History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
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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; 71 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 6 August 1838 to 30 December 1839.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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permits to go to or out of the . He also proposd in writing that a committee of 12 have the privilege of going out to gather corn & transact business for the brethn, but they must wear a white badge on their hats. and have a permit fom him, and that the “Mormons” might have their mill to grind corn two days each week <Mndays & Tusdays> & the mob the remander of the week. The committee were to have the privilege of going .—He θ (appl 46) find it. army.

Shortly X (app 46, 47,) Accordingly night.

9 November 1838 • Friday

<9> Friday 9th. This morning O (app 47) off. <— arrived at this day.>

10 November 1838 • Saturday

<[David] Holman’s Permit> <10> Satuday “I permit (X Richrds Mem [Levi Richards, Memoranda Book] 18.) aid.”— The foregoing is a true specimen of — Liberty.— Gen

has <had> spent his time since our arrival at by in searching the laws to find authority for trying us by court martial. Had he not been a Lawyer of eminence I would have supposd it no very difficult task to decide that quiet, peaceful, unoffending, private <& privatee> citizens <too except as Minsters of the Gospel> were not amenable to a military tribunal in a country governd by civil laws. But be this as it may wrote the that he had “detaind X (Doc C7.) perjury.”

<Prisoners acquitted at > <11> sunday 11th. The 3 days investigation having closed at evey man was honorably acquitted by being Judge. X (Ap 46) protection.— About 30 of the brethrn have been kill[e]d, A multitude wounded, a<bout a> hundred missing, and about 60 at , awaiti[n]g their trial, for what they know not.

11 November 1838 • Sunday

<12 <11>> Sunday 11[th]. While X (T & S. 6.) painful. informd us that he would turn us over to the civil authorities for trial. <Joseph Smith Jr (<*> Doc 97) Larceny.>

12 November 1838 • Monday

<12> <Monday twelth <12>> The first act of the court was to send out a body of armed men, without a civil process to obtain witnesses.

13 November 1838 • Tuesday

<Trial ofof Joseph Smith & others.—> <12 13> Tuesday 13th. We were placed at the bar, <— p[r]esiding—and , Stat[e]s Attony [Attorney],> witnesse were calld and sworn at the point of the bayonet. Dr <O> (Ap 47 48) li life. <This introduction is sufficent to show the charater of his testimo[n]y.> We were not prepared with witnesses, # (T & S 6) confined. proper. For <&> he swore to just according to the statement he had made, doubtless thinking it a wise cause to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the mob.— The following witnesses were [p. 36]

.—He θ (appl 46) army.

Shortly X (app 46, 47,) night.

9 November 1838 • Friday

9 Friday 9th. This morning O (app 47) off. — arrived at this day.

10 November 1838 • Saturday

David Holman’s Permit 10 Satuday “I permit (X Richrds Mem [Levi Richards, Memoranda Book] 18.) aid.”— The foregoing is a true specimen of — Liberty.— Gen

had spent his time since our arrival at in searching the laws to find authority for trying us by court martial. Had he not been a Lawyer of eminence I would have supposd it no very difficult task to decide that quiet, peaceful, unoffending, & privatee citizens too except as Minsters of the Gospel were not amenable to a military tribunal in a country governd by civil laws. But be this as it may wrote the that he had “detaind X (Doc C7.) perjury.”

Prisoners acquitted at . The 3 days investigation having closed at evey man was honorably acquitted being Judge. X (Ap 46) protection.— About 30 of the brethrn have been killed, A multitude wounded, about a hundred missing, and about 60 at , awaiting their trial, for what they know not.

11 November 1838 • Sunday

11 Sunday 11[th]. While X (T & S. 6.) painful. informd us that he would turn us over to the civil authorities for trial. Joseph Smith Jr (* Doc 97) Larceny.

12 November 1838 • Monday

Monday 12 The first act of the court was to send out a body of armed men, without a civil process to obtain witnesses.

13 November 1838 • Tuesday

Trial of Joseph Smith & others.— 13 Tuesday 13th. We were placed at the bar, — presiding—and , States Attony [Attorney], witnesse were calld and sworn at the point of the bayonet. Dr O (Ap 47 48) li life. This introduction is sufficent to show the charater of his testimony. & he swore just according to the statement he had made, doubtless thinking it a wise cause to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the mob.— The following witnesses were [p. 36]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]
ID #
8472
Total Pages
74
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 111
  See 9 Nov. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 856.
2. 112
  See 10 Nov. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 856–857.
3. 113
  See 11 Nov. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, pp. 857–858.
4. 114
  See 12 Nov. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 858.
5. 115
  See 13 Nov. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. C-1, p. 858.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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