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Letter to Thomas Ford, 11 December 1843

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Sangamon Co., IL, 11 Dec. 1843. Featured version drafted 11 Dec. 1843; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket and archival marking.
Single leaf, now measuring 7¼ × 7⅞ inches (18 × 20 cm). After drafted the letter on what was originally a larger sheet, he or another scribe inscribed another document on the bottom of the same page. The two documents were subsequently separated, though several ascenders from the second document remain visible along the bottom edge of the featured document. The letter is inscribed on the recto, and the verso is blank except for an added docket. The document was later folded for filing and docketed.
The letter was docketed likely on or near 11 December 1843 by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844. The letter may be listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) 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 and later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456. In December 1843, Bullock docketed and copied many of JS’s letters as well as municipal and legal documents so that copies could be forwarded to Illinois governor Thomas Ford. (See, for example, Affidavit from Daniel Avery, 28 Dec. 1843.)

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

  2. [2]

    Although the CHL currently houses seven letters written between Thomas Ford and JS in 1843, the earlier inventory identifies only four. (“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.)

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

  3. [3]

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

Historical Introduction

On 11 December 1843, JS wrote a letter from , Illinois, to governor in , Illinois, updating him on the latest intelligence regarding the kidnappings of and his father, , which occurred in November and December. JS had written to Ford five days earlier, enclosing an affidavit from that described the kidnappings and requesting advice on how to respond. In that letter, JS promised to “forward, as soon as they can be had all the facts relative to the case.” In the days after Chapman swore out his affidavit, rumors of possible kidnapping or extradition attempts led JS to mobilize a portion of the to defend the city and its residents. The rumors also prompted the Nauvoo City Council to pass an ordinance intended to protect JS and others from possible extradition; however, no further concrete evidence regarding the Avery kidnappings apparently came to light until 11 December, when JS forwarded another affidavit.
On 11 December, appeared before Justice of the Peace and testified that on 2 December, he heard , Illinois, resident and active member of the Anti-Mormon political party say that he was going to hunt turkeys armed with “a brace of pistols and a large hickory cane,” which Chase thought was odd. Chase saw Elliott again the next day and asked if his hunt was successful. Elliott responded that he caught “the one he was after ‘a Mormon ’” named , and took him to Clark County, Missouri. Chase claimed that Elliott later threatened that “if any Mormon makes any business with me, I will shoot him.”
Although he swore out the affidavit before , apparently did so at JS’s home sometime in the morning on 11 December, with , one of JS’s clerks, serving as scribe. One of JS’s scribes apparently copied the sworn affidavit, and Phelps drafted a cover letter on behalf of JS. JS then forwarded the copy of the affidavit and presumably a clean copy of the cover letter to the governor. Although the letter did not identify which affidavit JS was sending to the governor, ’s docket identified the document as “Letter to the Governor of Illinois with Affidavit of Sisson A Chase.” It is unclear when or how JS sent the letter, and there is no known response from . However, Chase’s affidavit served as the basis for legal action against later in December.
The letter sent to is apparently not extant, and the draft is featured here. There are no other known versions.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See “Part 5: December 1843.”

  2. [2]

    Affidavit from Dellmore Chapman and Letter to Thomas Ford, 6 Dec. 1843.

  3. [3]

    See Mayor’s Order to Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843; Requisition from Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843; Military Order to Wilson Law, 8 Dec. 1843; and Ordinance, 8 Dec. 1843.

  4. [4]

    Sisson A. Chase, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 11 Dec. 1843, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court Legal Documents, 1839–1860, BYU; see also Sisson A. Chase, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 11 Dec. 1843, in “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]; and “Meeting of Citizens at Carthage,” Warsaw (IL) Message, Extra, 17 Jan. 1844, [2].

    Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court Legal Documents, 1839–1860. Twentieth-Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts. BYU.

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

  5. [5]

    See Sisson A. Chase, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 11 Dec. 1843, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court Legal Documents, 1839–1860, BYU. In his journal, William W. Phelps reported that he heard “bro S. A. Chase’s testimony concerning Elliott Kidnapping D. Avery” in the morning at JS’s residence. (Clayton, Journal, 11 Dec. 1843.)

    Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court Legal Documents, 1839–1860. Twentieth-Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts. BYU.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  6. [6]

    See Complaint, 18 Dec. 1843; and “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2].

    Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Thomas Ford, 11 December 1843
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

, Dec. 11th. 1843.
Sir:— I herewith forward your another affidavit on the subject of the late Kidnapping. and shall continue <​the same​> as they come to hand, expecting your cordial Co-operation in the prossesses, that the laws may be magnified and made honorable, and our lives held precious, as well as our friends saved from jeopardy— and the “captives freed.”
Respectfully I have the hono[r] to be your obt. Ser[van]t
Joseph Smith
His Excy.
Gov.
Ill. [p. [1]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Thomas Ford, 11 December 1843
ID #
1224
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:358–360
Handwriting on This Page
  • William W. Phelps

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    On 30 December 1843, William W. Phelps sent Thomas Ford a third letter containing further affidavits. (William W. Phelps, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Ford, Springfield, IL, 30 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL.)

  2. [2]

    This was possibly a reference to Isaiah 61:1 or Luke 4:18.

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