Mormon History 1830-1844

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John Corrill (1794–1840)
Prominent leader of the church in Missouri, 1831–1838. In charge of final stages of construction of the Kirtland house of the Lord, keeper of the Lord's storehouse in Zion, Church Historian. Opposed activities of the Danites and testified against Joseph. Excommunicated 1839. Wrote an important history of the church in 1839.
 
Born September 17, 1794 in Barre, Worcester county, Massachusetts
Died 1840 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Papers, 481 citing Adams County, Illinois, Probate Records. No death date is given in Papers, 536.
Mormon missionaries In the fall of 1830, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Zebedee Coltrin, and Jacob Whitmer reach Harpersfield, Ashtabula County where John lives. He reads a few pages of the Book of Mormon, decides the book had been "published for speculation," and concludes the missionaries are impostors. Corrill history, 1.

Harrisfield: 1830 census at ¶ Ancestry.com (subscribers) indicates two boys (one under 5, one 10 –15) and two girls (one 5–10, one 10–15) living with John and his wife (Margaret), both between thirty and forty.
Tries to save Sidney from Mormons November 1830 hoping to dissuade Sidney from joining the Mormons, John plans a preaching tour with Sidney, but before John arrives, Sidney is baptized. Corrill history, 8–9.
Attends meetings Continues to Kirtland and attends several meetings:
Sacrament, Holy Ghost, prophecy, tongues one of which was [for] the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, which, I thought, would give me a good opportunity to detect their hypocrisy. The meeting lasted all night, and such a meeting I never attended before. They administered the sacrament, and laid on hands, after which I heard them prophecy and speak in tongues unknown to me. Corrill history, 9.

Source
Baptized January 10, 1831 baptized. Corrill history, 17.
Elder January [13–14], 1831 ordained an elder. Corrill history, 17.
The Law February 9, 1831 likely attends conference of twelve elders where "the Law" is revealed. Corrill history, 17.
New London church February [after the 9th] mission to New London, Huron county, Ohio, with Solomon Hancock. They "built up a church of thirty-six members in about three weeks time." Corrill history, 17.
Mission May 9, 1831 called on mission with Joseph Wakefield and Parley P. Pratt (h) to strengthen the churches. ¶ D&C 50:37
High Priesthood, bishop's counselor June [3] 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood and assistant to Bishop Edward Partridge by Lyman Wight (h) (swh). ¶ Minutes of June 3–6, 1831
Confession pleases Joseph [March 21, 1833 Joseph:] Say to Brother Corrill that his confession gave me great satisfaction, and all things are now settled on my part. Joseph to the "Brethren in Zion," Mar. 21, 1833, TS 5, no. 24 (Jan. 1, 1844): 754.
Third bishop in Zion July 2, 1833 Joseph writes W. W. Phelps and others in Zion recommending Isaac Morley be ordained second bishop in Zion, John Corrill third. Parley P. Pratt (h) and Titus Billings replace them as Bishop Partridge's counselors. John Corrill chooses Daniel Stanton and Hezekiah Peck. TS 6, no. 3 (Feb. 15, 1845): 800.
Independence branch September 11, 1833 named to preside over the fourth of ten branches organized in Independence. Minutes of September 11, 1833
Petition governor December 6, 1833 W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, and A. S. Gilbert petition the governor for assistance from the state militia in recovering their lands and homes; also that Mormons be organized in companies of Jackson Guards, and be furnished with arms by the state.
Clay county stable Winter 1833–1834 moves family into old log cabin with Edward Partridge and his family in Clay county. It had been used as stable. I remember, 16.
Burning of Mormon homes complete June 14, 1834 writes to the Star that Jackson county mob had burned remaining Mormon homes and were agitating citizens, but some leaders leaving the county. To the Star, June 14, 1834
Move to Liberty John and other leaders, including Edward Partridge, W. W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, and John Whitmer move to or near Liberty.
Kirtland endowment June 23, 1834 fifteen high priests in Missouri, including John, are called to receive their endowments "with power from on high" in Kirtland.
¶ Minutes of June 23, 1834
Complaint against Lyman Wight August 21, 1834 complains to the high council in Clay county that Lyman Wight (h) (swh) teaches all disease is of the devil, medicine is of the devil, members ought to live by faith. ¶ Minutes of August 21, 1834
Acting bishop August 15, 1835 acting bishop at solemn assembly that approves first edition of the D&C.
House of the Lord January 15, 1836 appointed to "take charge of the house of the Lord in Kirtland." Joseph's Ohio Journal in Papers 2:143.
Founds Far West 1836 becomes one of the founders of Far West, Caldwell county.
One of the wise men to sell lots April 7, 1837 "wise men" W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer, Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, and John Corrill are authorized to set the price and sell the lots of Far West. Minutes of April 7, 1837
Sell town lots May 1837 assigned to furnish bread and wine for the sacrament each Sunday. John, John Whitmer, William W. Phelps, Edward Partridge, and Isaac Morley are authorized "to sell the town plott and manage the affair of the same." Minutes of May 1837
Church agent, keep storehouse May 22, 1837 appointed "agent to the Church and Keeper of the Lord's Store House" by the high council and congregation. Minutes of May 22, 1837
Released from bishopric August 1, 1837 released as counselor to Bishop Partridge. Minutes of August 1, 1837
Committee to start stakes [October 1837 high council called by Joseph] votes that other Stakes be appointed in the regions round about. Therefore, a committee was appointed to locate the same, consisting of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Corrill, and Lyman Wight (h) (swh), who started on their mission before we left. Elders Journal 1, no. 2 (Nov. 1837): 28.
Lord's storehouse November 7, 1837 appointed "Keeper of the Lord's Storehouse" at a Far West conference. Minutes of November 7, 1837
Quasi-support for stake presidency February 5, 1838 refuses to vote against the stake presidency of Zion (David Whitmer, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps) at their trial by the high council, insisting they could be tried only by a bishop and twelve high priests (a "common council"). However, "he did not uphold them in their iniquity." Minutes of February 5–9, 1838
Motto of the church March [16–18], 1838 signs "Motto of the Church" with Joseph, Thomas B. Marsh (h), David W. Patten (h), Brigham Young, Samuel H. Smith, and George M. Hinkle.


Church historian April 6, 1838 appointed Church Historian with Elias Higbee. Minutes of April 6, 1838
"Traitor" October 1838 one of the men who meets with Colonel Lucas prior to the "betrayal" of Joseph at Far West, the others being George M. Hinkle, Reed Peck, W. W. Phelps, and John Cleminson.
History February 11, 1839 submits title page of A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called Mormons,) including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons of the author for leaving the Church. By John Corrill, a member of the Legislature of Missouri" to the clerk of the Missouri District for copyright. Corrill history, 4. Source
Excommunicated March 17, 1839 excommunicated with George M. Hinkle, Sampson Avard, W. W. Phelps, Frederick G. Williams, and Thomas B. Marsh (h).
Spouses Margaret
Four children by 1830. 1830 census at Ancestry.com

Elizabeth Penewell, md. 1839


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