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Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 March 1842

Source Note

JS, Letter, [
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....

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, Hancock Co., IL], to
Horace Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

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, [
Fair Haven

Village in south-central Connecticut, located on Quinnipiac River. Population in 1853 about 3,000.

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, New Haven Co., CT], 10 Mar. 1842. Featured version copied [ca. 10 Mar. 1842] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 230–231; 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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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 10 March 1842 JS wrote to
Horace Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

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in
Connecticut

Originally inhabited by native Algonquin tribes. Among first thirteen colonies that formed U.S., southernmost state in New England. First permanent European settlements established by members of Massachusetts Bay Colony, ca. 1635. Population in 1820 about...

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regarding various land transaction proposals. In August 1839 JS,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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, 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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, informally acting on behalf 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...

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, agreed to purchase approximately four hundred acres of land in
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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, Illinois, from Hotchkiss and his business partners,
Smith Tuttle

12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...

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and
John Gillet

2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...

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.
1

Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.


The land comprised much of the north half of what subsequently became the city 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
. While the principal owed for this large purchase was not due for nearly two more decades, interest payments of $3,000 per year had begun accruing. To pay the first year’s interest two weeks earlier, the church—through
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...

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James Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

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—transferred some property in
New Jersey

Located in northeast region of U.S. First European settlements made by Dutch, Swedes, and English, early 1600s. Admitted to U.S. as state, Dec. 1787. Population in 1830 about 321,000. Population in 1840 about 373,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries preached...

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to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet.
2

Receipt from Horace Hotchkiss et al., 28 Feb. 1842.


As
Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
had notified JS of the
Connecticut

Originally inhabited by native Algonquin tribes. Among first thirteen colonies that formed U.S., southernmost state in New England. First permanent European settlements established by members of Massachusetts Bay Colony, ca. 1635. Population in 1820 about...

More Info
partnership’s willingness to accept land in lieu of cash, JS wrote to Hotchkiss in early March with additional proposals of land transfers. One of these involved a sizeable property near
Terre Haute

Situated high on east bank of Wabash River. French settlement, 1720–1763; name is French for “high land.” Founded as Fort Harrison, 1811. Laid out and incorporated, 1816. Vigo Co. seat. Population in 1830 about 600; in 1837 about 1,100; and in 1840 about ...

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, Indiana, owned by Dr.
Charles Modesitt

Aug. 1784–22 Jan. 1848. Physician. Born in Prince William Co., Virginia. Son of Charles Modesitt and Francis Byrnes. Graduated from Prince William College, in Virginia. Married first Rebeccah Welton, 15 Nov. 1812, in Hardy Co., Virginia (later in West Virginia...

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. The value of this property and similar properties that could be made available in short order, JS reported, was enough to cover the $50,000 principal of the
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
purchase, concluding the 1839 sale if Hotchkiss and his colleagues agreed to take it.
3

Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.


JS closed his letter by describing the plight of the State Bank of Illinois, suggesting that without reliable paper money in circulation, land transfers would be the most efficient and profitable way for
Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
and his partners to receive payment for the
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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property. Though Hotchkiss responded to JS’s letter the following month, he did not directly address the significant offer of
Modesitt

Aug. 1784–22 Jan. 1848. Physician. Born in Prince William Co., Virginia. Son of Charles Modesitt and Francis Byrnes. Graduated from Prince William College, in Virginia. Married first Rebeccah Welton, 15 Nov. 1812, in Hardy Co., Virginia (later in West Virginia...

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’s land.
4

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Apr. 1842.


The original letter is apparently not extant.
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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inscribed the original and later copied it into JS Letterbook 2, probably around the time the letter was written.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.

  2. [2]

    Receipt from Horace Hotchkiss et al., 28 Feb. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.

  4. [4]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Apr. 1842.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 March 1842
Letterbook 2

Page 230

Copy of a Letter to
H[orace] R. Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
Mch 10— 1842
H R. Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
Esqr
Dr. Sir
I received yours dated Feby 7th. a few days since and have ascertained that Mr
James Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

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has wrote <​written​> to Mr Thomas W. Ivins instructing him to Deed the land specified in your Letter according to contract which Letter might not have had time to reach Mr Ivins previous to you writing on the 7th.
1

Hotchkiss wrote to JS on 7 February 1842 regarding approximately 140 acres in New Jersey that James Ivins offered to sell to Hotchkiss, Smith Tuttle, and John Gillet on behalf of the church. The purchase price of $3,200 was to be applied toward the $6,000 in interest the church currently owed Hotchkiss and his partners. In the letter, Hotchkiss reiterated his interest in acquiring the property and noted that he had not heard from Ivins after agreeing with JS to make the purchase. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 7 Feb. 1842.)


<​1st.​> I have received a proposition to exchange lands from Mr. John M. Crane of Pleasant Hill Montgomery Co, I[ndian]a which I take the liberty to lay before you in his own words.
2

Crane’s letter to JS is apparently not extant, and neither is any correspondence from Barton Robinson or Charles Modesitt, who are mentioned later in the featured letter as having property to transfer. It is possible that these proposals for land trades were obtained through the efforts of church agents like Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland during their missions or were sent directly to Nauvoo. A conference of the church in Nauvoo in October 1841 and a subsequent open letter from the Quorum of the Twelve recommended a new plan for paying the debts owed to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet whereby church members would transfer land they owned elsewhere in the United States to the land speculating partnership in return for land of equal value from the church in or around Nauvoo. (Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:567–570.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

I now proceed to give a description of my real estate; First, the property where I now live in this place; one lot with two dwellings, both two Story buildings, a frame Smithing Shop, good Stabling, a good well of water, and ten acres of land with Timber and fire wood for the use of this property. The above stated property is worth $700.00. I have also 160 acres of land one mile East of this place with a good hewed log dwelling, good Stabling, about 60 acres of cleared land, good fencing, two wells of good water, and plenty of Stock water. I bought of a man who mortgaged it to the State funds of
Ia

First settled by French at Vincennes, early 1700s. Acquired by England in French and Indian War, 1763. U.S. took possession of area following American Revolution, 1783. Area became part of Northwest Territory, 1787. Partitioned off of Northwest Territory ...

More Info
or the nine per cent fund for $500.00 and I gave him $650.00 for his right and pay out the Mortgage when due, which will be on the first of July 1843. I will take the amount I paid for it and give a Deed subject to the Mortgage. I have 1 Lot in Newton, Fountain Co, Ia five miles from this place with a good Frame Barn on it lying in the heart of the Town. I will take $350[.]00 for it. I have also 1 half acre of Town lot in Dublin Wayne Co Ia, on the National Road east of Indianopolis that I will take $350.00 for [p. 230]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 230

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 March 1842
ID #
785
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:233–236
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hotchkiss wrote to JS on 7 February 1842 regarding approximately 140 acres in New Jersey that James Ivins offered to sell to Hotchkiss, Smith Tuttle, and John Gillet on behalf of the church. The purchase price of $3,200 was to be applied toward the $6,000 in interest the church currently owed Hotchkiss and his partners. In the letter, Hotchkiss reiterated his interest in acquiring the property and noted that he had not heard from Ivins after agreeing with JS to make the purchase. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 7 Feb. 1842.)

  2. [2]

    Crane’s letter to JS is apparently not extant, and neither is any correspondence from Barton Robinson or Charles Modesitt, who are mentioned later in the featured letter as having property to transfer. It is possible that these proposals for land trades were obtained through the efforts of church agents like Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland during their missions or were sent directly to Nauvoo. A conference of the church in Nauvoo in October 1841 and a subsequent open letter from the Quorum of the Twelve recommended a new plan for paying the debts owed to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet whereby church members would transfer land they owned elsewhere in the United States to the land speculating partnership in return for land of equal value from the church in or around Nauvoo. (Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; Brigham Young et al., “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:567–570.)

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

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