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Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 December 1839, Copy

Source Note

JS and
Elias Higbee

23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...

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, Letter,
Washington DC

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

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, to
Seymour Brunson

1 Dec. 1798–10 Aug. 1840. Farmer. Born at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York. Son of Reuben Brunson and Sally Clark. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Gould of Hector, Tompkins Co., New York, ca. 1823. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

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and Nauvoo High Council,
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

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, IL, 7 Dec. 1839; handwriting of
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

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; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes endorsement.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 December 1839

Page [1]

Washingto[n] City

Created as district for seat of U.S. federal government by act of Congress, 1790, and named Washington DC, 1791. Named in honor of George Washington. Headquarters of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of U.S. government relocated to Washington ...

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1

TEXT: “Washingto[page torn] City”.


Corner of Missouri & Third Streets
December the 7th. 1839
To
Seymour Brunson

1 Dec. 1798–10 Aug. 1840. Farmer. Born at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York. Son of Reuben Brunson and Sally Clark. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Gould of Hector, Tompkins Co., New York, ca. 1823. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

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and to the Honorable
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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of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

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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—
Your Humble Servants Joseph Smith Jun. and
Elias Higbee

23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...

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again address you for the purpose of informing you of our proceedings in relation to our business here and our prospects of success; We deem it unimportant to say any thing in re[lati]on
2

TEXT: “re[page torn]on”.


to our journey here,— of our arrival, and interview with his Excellency the
President

5 Dec. 1782–24 July 1862. Lawyer, politician, diplomat, farmer. Born in Kinderhook, Columbia Co., New York. Son of Abraham Van Buren and Maria Hoes Van Alen. Member of Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. Worked as law clerk, 1800, in New York City. Returned...

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of the
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 ...

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, as these were mentioned in a letter lately addressed to
president

An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...

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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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and the High Council but we mentioned in that letter the appointment of a meeting to be held by 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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Delegation to consult upon the best measures of getting our business before Congress. We met Yesterday, in one of the Committee Rooms of the Capitol; all the Delegation except Ex
Govenor [John] Reynolds

26 Feb. 1788–8 May 1865. Lawyer, politician. Born in Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Reynolds and Margaret Moore. Moved to Tennessee, 1788. Moved to what became Kaskaskia, Randolph Co., Illinois, 1800. Attended college and studied law in Knoxville...

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, now one of the Representatives in Congress; on account of his absence the meeting was adjourned until to day at 11 o cloc[k]
3

TEXT: “cloc[page torn]”.


however the subject was partially introduced, and [M]r
4

TEXT: “[page torn]r”.


[John] Robinson took a stand against us, so far as concerned our presenting claims to be liquidated by the
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 ...

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; we took a stand [against?] him asserting our constitutional rights; Bro Joseph maintained the ground in argument against him firmly, respectfully setting forth the injuries which we had received and the appeals which we had made to the Judiciary of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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and also to the
Governor

14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...

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and their refusals from time to time to do us Justice and also the impractability of doing any thing in the Judiciary Courts in the State of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, which tribunal Mr Robinson thought was the only propper place for our claims, but he finally said it was his first impressions on the subject not having considered the matter, but would take it into consideration.
Judge [Richard M.] Young

20 Feb. 1798–28 Nov. 1861. Attorney, judge, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Moved to Jonesboro, Union Co., Illinois Territory. Admitted to Illinois bar, 1817, in Jonesboro. Served as state representative from Union Co., 1820–1822. Married Matilda...

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of the Senate made some remarks in our favor and said he [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 December 1839, Copy
ID #
1615
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Robert B. Thompson

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: “Washingto[page torn] City”.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “re[page torn]on”.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “cloc[page torn]”.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “[page torn]r”.

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