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Letter to Jennetta Richards Richards, 23 June 1842
Source Note
Source Note
JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Berkshire Co., MA, 23 June 1842; handwriting of ; address in handwriting of ; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket.
Single leaf measuring 12¼ × 7⅝ inches (31 × 19 cm). Document was trifolded twice in letter style for transmission. It was later folded twice horizontally for filing.
The document was given to the Church Historian’s Office at some point in the mid-nineteenth century—perhaps by ’s husband, —where it was docketed by , who appears to have consulted it while helping to write JS’s history. Bullock served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The letter was listed in inventories that were produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket, circa 1904 inventories, and inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.
Footnotes
- [1]
- [2]
Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.
Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [3]
“Index to Papers in the Historians Office,” ca. 1904, draft, 7, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
- [4]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
On 23 June 1842, JS dictated a letter in , Illinois, to , the wife of his scribe and close friend, , while she was residing with her husband’s sisters in , Massachusetts. Jennetta and Willard had met in early 1838 while Willard was serving as a missionary in . They married in September 1838 and remained in England until spring 1841, when they traveled to the with a group of Latter-day Saints. In May 1841 they arrived in Richmond, where Willard’s sisters and Nancy lived. Jennetta remained in Richmond while Willard continued on to Nauvoo. During the couple’s separation, Jennetta struggled to adjust to life in Richmond and expressed her concerns to Willard in letters that are no longer extant. By June 1842 the couple had been apart for over a year, and Willard made plans to undertake a short mission to the eastern United States to transact business for the , collect donations for the Nauvoo , and help his family move to Nauvoo.
Around this time asked that JS write to her, and although he had not yet met her, in his reply he addressed Jennetta as a friend and expressed his desire to meet her and offer her counsel and instruction. JS’s letter also emphasized his affection for and reliance on her . In December 1841, Willard had been appointed JS’s private secretary as well as the temple recorder. In these roles, Willard kept JS’s journal, wrote and answered much of JS’s correspondence, and recorded the many financial documents JS received as and trustee-in-trust for the church. With JS’s many ecclesiastical and municipal responsibilities, Willard Richards and other scribes, like , provided crucial assistance in running JS’s Nauvoo office.
, who had assumed ’s clerical responsibilities as Richards prepared to depart, served as JS’s scribe for this letter. Richards inscribed the address and was the intended courier. The letter bears no postal markings, as Willard carried it with him when he left on 1 July 1842 to travel to . likely received the letter around 15 July when Willard arrived in Richmond.
Footnotes
- [1]
Richards, Journal, 22 Mar. and 24 Sept. 1838; 20 Apr.–20 May 1841.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
- [2]
Richards, Journal, 20 May–2 June and 1–3 July 1841; “History of Willard Richards,” 28–29, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.
- [3]
In an early 1842 letter replying to Jennetta, Willard wrote: “My Sisters are not your enemies & I perceive by your letter you do not count them such.— I am glad to see your feelings are kind towards them. I am aware, that you & they have not understood each others feelings, & movements, & wishes.” He went on to reassure her: “I can explain many things to you when I see you.— they have meant many things for good which have appeared strange & unreasonable. all things may yet be put to rights.” (Willard Richards, [Nauvoo, IL], to Jennetta Richards Richards, [Richmond, MA], ca. Feb. 1842, Jennetta Richards Richards, Collection, CHL.)
Richards, Jennetta Richards. Collection, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [4]
- [5]
JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841; “To Whom It May Concern,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:638.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [6]
Richards, Journal, 1–16 July 1842.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
a long time can give you any information which you need and will tell you all about me. I shall be very anxious for his return he is a grate prop to me in my Labours.—
Mrs.
Massachusetts [p. [2]]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Address in handwriting of Willard Richards.