The History and Antiquities of New England, New York, and New Jersey

              Barber, John Warner. The History and Antiquities of New England, New York, and
New Jersey; Embracing the following subjects, viz: discoveries and settlements—
Indian history—Indian, French, and Revolutionary Wars—Religious History—
Biographical sketches—Anecdotes, Traditions, Remarkable and unaccountable
Occurrences—with a great variety of curious and interesting relics of antiquity, 379–
81. Worcester: Dorr, Howland & Company, 1841.

THE
HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF
NEW ENGLAND,
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY;
EMBRACING THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS, VIZ:
DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS—INDIAN HISTORY—INDIAN, FRENCH, AND
REVOLUTIONARY WARS—RELIGIOUS HISTORY—BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES—
ANECDOTES, TRADITIONS, REMARKABLE AND UNACCOUNTABLE
OCCURRENCES—WITH A GREAT VARIETY OF CURIOUS AND
INTERESTING RELICS OF ANTIQUITY.
Illustrated by numerous Engravings.
—————
COLLECTED AND COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES,
BY JOHN WARNER BARBER,
MEMBER OF THE CONNECTUCUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AUTHOR OF THE CONNECTICUT,
MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW YORK HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, &C.
——————
Mormons.—Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, as born, it appears, in
Royalton, Vermont, and removed to Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., about the year
1820, at an early age, with his parents, who were in quite humble circumstances. He was
occasionally employed as laborer by persons in Palmyra, and was generally considered
by them as a lazy, lounging sort of a boy; his education and natural abilities rather below
mediocrity. Smith and his father were, according to the testimony of many respectable
persons in Palmyra, persons of doubtful character, addicted to disreputable habits, and
quite superstitious, believing in the existence of witchcraft, &c. They procured a mineral
rod and made a business of digging in various places for money. Smith says, that when
digging he has seen the pot or chest which contained the money, but was never fortunate
enough to get it into his hands. He placed a singular sort [379] of a stone in his hat, and
by the light of it, pretended to make many wonderful discoveries of gold, silver and other
treasures deposited in the earth. Smith commenced his career as the founder of the new
sect, when about the age of 18 or 19 years; he appointed a number of meetings in
Palmyra, for the purpose of declaring the divine revelations which he said were made to
him. He was not able, however, to produce any excitement in the village; hardly any
person would take the trouble to hear him speak. Smith not having the means to print his
revelations, applied to Mr. Crane of the Society of Friends, and told him that he was
moved by the spirit to call upon him for assistance. Mr. C. told him to go to work, or he
would get into the States’ Prison. Smith had better success with Martin Harris, an
industrious and thrifty farmer in Palmyra, who was worth about ten thousand dollars,
who became one of his leading disciples. By the assistance of Harris, five thousand
copies of the Mormon Bible (so called) were published at an expense of about three
thousand dollars. It is possible that Harris might have advanced this money with the
expectation of making a profitable speculation, as a great sale for the book was
anticipated. This book is a duodecimo volume, containing 590 pages, and is perhaps one
of the weakest productions ever attempted to be palmed off as a divine revelation. The
book is mostly a blind mass of words, interwoven with scriptural language and
quotations, without much of a leading plan or design. It is, in fact, just such a book as
might be expected from a person of Smith’s abilities and turn of mind. The following is a
copy of the title page: . . .
At the close of the book is “the testimony of three witnesses,” viz: Oliver
Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, in which they state unto all nations,
kindreds, tongues and people, that they have seen the plates containing the record, and
the engravings upon them, &c. On the last page is contained the testimony of eight
witnesses, of which the following is a copy. . . . [380]
Smith, in the Preface of the book, states that the plates of which have been spoken
were found “in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.” It is stated by
persons in Palmyra, that when Smith exhibited these plates to his followers, they were
done up in a canvas bag, that if they uncovered them, the Almighty would strike them
dead. It is said that no one but Smith could read what was engraved upon them; he was
enabled to do it by looking through a peculiar kind of spectacles found buried with the
plates. Soon after the publication of the Mormon Bible, one Parley B. Pratt, a resident of
Lorrain county, Ohio, happening to pass through Palmyra, on the canal, hearing of the
new religion, called on the prophet and was soon converted. Pratt was intimate with
Sidney Rigdon, a very popular preacher of the denomination called “Reformers” or
“Disciples.” About the time of the arrival of Pratt at Manchester, it appears that the
Smiths were fitting out an expedition for the Western country, under the command of
Cowdery, in order to convert the Indians or Lamanites, as they called them. In October,
1830, this mission, consisting of Cowdery, Pratt, Peterson and Whitmer, arrived at
Mentor, Ohio, the residence of Rigdon, well supplied with the new Bibles. Near this
place, in Kirkland, there were a few families belonging to Rigdon’s congregation, who
became considerably fanatical and were daily looking for some wonderful event, to take
place in the world. Seventeen of these persons readily believed in Mormonism and were
all re-immersed, in one night, by Cowdery. By the conversion of Rigdon, soon after,
Mormonism received a powerful impetus, and more than one hundred converts were
speedily added. Rigdon visited Smith at Palmyra, where he tarried about two months,
receiving revelations, preaching, &c. He then returned to Kirkland, Ohio, and was
followed a few days after by the prophet Smith and his connections. Thus from a state of
almost beggary, the family of Smith were furnished with the “fat of the land” by their
disciples, many of whom were wealthy. In 1833, the number of Mormons amounted to
1200. A Mormon temple was erected at an expense of $50,000. They also set up a bank
and commenced mercantile operations; most of them removed to Missouri, where many
outrages were perpetrated against them; they raised an armed force to “drive off the
infidels.” They were, however, obliged to leave that State. By the last accounts, they were
establishing themselves at Nauvoo, Ill.