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Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 October 1841

Source Note

, Letter, , Chester Co., PA, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 27 Oct. 1841; handwriting of ; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal stamp, postal notation, docket, and endorsement.
Bifolium measuring 10 × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The document was trifolded twice in letter style with four horizontal and two vertical folds and then sealed with a red adhesive wafer, addressed, and stamped. The second leaf was torn, likely when the letter was opened. Residue from the adhesive wafer remains on the verso of the second leaf. There is also separation along the folds of the second leaf.
A docket and an endorsement were inscribed on the third page by , who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854. The letter is listed in a Church Historian’s Office inventory from circa 1904. By 1973 it had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The docket, inventory, and inclusion in the JS Collection indicate the letter has remained in institutional custody since its receipt.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

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

Historical Introduction

On 27 October 1841, , a businessman from eastern , wrote to JS in , Illinois, regarding various financial matters. Hunter appears to have been in Nauvoo during the summer of 1841, when he initiated several land purchases there and received a power of attorney from Nauvoo resident Margaret Smith, who had previously lived in . The power of attorney authorized Hunter to collect money from Margaret Smith’s cousin , whom she had left in charge of her properties and finances in Philadelphia. The settlement of Margaret Smith’s affairs was impeded, however, when Guest refused to recognize Hunter’s authority because his power of attorney lacked the proper government certification. Hunter also apparently received direction from JS in summer 1841 to obtain goods from eastern Pennsylvania and transport them to Nauvoo. The letter featured here offered JS information about the goods Hunter had obtained and about their transit to Illinois. Hunter also used the letter to update JS on his efforts to recover money for Margaret Smith and to request JS’s aid and advice on land transactions and business ventures in Nauvoo.
sent the letter via the post office, where it was postmarked on 29 October. The letter likely arrived in by 15 December 1841, when a second power of attorney from Margaret Smith was written and sent through government channels for proper approval. JS responded to Hunter’s letter on 21 December.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Edward Hunter, Bond, Nauvoo, IL, to Margaret Smith, 25 Sept. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, CHL; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, West Nantmeal, PA, 21 Dec. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

  2. [2]

    Margaret Smith to Edward Hunter, Power of Attorney, Nauvoo, IL, 15 Dec. 1841, copy, Edward Hunter, Collection, CHL; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, West Nantmeal, PA, 21 Dec. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

Page [2]

we were a little longer geting the goods than I expected, in consequence of borrowing the money, but have settled a correspondane [correspondence] in which I think will be beneficial if we make our payments punctual they appear to be Honest Men,— Pleas to tell Margaret Smith that I called on last evening & he appeared more willing to pay & said he was pleased with the words of the power, she gave me & he would pay part of it soon & the remainder as soon as he could with propriety Collect it all the objection was that it had not the Great seal of the State & san[c]tioned by the Judges of the Court will explain it, is in , going out <​to ​> tomorrow they have considerable of merchandize with them
If there is any enough to discharge Dr s Note that is due in the spring that he holds againstt me after you & & 1st pay[m]ent, pay him, ☞ or if you see proper to expend it in finishing my hous & I will pay in the Spring when it is due Pleas to Write to me soon I shall be well pleasd to have your opinion on those subjects I am in good health & my family & hope you & all around are well
Yours Sincerely—
Mr Joseph Smith [p. [2]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 October 1841
ID #
703
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:330–334
Handwriting on This Page
  • Edward Hunter

Footnotes

  1. [12]

    Margaret Smith had not heard about Hunter’s endeavors by 12 November 1841, when she wrote him a letter expressing that she was “very anxious to know how they act with you about paying in the money at the present time and whither there is or will be difficulty.” By 21 December, JS had informed Margaret Smith of the difficulties Hunter had encountered in enacting the power of attorney. (Margaret Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, Chester Co., PA, 12 Nov. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, CHL; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, West Nantmeal, PA, 21 Dec. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.)

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

  2. [13]

    A second power of attorney from Margaret Smith to Hunter was created on 15 December 1841 and, according to JS, was “executed & sent up to the Clerks office for the Seat of State. & will be forwarded direct from there, it is now on the way most probably.” (Margaret Smith to Edward Hunter, Power of Attorney, Nauvoo, IL, 15 Dec. 1841, copy, Edward Hunter, Collection, CHL; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, West Nantmeal, PA, 21 Dec. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.)

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

  3. [14]

    James Ivins appears to have been serving as an agent for the church in the eastern United States at this time. (See Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 13 Sept. 1841.)

  4. [15]

    Hunter purchased land from Foster on 18 September 1841. On 25 September 1841, Chauncey Robison, recorder in Hancock County, received a deed for Hunter from Foster for “the South East Quarter of Section No Three in Township No Six North Range No Eight west.” The details of payment are not known. (Chauncey Robison, Recorder’s Certificate, Hancock Co., IL, 25 Sept. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, CHL.)

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

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