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Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 September 1841

Source Note

Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
, Letter,
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
, Philadelphia Co., PA, to JS,
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, 18 Sept. 1841; handwriting of
Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

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; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal stamps, dockets, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 9⅝ × 7⅝ inches (24 × 19 cm). The letter was trifolded twice in letter style, then sealed with a red adhesive wafer, addressed, and stamped with postmarks. The letter was later refolded for filing and docketed. There is some wear and tear along the folds, and a small hole is visible on the second leaf. The second leaf bears residue from the red adhesive wafer used to seal the letter. A pamphlet, titled An Address to the Citizens of Salem and Vicinity, was originally enclosed with the letter. This pamphlet is no longer preserved with the letter; however, a copy of it is archived in the Church History Library.
Three dockets appear on the verso of the second leaf.
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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, who served as JS’s personal scribe beginning in late 1841, inscribed a docket on the letter in its original trifolded state. A graphite notation was later added, apparently by a clerk or secretary for Andrew Jenson, who served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
1

Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–55.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

Another unidentified Church Historian’s Office staff member inscribed a graphite notation indicative of manuscript filing methods used in the Church Historian’s Office during the same period. The letter is listed in a Church Historian’s Office inventory from circa 1904.
2

“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, 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).
3

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


The dockets, notation, inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody of the letter since its receipt.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–55.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  2. [2]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, 1, 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

Having just returned to
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
from a mission in
Salem

Port city located northeast of Boston. Population in 1830 about 14,000. Population in 1840 about 15,000. JS visited city as a young boy while recovering from leg surgery to remove diseased bone. JS, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon visited city...

More Info
, Massachusetts,
Benjamin Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

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wrote a letter to JS on 18 September 1841, asking to be excused from another missionary assignment to the same place. Winchester had presided over the Philadelphia
branch

An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...

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of the
Church of Jesus Christ of 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...

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since April 1840 and had served a number of proselytizing missions in the eastern
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
, including the one to Salem, which he served with
Erastus Snow

9 Nov. 1818–27 May 1888. Farmer, teacher, merchant, publisher, manufacturer. Born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia Co., Vermont. Son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by William Snow, 3 Feb. 1833, at Charleston...

View Full Bio
from July to early September 1841.
1

Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 3–13. For more on Benjamin Winchester’s role in the Philadelphia branch, see Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 6 Apr. and 14 Dec. 1840; 6 Apr. 1841; Benjamin Winchester, Philadelphia, PA, 10 Feb. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:104; and Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

Philadelphia Branch, Record Book, 1840–1854. CCLA.

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

On 16 August 1841 a special church
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
held 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, called Winchester to serve another mission in Salem with Snow.
2

Minutes, 16 Aug. 1841.


Citing his poor health, impoverished circumstances, and confidence in Snow’s independent preaching abilities, Winchester asked in the letter featured here to be relieved from his new missionary assignment. In addition to this request, Winchester provided his observations on
apostle

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
John E. Page

25 Feb. 1799–14 Oct. 1867. Born at Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Ebenezer Page and Rachel Hill. Married first Betsey Thompson, 1831, in Huron Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Emer Harris, 18 Aug. 1833, at Brownhelm...

View Full Bio
, who had recently come to Philadelphia.
3

For more information on John E. Page and his travels, see Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841.


The letter featured here is the original sent from
Winchester

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
and received by JS 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
, likely a couple of weeks after it was mailed in
Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
on 18 September 1841.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 3–13. For more on Benjamin Winchester’s role in the Philadelphia branch, see Philadelphia Branch Record Book, 6 Apr. and 14 Dec. 1840; 6 Apr. 1841; Benjamin Winchester, Philadelphia, PA, 10 Feb. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:104; and Letter from Parley P. Pratt, 22 Nov. 1839.

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

    Philadelphia Branch, Record Book, 1840–1854. CCLA.

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

  2. [2]

    Minutes, 16 Aug. 1841.

  3. [3]

    For more information on John E. Page and his travels, see Letter from John E. Page, 1 Sept. 1841.

Page [1]

Philadelphia

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
Sept 18th 1841
Dear Brother in the Lord
Having a few leisure Moments I set myself down to write a few lines to you Although it is some time since I have written to you
1

It is unclear when Winchester last wrote JS since no other letters from Winchester to JS have been located. Some of Winchester’s letters to various individuals did, however, appear in the church’s newspaper. (See “Important Church News,” Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:109; and Benjamin Winchester, Philadelphia, PA, 10 Feb. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:104.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

yet I assure you that I have the same respect for you both in your public and private capassity that I ever had
<​*​>
2

It is not clear why this asterisk was inscribed.


I have learned from a letter from
elder [Lorenzo] Barnes

22 Mar. 1812–20 Dec. 1842. Teacher. Born in Tolland, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phineas Barnes and Abigail Smith. Moved to eastern Ohio, 1815. Moved to Norton, Medina Co., Ohio, 1816. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June...

View Full Bio
addressed to one of the brethren in this
city

Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...

More Info
that
Elder [Erastus] Snow

9 Nov. 1818–27 May 1888. Farmer, teacher, merchant, publisher, manufacturer. Born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia Co., Vermont. Son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by William Snow, 3 Feb. 1833, at Charleston...

View Full Bio
and
myself

6 Aug. 1817–25 Jan. 1901. Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker. Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek. Moved to Kirtland, ...

View Full Bio
are set apart to preach in
Salem

Port city located northeast of Boston. Population in 1830 about 14,000. Population in 1840 about 15,000. JS visited city as a young boy while recovering from leg surgery to remove diseased bone. JS, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon visited city...

More Info
Mass.
3

Lorenzo Barnes was one of the clerks at the 16 August 1841 special church conference at which Brigham Young assigned several individuals to embark on proselytizing missions. Two of the individuals named at that meeting were Benjamin Winchester and Erastus Snow, who were called to go to Salem, Massachusetts. (See Minutes, 16 Aug. 1841.)


Now when
Hyrum [Smith]

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
was here he requested me to accompany me
Br Snow

9 Nov. 1818–27 May 1888. Farmer, teacher, merchant, publisher, manufacturer. Born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia Co., Vermont. Son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by William Snow, 3 Feb. 1833, at Charleston...

View Full Bio
to that place
4

Hyrum Smith and William Law passed through Philadelphia in early July 1841, having previously traveled through Salem Massachusetts. At that time, they asked Erastus Snow and Benjamin Winchester to go to Salem and “try to establish the kingdom in that city.” (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 3.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

but did not mean which I promised to do but did not wish to be understood that [page torn]ould
5

TEXT: Possibly “that I could” or “that I would”.


remain there any great length of time I have already performed that mission and assisted
Br S[n]ow

9 Nov. 1818–27 May 1888. Farmer, teacher, merchant, publisher, manufacturer. Born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia Co., Vermont. Son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by William Snow, 3 Feb. 1833, at Charleston...

View Full Bio
in commencing the work in that
city

Port city located northeast of Boston. Population in 1830 about 14,000. Population in 1840 about 15,000. JS visited city as a young boy while recovering from leg surgery to remove diseased bone. JS, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon visited city...

More Info
6

Snow and Winchester departed Philadelphia for Salem on 14 July 1841. Winchester left Salem by 9 September to return to Philadelphia. (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 5, 13.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

We published an “Address”
7

According to Snow, after he and Winchester held a meeting at a crowded hall in Salem, they “wrote an address to the citizens of Salem and vicinity setting forth our doctrine in short inviting them out to hear us preach. It contained 8 large royal octavo pages. We got 2500 copies printed.” In addition to explaining the doctrine and beliefs of the church, the address refuted negative claims and perceptions about the church and its founder. It also featured Snow and Winchester’s testimony of the Book of Mormon and a brief history of the persecution of the Latter-day Saints in Missouri. (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 13; Snow and Winchester, Address to the Citizens of Salem, 1–8; Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:171.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

Snow, Erastus, and Benjamin Winchester. An Address to the Citizens of Salem and Vicinity. Salem, MA: Salem Observer Press, 1841.

Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

to the citizens of that
city

Port city located northeast of Boston. Population in 1830 about 14,000. Population in 1840 about 15,000. JS visited city as a young boy while recovering from leg surgery to remove diseased bone. JS, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon visited city...

More Info
a copy of which I will mail to you with this letter
8

The editor of the Times and Seasons published the Salem address in two parts: the first in the 15 October 1841 issue and the second in the 15 November 1841 issue. (Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:574–576; 15 Nov. 1841, 3:578–584.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Now if it is possible for me [p. [1]]
View entire transcript

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Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [1]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Benjamin Winchester, 18 September 1841
ID #
687
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:276–280
Handwriting on This Page
  • Benjamin Winchester

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    It is unclear when Winchester last wrote JS since no other letters from Winchester to JS have been located. Some of Winchester’s letters to various individuals did, however, appear in the church’s newspaper. (See “Important Church News,” Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:109; and Benjamin Winchester, Philadelphia, PA, 10 Feb. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:104.)

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

  2. [2]

    It is not clear why this asterisk was inscribed.

  3. [3]

    Lorenzo Barnes was one of the clerks at the 16 August 1841 special church conference at which Brigham Young assigned several individuals to embark on proselytizing missions. Two of the individuals named at that meeting were Benjamin Winchester and Erastus Snow, who were called to go to Salem, Massachusetts. (See Minutes, 16 Aug. 1841.)

  4. [4]

    Hyrum Smith and William Law passed through Philadelphia in early July 1841, having previously traveled through Salem Massachusetts. At that time, they asked Erastus Snow and Benjamin Winchester to go to Salem and “try to establish the kingdom in that city.” (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 3.)

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

  5. [5]

    TEXT: Possibly “that I could” or “that I would”.

  6. [6]

    Snow and Winchester departed Philadelphia for Salem on 14 July 1841. Winchester left Salem by 9 September to return to Philadelphia. (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 5, 13.)

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

  7. [7]

    According to Snow, after he and Winchester held a meeting at a crowded hall in Salem, they “wrote an address to the citizens of Salem and vicinity setting forth our doctrine in short inviting them out to hear us preach. It contained 8 large royal octavo pages. We got 2500 copies printed.” In addition to explaining the doctrine and beliefs of the church, the address refuted negative claims and perceptions about the church and its founder. It also featured Snow and Winchester’s testimony of the Book of Mormon and a brief history of the persecution of the Latter-day Saints in Missouri. (Snow, Journal, 1841–1847, 13; Snow and Winchester, Address to the Citizens of Salem, 1–8; Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:171.)

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

    Snow, Erastus, and Benjamin Winchester. An Address to the Citizens of Salem and Vicinity. Salem, MA: Salem Observer Press, 1841.

    Crawley, Peter. A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church. 3 vols. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997–2012.

  8. [8]

    The editor of the Times and Seasons published the Salem address in two parts: the first in the 15 October 1841 issue and the second in the 15 November 1841 issue. (Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:574–576; 15 Nov. 1841, 3:578–584.)

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

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