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Minutes, 2 April 1833

Source Note

Minutes,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, 2 Apr. 1833. Featured version copied [between 4 and ca. 6 June 1833] in Minute Book 1, p. 19; handwriting of
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

The meeting described in these minutes was held because of a decision made ten days earlier to purchase the
Peter French

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

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farm

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents...

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, which was adjacent to lands in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, owned by
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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and
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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.
1

See Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A.


One of the most attractive features of French’s land was a brickyard, which church leaders anticipated would be key in helping expand the number of church buildings in Kirtland.
2

JS History, vol. A-1, 283.


Although the French farm was not formally purchased until 10 April 1833, at this 2 April meeting the council assigned Williams to oversee the operation of the brickyard and the leasing out of the soon-to-be-acquired farmland.
3

No records indicate that the farm was subsequently leased.


The
high priests

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

View Glossary
at this meeting also directed
Ezra Thayer

14 Oct. 1791–6 Sept. 1862. Farmer, gardener, builder. Born in New York. Married Elizabeth Frank. Lived at Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, 1820. Lived at Farmington, Ontario Co., 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley ...

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to purchase on behalf of the church a one-acre parcel of land that contained a tannery, located near the
French

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

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property. Arnold Mason owned the land on which the tannery stood; he had purchased the land from Peter French in October 1832 for one hundred dollars.
4

Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 16, pp. 409–410, 2 Oct. 1832, microfilm 20,236, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 430n12.


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

It is unclear whether Thayer or another agent of the church took immediate steps to acquire Mason’s land. While there is no record of such a transaction between Thayer and Mason, a revelation dated 23 April 1834 spoke of the tannery as a church-owned property; in reorganizing the
United Firm

An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...

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and distributing the firm’s assets to its individual members, the revelation assigned stewardship of the tannery and the land it was on to
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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.
5

Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:20].


Several days later, on 3 May 1834, Mason formally deeded the land to Rigdon for a purchase price of $450.
6

Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 18, pp. 487–488, 3 May 1834, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. Rigdon had previously worked as a tanner. The increased value of the land suggests significant improvements had been made on the property since Mason initially purchased it from French. (JS History, vol. A-1, 65.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Even though Mason controlled the title until deeding over the land, the language of the April 1834 revelation suggests that some payments on the land were likely made to Mason between 2 April 1833 and April 1834.
7

Mason was still considered the legal owner of the property for tax purposes in 1833 and early 1834. (Geauga Co., OH, Duplicate Tax Records, 1816–1850, Tax Record for 1833, p. 21, microfilm 506,577; Tax Record for 1834, p. 23, microfilm 506,578, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A.

  2. [2]

    JS History, vol. A-1, 283.

  3. [3]

    No records indicate that the farm was subsequently leased.

  4. [4]

    Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 16, pp. 409–410, 2 Oct. 1832, microfilm 20,236, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also Staker, Hearken, O Ye People, 430n12.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Staker, Mark L. Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2009.

  5. [5]

    Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:20].

  6. [6]

    Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 18, pp. 487–488, 3 May 1834, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL. Rigdon had previously worked as a tanner. The increased value of the land suggests significant improvements had been made on the property since Mason initially purchased it from French. (JS History, vol. A-1, 65.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  7. [7]

    Mason was still considered the legal owner of the property for tax purposes in 1833 and early 1834. (Geauga Co., OH, Duplicate Tax Records, 1816–1850, Tax Record for 1833, p. 21, microfilm 506,577; Tax Record for 1834, p. 23, microfilm 506,578, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Minutes, 2 April 1833
Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 19

Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
2d April 1833——
A
councel

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

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of
High Priests

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

View Glossary
assembled in the school room and appointed Bro—
Fredck [Frederick] G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
to be an
agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

View Glossary
to super[in]tend and employ some person or persons to carry on the brick yard on the
french farm

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents...

More Info
and also letting out the farm This councel also directd Broth[er]
E Thair [Ezra Thayer]

14 Oct. 1791–6 Sept. 1862. Farmer, gardener, builder. Born in New York. Married Elizabeth Frank. Lived at Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, 1820. Lived at Farmington, Ontario Co., 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley ...

View Full Bio
1

Thayer had previously been ordained as a general agent to “superintend the purchacing” of several farms in Kirtland on behalf of the church. (Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A.)


to purchace the tannery belonging to Arnold Mason in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
2

Mason’s tannery occupied part of lot 17 in Kirtland. (See illustration of Kirtland church landholdings.)


no futhe [further] business the councel closed
<​
FG Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
Clk PT. [pro tempore]​> [p. 19]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 19

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 2 April 1833
ID #
7869
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:55–56
Handwriting on This Page
  • Frederick G. Williams

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Thayer had previously been ordained as a general agent to “superintend the purchacing” of several farms in Kirtland on behalf of the church. (Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–A.)

  2. [2]

    Mason’s tannery occupied part of lot 17 in Kirtland. (See illustration of Kirtland church landholdings.)

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