of a locomotive there. He also asked JS to write back with news of
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 stamped postmark indicates the letter was sent from Springfield on 12 June 1842, nearly two weeks after Worthyson began writing the letter. The letter would have taken a few days to reach Nauvoo. No reply from JS is apparently extant.
Because of deterioration along the first horizontal fold, the letter has separated into two pieces, resulting in missing or obscured text. Where possible, text has been editorially supplied in square brackets based on context.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Although labeled a “branch” in some sources, the church unit created in November 1840 included a presidency and a bishop’s court, which suggests it was a stake. Furthermore, in 1842, Abraham C. Hodge described the unit that was organized in 1840 as a “stake.” The terms stake and branch were sometimes used interchangeably during this period. (JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 3; Letter from Abraham C. Hodge and Springfield, IL, Branch, 25 Jan. 1842; see also “Branch” and “Stake” in the glossary.)

  2. [2]

    Letter to the Saints Abroad, 24 May 1841.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Abraham C. Hodge and Springfield, IL, Branch, 25 Jan. 1842; Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.

Page [2]

<​
SPRIN[GFI]ELD

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...

More Info
IL. JUN 12​>

Stamped circular postmark.


<​12◊​>

Postage in unidentified handwriting. “12[page torn]”; possibly “12½”. Standard postage rate for a letter of this size traveling the distance between Springfield and Nauvoo was 12½ cents. (An Act to Reduce into One the Several Acts Establishing and Regulating the Post-Office Department [3 Mar. 1825], Public Statutes at Large, 18th Cong., 2nd Sess., chap. 64, p. 105.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845. . . . Edited by Richard Peters. 8 vols. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846–1867.

Rev Joseph. Smith
19

TEXT: Page torn. The same tear affects the next two lines of text.


Norvea [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
Ill
 
<​single​>

This postal notation, which is in unidentified handwriting, indicates that Worthyson was mailing a single leaf.


[p. [2]]
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Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [2]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from William Worthyson, 31 May 1842
ID #
845
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:108–112
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text
  • Unidentified
  • William Worthyson

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Stamped circular postmark.

  2. new scribe logo

    Postage in unidentified handwriting. “12[page torn]”; possibly “12½”. Standard postage rate for a letter of this size traveling the distance between Springfield and Nauvoo was 12½ cents. (An Act to Reduce into One the Several Acts Establishing and Regulating the Post-Office Department [3 Mar. 1825], Public Statutes at Large, 18th Cong., 2nd Sess., chap. 64, p. 105.)

    The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845. . . . Edited by Richard Peters. 8 vols. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846–1867.

  3. [19]

    TEXT: Page torn. The same tear affects the next two lines of text.

  4. new scribe logo

    This postal notation, which is in unidentified handwriting, indicates that Worthyson was mailing a single leaf.

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