Uncle Dale Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 There are numerous early witnesses who testified to having seen Sidney Rigdon in the Palmyra-Manchester area prior to 1830. One of these eye-witnesses was Sarah Fowler a friend of the Smith girls who lived a few miles north of them.But there is another, even less known claim to witnessing Rigdon's secretive cooperation with Joseph Smith in New York before 1830, and that was written down by J. F. Peck in 1887.Before we totally dismiss Peck as having provided an anti-LDS attack which has no historical basis, it is important to note here that Mark Ashurst-McGee relied upon his testimony (albeit through indirect means) in his 2000 documentation of Joseph Smith's early use of a divining rod.McGee quoted from a secondary source, which was also anti-LDS and which shows some signs of dishonest manipulation -- but the recollections McGee relied upon, in examining evidence for Smith's mineral rod operations was basically the same recollections communicated by J. F. Peck in 1887.I'll excerpt the relevant sections, and link to the full article:... Joe in his excursions after gold carried a "divining" rod to tell him where there was hidden treasure, and he left many holes in the ground about that region...Before long, however, a new party appeared on the scene in the person of one Sidney Rigdon, and thenceforward a new aspect was put upon the whole matter.Rigdon was one of those keen, sharp fellows... Very soon after his advent it was given out that the plates were a new revelation, and were a part of the original Bible, while Joe Smith was a true prophet of the Lord, to whom it was given to publish it among men. Rigdon, who from his first appearance was regarded as the "brains" of the movement, seemed satisfied to be the power behind the throne. Not only were pretended copies of the engraved plates exhibited, but whole chapters of what were called translations were shown: meetings were held, which were addressed by Smith and Rigdon, and an active canvass for converts was inaugurated.http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/NE/miscne03.htm#101887Sidney Rigdon is not known to have visited the Palmyra area in company with Joseph Smith until (perhaps) January of 1831. Rigdon departed New York ahead of Smith, and had arrived in Kirtland in time to greet Smith upon his eventual first-known arrival in Ohio.This sequence appears to limit any identifiable joint activities of Rigdon and Smith in the Palmyra area to a few days in January of 1831. But it is not even certain that the two men passed through Palmyra or Manchester on their respective travels to Ohio.Thus, J.F. Peck's recollections of Rigdon and Smith together holding "meetings" in the Palmyra area are elsewhere undocumented. What few meetings they did hold, while together in New York, would have been in the Waterloo area, the Colesville area, and at Canandaigua.Uncle Dale Link to comment
Gervin Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Thus, J.F. Peck's recollections ... Interesting read. A few things popped out. Other than this interview I wonder if there are - other descriptions of a translation process that includes the use of an "other deep receptacle, like a wooden grain measure"?- other accounts of Martin Harris - or others in the circle of Jos. Smith friend - describing an ability of "the faithful [who] were permitted to visit the celestial regions"?- any corroboration of a "board shanty erected in a remote field"? In other words, how well does Peck's information hold up in areas not related to Rigdon? Link to comment
Uncle Dale Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 Interesting read. A few things popped out. Other than this interview I wonder if there are - other descriptions of a translation process that includes the use of an "other deep receptacle, like a wooden grain measure"?- other accounts of Martin Harris - or others in the circle of Jos. Smith friend - describing an ability of "the faithful [who] were permitted to visit the celestial regions"?- any corroboration of a "board shanty erected in a remote field"? In other words, how well does Peck's information hold up in areas not related to Rigdon?I am still trying to locate additional information which would shed some light upon Peck's recollections.He claims to have known Lucy Mack Smith, and to have worked in the same building where the Book of Mormon was published. I think that Peck's statements place him in Palmyra in 1829-30, and perhaps as early as 1827. By 1833 he was back in West Bloomington.By inspecting the various civil and church records for Palmyra during this period, I expect that we might find at least a few mentions of Peck.If Peck met his future wife (Clarissa Miner) in conjunction with her being related to the Miner family who owned "Miner's Hill," then that connection would establish a proximity to Lucy Smith (who lived near Miner's Hill). If Peck had visited "Miner's Hill," then he might also have obtained some knowledge of "Miner's Cave," reportedly excavated by Joseph Smith. The "board shanty erected in a remote field" may have been at Miner's Hill.As for Peck knowing Martin Harris -- that is not unlikely. Also probable is Peck's recollection of Martin Harris claiming to have visited the moon.The Rigdon-at-Palmyra part of the account is what might be most disputed. Peck's version does not contain enough unique information for us to attempt its verification.For the time being, I suppose all we can do is to add Peck to the list of eye-witnesses who place Rigdon in the Palmyra area before Dec. 1830. UD Link to comment
cdowis Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 I seem to remember someone who gives an account of a visit of Rigdon to Palmyra prior to 1830, and he remembers the date because it was near his birthday. Sound familiar? Link to comment
Uncle Dale Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 I seem to remember someone who gives an account of a visit of Rigdon to Palmyra prior to 1830, and he remembers the date because it was near his birthday. Sound familiar?Yeah -- that was Saunders.There are about 5 or 6 such recollections, none of which have been independently verified.The great problem being -- that Rigdon actually did visit Palmyra and preach from the Book of Mormon at one or more meetings. However, at that time (Dec. 1830) he was in the company of Martin Harris and had not yet traveled to Waterloo to meet up with Smith.The 1831 newspaper account of Rigdon having been in Palmyra at an early date is possibly a conflation of Rigdon's known Dec. 1830 appearance there, and the earlier activities of "Walters the Magician."Until some undeniable proof of Rigdon's pre-1830 presence in the Palmyra area can be exhibited, all of the other testimony of his being there, fall into the category of "unverified."UD Link to comment
Gervin Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 I am still trying to locate additional information which would shed some light upon Peck's recollections.Peck, in the linked article, states, "I have frequently referred to its incidents, more or less fully among friends, and have often been solicited to write out my recollection of the events of that time" Are there earlier known writings, letters, or newspaper accounts by Peck? Link to comment
4truth Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 UD wrote:Rigdon actually did visit Palmyra and preach from the Book of Mormon at one or more meetings.Where did he speak? What was the most Campbell-friendly church in Palmyra? Link to comment
Uncle Dale Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 UD wrote:Where did he speak? What was the most Campbell-friendly church in Palmyra?Martin Harris contracted with a Palmyra men's club for the use of their meeting room, for one of the Rigdon discourses.Rigdon reportedly slammed the Bible and Book of Mormon together in his hands, as if to join them into a single scriptural work.What other venues Martin Harris may have arranged for Rigdon at Palmyra in Dec., 1830, remain unknown. Rigdon reportedly was also in neighboring Manchester, conferring with Hyrum Smith at that time. The local newspaper mentions a letter that Rigdon failed to pick up at the Manchster post office. --- So somebody (perhaps Rigdon's wife, back in Ohio) knew that town was one of his intended destinations in New York.Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith may have conducted one or two public meetings at Manchester, before Rigdon moved on.UD. Link to comment
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