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Letter to Vilate Murray Kimball, 2 March 1841

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
Vilate Murray Kimball

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
,
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, 2 Mar. 1841; 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...

View Full Bio
; one page; Helen Vilate Bourne Fleming, Collection, CHL. Includes docket.
One leaf measuring 12¼ × 7½ inches (31 × 19 cm). This document contains three horizontal and two vertical folds and has some discoloration.
The letter was docketed by
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
, who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865.
1

Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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.

The letter was in a collection of papers held by Helen Vilate Bourne Fleming, a descendant of
Heber C.

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
and
Vilate Murray Kimball

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
. The collection was passed down to Fleming’s descendant Helen Marian Fleming Petersen. Shortly after Petersen’s death in February 1988, one of her children found this letter and other items in a box in Petersen’s home. By December 1988 the materials had been donated to the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
2

See the full bibliographic entry for Helen Vilate Bourne Fleming, Collection, 1836–1963, in the CHL catalog.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    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.

  2. [2]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Helen Vilate Bourne Fleming, Collection, 1836–1963, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

Dictated by JS on 2 March 1841, this letter to
Vilate Murray Kimball

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
was written in response to her request for advice on a delicate situation involving a young woman living in the Kimball home. It is unclear what exactly transpired or who was involved. However, some contextual and circumstantial evidence suggests the young woman was Elizabeth Ravenscroft, a twenty-year-old straw-bonnet maker from Burslem, Staffordshire, England.
1

Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 14–16; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, 1820–1897, roll 44 (16 Sept. 1840–10 May 1841), Manifest 779, microfilm 2,289, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. William Clayton noted on 1 July 1840 that he “recieved a bonnet for my little Sarah from E Ravenscroft.” (Clayton, Diary, 1 July 1840.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

Ravenscroft joined 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...

View Glossary
in 1839.
2

Ravenscroft was baptized by William Clayton in Burslem on 26 July 1839. (Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 16.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

Thereafter, she proselytized all over Staffordshire and became acquainted with many church leaders, including
Theodore Turley

10 Apr. 1801–12 Aug. 1871. Mechanic, gunsmith, brewer, farmer, blacksmith, gristmill operator. Born at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Son of William Turley and Elizabeth Yates. Associated with Methodism, by 1818. Married Frances Amelia Kimberley, 26 Nov...

View Full Bio
,
George A. Smith

26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...

View Full Bio
, and
Heber C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
.
3

Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 62–63; Clayton, Diary, 21 Mar. 1840; 18 and 23 Apr. 1840; Needham, Autobiography and Journal, 15–16; Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Aug. 1840, Heber C. Kimball, Letters, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

Needham, John. Autobiography and Journal, 1840–1842. CHL.

Kimball, Heber C. Letters, 1839–1854. Photocopy. CHL.

Because of her proselytizing efforts, Ravenscroft became known among some church members as “a Woman of God.”
4

Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 21.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

On 8 September 1840, she departed
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
with Turley and approximately two hundred other British Saints on the ship North America, bound for 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 ...

More Info
.
5

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, 1820–1897, roll 44 (16 Sept. 1840–10 May 1841), Manifest 779, microfilm 2,289, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; John Taylor, Liverpool, England, to Leonora Cannon Taylor, Nauvoo, IL, 6 Sept. 1840, John Taylor, Collection, CHL; Clayton, Diary, 8 Sept. 1840.


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

After an arduous journey across the Atlantic and the eastern United States, Ravenscroft, Turley, and approximately one hundred British Saints arrived 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, on 24 November 1840.
6

The remainder of the British group stopped in Kirtland, Ohio. (See Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840; see also Editorial, Times and Seasons, 1 Dec. 1840, 2:233; and Orson Pratt, Edinburgh, Scotland, to George A. Smith, Burslem, England, 1 Feb. 1841, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

Shortly after the British Saints arrived 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
,
Vilate Kimball

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
wrote to her husband,
apostle

A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical and priesthood office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder...

View Glossary
Heber C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
, who was still in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
. She reported that several of the English sisters had visited her home and that Ravenscroft was living with her and would continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
7

Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, to Heber C. Kimball, Leek, England, 8 Dec. 1840, photocopy, Vilate Murray Kimball, Letters, CHL. Heber previously wrote to Vilate, “Thare is one sister I Expect will go in the company with Elder Turly if she does she will come to see you her name is Elisebeth Ravencroft she is a fine sister Receive hur into your hous she can tell you much about me.” (Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Aug. 1840, Heber C. Kimball, Letters, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Kimball, Vilate Murray. Letters, 1840. Photocopy. CHL.

Kimball, Heber C. Letters, 1839–1854. Photocopy. CHL.

“I tell her she may stay until she can get a better home,” Vilate declared, but “she thinks that will not be soon. she says she expects I will be for turning her away when you come home, but she will not go.” Finally, Vilate assessed Ravenscroft’s character, noting, “She is a fine girl, we take much comfort togather. she says she is quite contented, and happy.”
8

Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, to Heber C. Kimball, Leek, England, 8 Dec. 1840, photocopy, Vilate Murray Kimball, Letters, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Kimball, Vilate Murray. Letters, 1840. Photocopy. CHL.

In his reply, Heber wrote, “I am glad Elisabeth is with you I hope she will be a good girl and stay with you till I come home.”
9

Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 27–29 Jan. 1841, Heber C. Kimball Collection, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.

Although Ravenscroft is not named in the letter featured here, she is the only woman known to have resided with Vilate and her family in the months before the letter was written.
The “stir in the Church” referenced by JS in his letter to
Vilate

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
, and which presumably involved Ravenscroft, is much less clear. One possibility may be connected to charges brought before 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
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...

View Glossary
against
Theodore Turley

10 Apr. 1801–12 Aug. 1871. Mechanic, gunsmith, brewer, farmer, blacksmith, gristmill operator. Born at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Son of William Turley and Elizabeth Yates. Associated with Methodism, by 1818. Married Frances Amelia Kimberley, 26 Nov...

View Full Bio
in late January 1841.
10

William Niswanger et al., Charges against Theodore Turley, 26 Jan. 1841, Nauvoo High Council Papers, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo High Council Papers, 1839–1844. CHL. LR 3102 23.

Several of the Saints who were on the ship North America with Ravenscroft charged Turley with “unchristian conduct while on the sea.” This was for “romping and kissing the females and dancing,”
11

Though Turley was charged with this impropriety, Turley also attempted, according to William Clayton, to police fraternization between the sailors and the Latter-day Saint women. Clayton wrote that Turley spoke “much concerning the sisters keeping themselves from the sailors.” (Clayton, Diary, 29 Sept. 1840.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

for “sleeping with two females coming up the Lakes and on the road to
Dixon

Post village in northwestern Illinois, located on Rock River. Area settled and ferry established, spring 1828. Post office established, 1829. John Dixon settled in area with family, 11 Apr. 1830, and purchased ferry. Fort built in area during Black Hawk War...

More Info
s ferry,”
12

The toilsome journey from New York City to Nauvoo required unusual sleeping arrangements. William Clayton later commented on some of the immigrants’ accommodations on the road from Chicago to Dixon: “At Dixon we engaged a empty house to sleep in. There was no fire place in the house consequently we had to cook out of doors. The weather was cold, but in other respects favourable. About 70 besides children slept in the same house. At this place as well as all along the way from Chicago the natives manifested a great desire for our young women to remain with them. And at Dixon the whole company was desired to tarry and settle with them.” These unconventional sleeping arrangements as well as the mild disciplinary action taken against Turley make it difficult to determine the extent of Turley’s impropriety. (William Clayton, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Martin, Preston, England, 29 Nov. 1840, Nauvoo Restoration, Incorporated, Collection, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo Restoration, Incorporated. Collection, 1818–2001. CHL. MS 9622.

and for two other incidents that occurred during the journey from
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
.
13

William Niswanger et al., Charges against Theodore Turley, 26 Jan. 1841, Nauvoo High Council Papers, CHL; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo High Council Papers, 1839–1844. CHL. LR 3102 23.

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Turley’s case was heard before the high council on 6 February 1841. The high council affirmed “the President’s decision” about Turley’s case: that Turley, “in order to retain his fellowship, should acknowledge, both before the Council, and also, to a publick congregation, that he had acted unwisely, unjustly, imprudently, and unbecoming, and that he had set a bad example before his brethren and sisters as he was coming over from Europe.”
14

It is not clear if the “President” referred to here is Nauvoo stake president William Marks or JS, the president of the church, in whose office the council met. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Turley then made a confession “to the satisfaction of the Council, and stated that he would rejoice in the opportunity of making the like confession before the publick.”
15

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Commenting on the British Saints and
Turley

10 Apr. 1801–12 Aug. 1871. Mechanic, gunsmith, brewer, farmer, blacksmith, gristmill operator. Born at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Son of William Turley and Elizabeth Yates. Associated with Methodism, by 1818. Married Frances Amelia Kimberley, 26 Nov...

View Full Bio
in a letter to her husband,
Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

View Full Bio
, Mary Ann Angell Young stated: “I must truly say my heart has been pained with the example some here set Before the world while journeying from
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

More Info
. I feel to disaprove of the fermilaryties that some are in faviour of in that country. . . . Br Turley was very poor when he came home and his appearance on the jorney from England was very disgusting to many respectable people. He Repented and came back into the Church again.”
16

Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

It is possible that Elizabeth Ravenscroft was identified as one of the women with whom Turley was acting imprudently. If that was the case,
Vilate Kimball

1 June 1806–22 Oct. 1867. Born in Florida, Montgomery Co., New York. Daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, by 1810. Moved to Victor, Ontario Co., by 1820. Married Heber Chase Kimball, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon...

View Full Bio
may have been seeking advice from JS as to the propriety of continuing to house Ravenscroft.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 14–16; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, 1820–1897, roll 44 (16 Sept. 1840–10 May 1841), Manifest 779, microfilm 2,289, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. William Clayton noted on 1 July 1840 that he “recieved a bonnet for my little Sarah from E Ravenscroft.” (Clayton, Diary, 1 July 1840.)

    Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

  2. [2]

    Ravenscroft was baptized by William Clayton in Burslem on 26 July 1839. (Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 16.)

    Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 62–63; Clayton, Diary, 21 Mar. 1840; 18 and 23 Apr. 1840; Needham, Autobiography and Journal, 15–16; Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Aug. 1840, Heber C. Kimball, Letters, CHL.

    Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

    Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

    Needham, John. Autobiography and Journal, 1840–1842. CHL.

    Kimball, Heber C. Letters, 1839–1854. Photocopy. CHL.

  4. [4]

    Cordon, Reminiscences and Journal, 1839–1840, 21.

    Cordon, Alfred. Reminiscences and Journals, 1839–1850, 1868. CHL.

  5. [5]

    Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, 1820–1897, roll 44 (16 Sept. 1840–10 May 1841), Manifest 779, microfilm 2,289, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; John Taylor, Liverpool, England, to Leonora Cannon Taylor, Nauvoo, IL, 6 Sept. 1840, John Taylor, Collection, CHL; Clayton, Diary, 8 Sept. 1840.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

  6. [6]

    The remainder of the British group stopped in Kirtland, Ohio. (See Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840; see also Editorial, Times and Seasons, 1 Dec. 1840, 2:233; and Orson Pratt, Edinburgh, Scotland, to George A. Smith, Burslem, England, 1 Feb. 1841, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.)

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

    Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.

  7. [7]

    Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, to Heber C. Kimball, Leek, England, 8 Dec. 1840, photocopy, Vilate Murray Kimball, Letters, CHL. Heber previously wrote to Vilate, “Thare is one sister I Expect will go in the company with Elder Turly if she does she will come to see you her name is Elisebeth Ravencroft she is a fine sister Receive hur into your hous she can tell you much about me.” (Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Aug. 1840, Heber C. Kimball, Letters, CHL.)

    Kimball, Vilate Murray. Letters, 1840. Photocopy. CHL.

    Kimball, Heber C. Letters, 1839–1854. Photocopy. CHL.

  8. [8]

    Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, to Heber C. Kimball, Leek, England, 8 Dec. 1840, photocopy, Vilate Murray Kimball, Letters, CHL.

    Kimball, Vilate Murray. Letters, 1840. Photocopy. CHL.

  9. [9]

    Heber C. Kimball, London, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 27–29 Jan. 1841, Heber C. Kimball Collection, CHL.

    Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.

  10. [10]

    William Niswanger et al., Charges against Theodore Turley, 26 Jan. 1841, Nauvoo High Council Papers, CHL.

    Nauvoo High Council Papers, 1839–1844. CHL. LR 3102 23.

  11. [11]

    Though Turley was charged with this impropriety, Turley also attempted, according to William Clayton, to police fraternization between the sailors and the Latter-day Saint women. Clayton wrote that Turley spoke “much concerning the sisters keeping themselves from the sailors.” (Clayton, Diary, 29 Sept. 1840.)

    Clayton, William. Diary, Vol. 1, 1840–1842. BYU.

  12. [12]

    The toilsome journey from New York City to Nauvoo required unusual sleeping arrangements. William Clayton later commented on some of the immigrants’ accommodations on the road from Chicago to Dixon: “At Dixon we engaged a empty house to sleep in. There was no fire place in the house consequently we had to cook out of doors. The weather was cold, but in other respects favourable. About 70 besides children slept in the same house. At this place as well as all along the way from Chicago the natives manifested a great desire for our young women to remain with them. And at Dixon the whole company was desired to tarry and settle with them.” These unconventional sleeping arrangements as well as the mild disciplinary action taken against Turley make it difficult to determine the extent of Turley’s impropriety. (William Clayton, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Martin, Preston, England, 29 Nov. 1840, Nauvoo Restoration, Incorporated, Collection, CHL.)

    Nauvoo Restoration, Incorporated. Collection, 1818–2001. CHL. MS 9622.

  13. [13]

    William Niswanger et al., Charges against Theodore Turley, 26 Jan. 1841, Nauvoo High Council Papers, CHL; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.

    Nauvoo High Council Papers, 1839–1844. CHL. LR 3102 23.

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

  14. [14]

    It is not clear if the “President” referred to here is Nauvoo stake president William Marks or JS, the president of the church, in whose office the council met. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.)

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

  15. [15]

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 6 Feb. 1841.

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

  16. [16]

    Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.

    Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

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Editorial Title
Letter to Vilate Murray Kimball, 2 March 1841
ID #
1503
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:58–62
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