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Letter to Thomas Ford, circa 20 September 1843

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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, to
Thomas Ford

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

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, [
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, ca. 20 Sept. 1843. Featured version inscribed ca. 20 Sept. 1843; handwriting of
William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

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; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes archival markings.
Single leaf measuring 10½ × 7⅞ inches (27 × 20 cm). The left side of the recto is uneven, suggesting that the leaf was likely torn from a bifolium or book. The letter was inscribed on the recto and verso of the leaf. The document was later folded for storage.
The letter may be one of three letters to
Ford

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904.
1

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


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
2

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


The document’s possible listing in a circa 1904 inventory and its later inclusion in the JS Collection suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Although the CHL currently houses seven letters in the 1843 correspondence between Thomas Ford and JS, the earlier inventory only identifies 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.

  2. [2]

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

Historical Introduction

On or about 20 September 1843, JS replied to a letter from
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...

More Info
governor
Thomas Ford

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
with news regarding threats to the
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...

View Glossary
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. Responding to JS’s earlier concerns regarding a possible invasion of Illinois by Missourians seeking to arrest JS and destroy Nauvoo, Ford had reassured JS that he intended to prevent any invasion of the state but also stated that he believed there was little danger of any outright hostilities.
1

Letter to Thomas Ford, 21 Aug. 1843; Letter from Thomas Ford, 13 Sept. 1843.


However, conditions 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, had deteriorated and JS now feared that the county’s politically active Anti-Mormon Party might conspire with Missourians to seek his arrest.
Anti-Mormon Party members were outraged at the failure to extradite JS to
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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in late June and the outcome of the congressional and county elections held in early August.
2

Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; JS, Journal, 12 Aug. 1843.


In response, they held a public meeting in
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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, Illinois, on 19 August. After a series of speeches, the group appointed six men to draft resolutions expressing its will, which were publicly read and adopted at a second meeting on 7 September. The preamble and resolutions accused JS and his followers of “entertaining the most absolute contempt for the laws of man” and cited JS’s recent evasion of extradition as the chief example of this contempt. The resolutions bemoaned “mock laws” in Nauvoo that the group believed prosecuted dissenters and shielded criminals. While they claimed that they would ordinarily condemn “anything like lawless violence, without justifiable cause,” the Anti-Mormon Party members swore that if they failed to “obtain speedy redress from the laws of the land,” they would “take summary and signal vengeance upon them [the Latter-day Saints] as a people.” The resolutions were published in the 13 September issue of the Warsaw Message.
3

“Great Meeting of Anti-Mormons!,” Warsaw (IL) Message, 13 Sept. 1843, [1]–[2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

JS received
Ford

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

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’s letter on 18 September, a few days after news of the public meeting in
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

More Info
reached
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
.
4

JS, Journal, 15 Sept. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Sept. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The next day, JS gave the letter to his scribe
William W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
to draft a response.
5

JS, Journal, 19 Sept. 1843.


The resulting letter condemned the Anti-Mormon Party’s resolutions and denied their accusations. The letter also stated JS’s belief that all true citizens would oppose this “mobocratic insurrection” and affirmed that JS and the Saints were law-abiding people who supported Ford.
There is some confusion regarding when
Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
wrote JS’s response. JS’s 19 September journal entry, recorded by his private secretary,
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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, states that JS gave
Ford

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
’s letter to Phelps, who “answe[re]d it dated 20,” which could imply that the letter was completed that day but dated forward to 20 September. However, Richards likely wrote this entry sometime after the fact and may have been merely noting that the letter was completed on 20 September.
6

At this point in the journal, several entries are misdated, suggesting that Richards may not have written these entries contemporaneously. (See JS, Journal, 21–24 Sept. 1843.)


Phelps appears to have dated the featured version 21 September before correcting it to 20 September. Given these apparent discrepancies, the letter has been assigned a circa date.
While a fair copy of the letter was presumably sent, it is apparently not extant.
Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
’s retained copy is featured here. There is no known response.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to Thomas Ford, 21 Aug. 1843; Letter from Thomas Ford, 13 Sept. 1843.

  2. [2]

    Historical Introduction to Discourse, 6 Aug. 1843; JS, Journal, 12 Aug. 1843.

  3. [3]

    “Great Meeting of Anti-Mormons!,” Warsaw (IL) Message, 13 Sept. 1843, [1]–[2].

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 15 Sept. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 18 Sept. 1843.

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

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 19 Sept. 1843.

  6. [6]

    At this point in the journal, several entries are misdated, suggesting that Richards may not have written these entries contemporaneously. (See JS, Journal, 21–24 Sept. 1843.)

Page [1]

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
, Sept 21 <​20​>, 1843,
Dear Sir:— your favor of this the 13th instant, is at hand:
1

Letter from Thomas Ford, 13 Sept. 1843.


and for the courtesy, and honorable intended expression there in contained, your
excellency

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
has my best wishes, as well as my most grateful acknowledgements.
To show your
excellency

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

View Full Bio
to what an unjustifiable pitch, disappointed ambition, malignance, and ungoverned persecution, may be carried, I have thought it advisable to forward to you, a paper containing the “Carthagenian Resolves.” The mind sickens at the picture! The patriot, the lover of his country, and his country’s friends, like the honored sires who won the freedom we enjoy, will stand against such heathen invasion and mobocratic insurrection,
2

While most of the resolutions promised only vague support in the event of hostilities, the assembled men agreed to write to the governor of Missouri and encourage him to make a new extradition request for JS, pledging that they would personally enforce such an order “at all hazards, and under all circumstances.” (“Great Meeting of Anti-Mormons!,” Warsaw [IL] Message, 13 Sept. 1843, [1]–[2].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

like a Rock of Adamant for his God, his country, and his rights! [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Thomas Ford, circa 20 September 1843
ID #
1584
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:115–117
Handwriting on This Page
  • William W. Phelps

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Thomas Ford, 13 Sept. 1843.

  2. [2]

    While most of the resolutions promised only vague support in the event of hostilities, the assembled men agreed to write to the governor of Missouri and encourage him to make a new extradition request for JS, pledging that they would personally enforce such an order “at all hazards, and under all circumstances.” (“Great Meeting of Anti-Mormons!,” Warsaw [IL] Message, 13 Sept. 1843, [1]–[2].)

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

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