| Joseph's scribe, counselor in the First Presidency,
physician. |
| Born |
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Frederick Granger Williams, October 28, 1787, in Suffield,
Hartford Co., Connecticut, the oldest of five children. |
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¶ Ancestry.com (subscribers) |
| Died |
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October 10, 1842 in Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois |
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¶ Ancestry.com |
| Father |
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William Wheeler Williams |
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| Mother |
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Ruth Granger |
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| Hiram |
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1799 W. W. Williams builds what is reported as
the first cabin and make a clearing in what becomes Hiram, Trumbull (Portage)
County, but soon moves to Cuyahoga County. |
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Portage history, 469.
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| Cleveland
sawmill |
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Summer and fall 1799 W. W. Williams and Major
Wyatt build the first sawmill in Cuyahoga County on the falls of
Mill Creek, at Newburg village (Broadway near Warner Road in Cleveland),
for which they each receive a hundred acres from the Connecticut Land Company. |
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History of Cuyahoga, 46. F. G. Williams,
243.
In 1795 the Connecticut Land Company investors purchased 3.3 million
acres known as the Western Reserve in what became northeastern Ohio,
from Connecticut. They surveyed the land, initiated infrastructure
projects, and sold off parcels as townships. Moses Cleaveland was one
of the investors. |
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1800 W. W. Williams and Major
Wyatt build the county's first gristmill, next to the sawmill. William
receives option to purchase 1,306 acres at a discount. |
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| Father
township trustee |
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1802 in Cleveland's first election,
William Wheeler Williams is elected one three trustees and one of two "overseers
of the poor."
In the same year, he sells the mill property, probably including
the mill. |
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History of Cuyahoga, 46. F. G. Williams,
243n2; |
| Frederick's land |
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April 30, 1810 purchases 161 acres from his father in
Cleveland township, later Warrensville Township,
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. |
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F. G. Williams, 244n5. Source AFN
181103110002. Recorded Mar. 11, 1811. Book 1:46. |
| Commodore
Perry |
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1813 pilots Commodore Perry around the Upper Lakes
Region as the Americans wrest control of the area from the British. |
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F. G. Williams, 244. |
| Marries
Rebecca Swain |
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1815 marries Rebecca Swain of Youngstown, New York, settle
near Warrensville. Frederick starts farming, studies botanical and regular
medicine. |
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F. G. Williams, 244–245. |
| Brother's land sale |
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September 6, 1817 Frederick and Rebecca;
his brother and sister-in-law, W. W. and Nancy Williams Jr.; Amos and
Polly Cahoon (all of Cuyahoga County), and Elijah and Martha Peets of Portage
county sell the 80-square-rod lot owned by their deceased
brother, Joseph, to Noble Bates for $10. The property is described as
running from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River to Jedediah Rubbell's mill. |
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Source AFN 181801060001. Recorded
Jan. 6, 1818. Book 2:563. |
| Warrensville clerk |
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1818, 1819, 1822 serves two terms as clerk of Warrensville
Township. |
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History of Cuyahoga. 530. |
| Living in Chardon |
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October 23, 1828 Frederick and Rebecca, living in Chardon, Geauga county,
sell Dewey B. Cook half an acre of land in Warrensville township, Cuyahoga
county for $20. |
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Source AFN 182811050003. Recorded Nov. 5, 1828. Book
7:443. |
| Baptized, ordained |
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November 1830 Rebecca is converted by Oliver
Cowdery, Parley
P. Pratt (h), Ziba
Peterson, and Peter Whitmer Jr. Frederick continues
to study the Book of Mormon, overcomes skepticism, is baptized and ordained
an elder the same day in November. |
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F. G. Williams, 245–246. |
| Joins missionaries |
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November 1830 agrees to accompany the missionaries for three
weeks on their journey to Missouri; provides horse, cash, other provisions.
In Cleveland, his parents decline baptism. |
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F. G. Williams, 246. |
| Wyandotte nation |
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November 1830 missionaries preach to Wyandotte nation in Sandusky
(Frederick had been there with Perry pursuing British and Tecumseh's Indian
forces during the war). |
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F. G. Williams, 246. |
| Independence |
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August 9, 1831 departs Independence for Kirtland with Joseph and other
elders in canoes. |
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D&C 61 Introduction |
Keep farm
Kirtland for 5 years |
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September 11, 1831 "I will not that my servant Frederick
G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a
strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the
which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some."
The farm will eventually be used for the printing house, House of the Lord, homes for Joseph,
Hyrum, Sidney, and others. |
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¶ D&C
64:21; F. G. Williams, 247. |
| Home for family |
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October 10, 1831 the church is to provide a comfortable house for Frederick's
family. |
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Minutes of
October 10, 1831 |
| High Priesthood |
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October 25, 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Oliver
Cowdery. |
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¶ Minutes of October 25–26,
1831 |
| Sells Warrensville land |
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April 7, 1832 sells 141 acres in Warrensville township,
Cuyahoga County to Isaac Moore of Warrensville for $1500. |
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Cuyahoga
County land records. Deed recorded Nov. 14, 1833. Book 13:89–90. Source AFN
183310090001 Recorded Nov. 14, 1833. |
| Scribe |
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July 20, 1832 begins work as scribe for Joseph Smith. |
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Statement of facts
relative to J. Smith & myself. Undated. Microfilm of holograph. Frederick
G. Williams collection, MS 782, fd. 2, Church Archives. |
| Revelation book |
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August 29, 1832 ends his work copying revelations into the
Kirtland Revelations Book. |
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| Prophesies |
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[November 29, 1832, Joseph Smith:] this Evening Brother Frederic
Prophecyed that next spring I should go to the city of PittsBurg to
establish a Bishopwrick and within one year I should go to the City
of New York the Lord spare the
life of they servent Amen |
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Diary-1 in Papers,
4; JS personal, rev. ed., 21–22. |
| Joseph's counselor |
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[January 6, 1833 unpublished revelation:] Behold I Say unto you my Servant Frederick Listen to the word of Jesus Christ your Lord and your Redeemer thou hast desired of me to Know which would be the most worth unto you, behold blessed art tho[u] for this thing. now I say unto you my Servant Joseph is called to do a great work and hath need that he may do the work of translation for the Salvation of Souls. Verily verily I Say unto you thou art called to be a Councillor & Scribe unto my Servant Joseph Let thy farm be consecrated for bringing forth of the revelations and thou Shalt be blessed and lifted up at the Last day even so Amen |
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Frederick G. Williams collection,
MS 782, fd. 2, Church Archives // JS revelations, 231. |
| United Firm scribe |
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January 9, 1833 hired to serve as assistant scribe for United Firm at
$300/year. |
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Minutes of January 9, 1833 |
| United Firm member |
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March 15, 1833 Frederick is to be received into the United Firm. "…
thou shalt be a lively member in this firm and inasmuch as you are faithful
in keeping all former commandments you shall be blessed forever. Amen." |
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D&C 92 |
| Ordained counselor, president |
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March 18, 1833 Joseph ordains Sidney and Frederick "to be equal with
him in holding the keys of the Kingdom and also the Presidency of the High
Priesthood." |
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Minutes of March
18, 1833 |
| Manage French farm |
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April 2, 1833 Kirtland council appoints Frederick to manage the French
farm purchased March 23—hire men to work the brickyard and lease the
rest of the property. |
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Minutes of
April 2, 1833 |
| Joseph's tribute |
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[November 19, 1833 Joseph writes in his journal:]
Brother Frederick is a man who <is one of those men> in whom I place
the greatest confidence and trust for I have found him ever full of love
and Brotherly kindness he is not a man of many words but is ever wining
because of his constant mind he shall ever have place in my heart and is
ever intitled to my confiden<ce> [*] He is perfectly honest and upright,
and seeks with all his heart to magnify his presidency in the church of
ch[r]ist, but fails in many instances, in consequence of a lack <want>
of confidence in himself: God grant that he may overcome all evil: Blessed
be brother Frederick, for he shall never want a friend; and his generation
after him shall flourish. The Lord hath appointed him an inheritance upon
the land of Zion. Yea, and his head shall blossom. <And he shall be>
as an olive branch that is bowed down with fruit: even so; Amen. |
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Diary-1 in Papers, 12–13.
[*] Hand writing changes to that of Oliver Cowdery. Two pages later, Frederick's
hand appears for the first time in the journal. |
| Keeps Joseph's journal |
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November [19–25], 1833 begins keeping Joseph's journal. |
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| Deeds farm |
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1834 deeds 142+ of his 144 acres in Geauga county to
Joseph for $2200
>. |
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Deed cited in F. G. Williams, 247. |
| Prays for deliverance |
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April 7, 1834 prays with Joseph, Oliver Cowdery, Heber
C. Kimball, and Newel K. Whitney for
means to deliver the firm from debt and Joseph from the prosecution of Doctor
Hurlbut. |
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| Gets home, printing office |
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April 23, 1834 receives the place where he currently lives and, with Oliver,
the printing office and its contents. |
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¶
D&C 104:27, 29 |
| Zion's Camp |
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May–June 1834 Zion's Camp |
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Note to wife at end of ¶ Joseph
Smith to Emma, June 6, 1834. |
| Discharge |
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July 1, 1834 discharged as "council to the commander in Chief of
the Army of the Lord's house, & also the duties of quartermaster &
many others to which he was appointed … his garments are cl[e]ar of
the blood of all with whom he has associated in this region, & he has
important duties to do in the East … " Signed by Lyman Wight
and Sylvester Smith. |
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Copy in the hand of Frederick G. Williams
[Jr.], Frederick G. Williams collection, LDS Church Archives, MS 782. |
| Scripture committee |
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September 24, 1834 selected as member of committee "to arrange the
items of the doctrine" for the church with Joseph, Oliver, and Sidney.
This becomes the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. |
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Minutes of September
24, 1834 |
| Northern Times |
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[June 12, 1835] Important. — We learn by the Warren
News Letter that O. Cowdery has withdrawn from the editorial department
of the Northern Times, a Mormon Van Buren paper published in this county,
and that F. G. Williams will henceforth act as editor of that invaluable
journal. It is thought that the cause of Democracy will not be endangered
by this change, as the new encumbant, if he has not, like his predecessor,
seen an angel, and "hefted" the golden plates, is at least a faithful
follower of the Prophet, by whose inspiration the paper will doubtless still
be guided in its political course. |
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Painesville Telegraph Source
The transfer occurred in mid-May. Crawley bibiography, 47; HC 2:27. |
| Payment for clerical work |
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September 14, 1835 a "High Council of the Presidency"
decides that "the laborer is worthy of his hire." Joseph Sr. to
be paid for patriarchal blessings; Frederick and Oliver for their clerical
labors. |
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Minutes
of September 14, 1835 |
| Ends as scribe |
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January 1836 ends service as Joseph's scribe <. |
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F. G. Williams, 250n21. |
| Sees angel (or the Savior) |
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March 27, 1836 at the dedication of the Kirtland House of
the Lord, Frederick sees an angel enter through a window and sit down between
himself and Joseph Sr. The angel remains through the prayer. According to
George A. Smith, Frederick "bore testimony that the Savior, dressed
in his vesture without seam, came into the stand and accepted of the dedication
of the house, that he saw him, and gave a description of his clothing and
all things pertaining to it." |
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¶
Other Visions |
| Loses election |
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April 6, 1836 runs for overseer of the poor. Each of three candidates
receive 147 votes. Lots are cast and Frederick loses. |
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F. G. Williams, 249n18. |
| Elected justice of the peace |
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June 28, 1836 replaces Josiah Jones as justice of the
peace, defeating two other candidates for the post >.
(Frederick is a vocal Democrat.) |
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F. G. Williams, 249n18. |
| Namesake of Joseph's second son |
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June 29, 1836 Joseph's and Emma's second son is born. They name him Frederick
Granger Williams Smith. |
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| Juror |
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September 24, 1836 called to be a juror for the ensuing year. |
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F. G. Williams, 249n18. |
| Dissenter |
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Spring 1837 included in Ebenezer Robinson's
list of dissenters with Martin Harris, David
Whitmer,
Luke S. Johnson (h),
Lyman E. Johnson (h),
Parley P. Pratt (h), William E. McLellin
(h), John F. Boynton (h),
and Wilbur Denton. |
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Robinson history, 1 (Aug. 1889). |
| First excommunication hearing |
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May 29, 1837 Sidney accuses Frederick and David Whitmer, apostles Lyman
Johnson (h) and Parley Pratt (h),
and Warren Parrish of conduct "injurious to the Church of God."
The council, apparently having little stomach for the purge, dissolves over
procedural issues. |
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Minutes of May
29, 1837 |
| President, bank |
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[Summer] 1837 appointed president of the Kirtland Safety Society with
Warren Parrish as cashier. |
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¶ Argument
to argument |
| Counselor to Joseph |
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September 3, 1837 sustained as a counselor to Joseph and a president of
the church. |
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Minutes of September
3, 1837 |
| Resigns as justice of the peace |
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September 25, 1837 resigns as justice of the peace in
Kirtland <. |
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| Dropped from First Presidency |
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November 7, 1837 dropped from the First Presidency in Far West. |
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| Signs elders licenses |
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December 6, 1837 authorized to sign elders licenses as chairman pro
tempore of the high council in the absence of President David
Whitmer. |
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Minutes
of December 6, 1837 |
| Explores northern lands |
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December 7, 1837 added to committee of Oliver, David W. Patten (h),
and Lyman Wight (h) (swh)
to explore northern areas for land. |
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Minutes of December
7, 1837 |
| Arrested, escapes |
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Spring 1838 on his way to Missouri, Frederick is arrested in Willoughby on
a "on a frivolous and vexatious process"
and sends for Luke S. Johnson for assistance. Luke, an apostle
excommunicated the previous fall, helps him escape. |
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¶ Luke
S. Johnson |
| Death of son |
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May 13, 1838 eldest son, nineteen-year-old Joseph,
dies in Far West. |
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| May serve mission |
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July 8, 1838 revelation: Frederick
G. Williams and W. W. Phelps have lost
their standing, but may be ordained elders and serve missions abroad. |
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Revelation
of July 8, 1838 |
| Excommunicated |
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March 17, 1839 excommunicated in absentia with George M. Hinkle,
Sampson Avard, W. W. Phelps, Thomas B.
Marsh (h), John
Corrill, and others. It appears they were charged with leaving the
church
"in the time of our perils, persecutions and dangers, and were acting
against the interests of the Church." |
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Minutes of March
17, 1839 |
| Quincy |
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After March 17, arrives in Quincy, Illinois, which becomes his home. |
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| Received back |
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April 8, 1840 (Nauvoo) requests forgiveness from the church. Hyrum presents
his case to the conference. Vote to receive him back into fellowship. |
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HC 4:110. |
| Death |
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October 10, 1842 dies in Quincy of a hemorrhage of the lungs. |
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Frederick's "Statement of facts relative to J. Smith &
myself" |
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Gave Joseph use of the farm for two years
Loaned oxen, tools, wagon |
¶ |
From the time I first became acquainted
with Jos Smith I frequently assisted him let him have the run of my farm
in Kirtland two year for which I recd no compensation though he frequently
promised me he had given me Several notes for oxon farming utinstials waggon
<& ox - [-]>, for the run of the farm I never took any note ne[i]ther
reced any thing for it < |
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Frederick's statement |
| Gave money |
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frequently Let him have money of which I mad[e] no account recollect
letting him have 10 dollars at one time when making the road up the hill,
also 31 dollars to redeem Kirtland currency with |
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| Surrendered all notes—no compensation
for farm |
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about the time we received the revelation [-] Page 240 if I recollect
right a revelation was received regarding every one of of [sic] what was
then called the firm to give up all notes & demands that they had against
each other Should be given up and all be equal which we the [Cause?] that
I never got any thing for my farm |
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Page 240: of 1835 D&C 98. D&C
104 (Apr. 23, 1834) |
Began writing for Joseph July 20, 1831
Promised $60/year |
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I commenced writing for Joseph Smith Jr. July 20th 18312
as may be seen by S. Rigdons permission dated as above from which time up
to the [-] of the Hebrew School in Kirtland I was constantly in Said Smiths
employ and boarded myself <from which he agreed to give me 60 dollar
in a year> |
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In 1835, compensation and expenses
as scribe were authorized. Minutes of September
14, 1835
In 1837 Joseph paid Frederick $200 cash for medical bills. F. G. Williams,
252. |
| Gave money |
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I also Let him have 27 dollars when he went to Missouri with the camp
I also bought a patent [-] Silver watch for which [-] agreed to pay $50.
… |
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Use of farm for two years, ox, wagon, etc.
Joseph gave a note |
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From the time I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith Jr. Which was
in the mo of August 1831, I frequently assisted him by letting him
have money & other things, among which was the use of my Farm in Kirtland
for two years for which I never took any note or Security I also furnished
him with oxon chair Sled waggon and other things, not now recollected
for which he gave me his note to the amount [of] several Hundred Dollars |
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| Then revelation revokes all debts |
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but about the time we received the Revelation under page 240 in the doctrine
and covenants a revelation was received (but not writen) requiring a certain
number amoung us (among which I was one) to [-] accounts & give up
all notes & demands that they had against each other & all be
equal which was done this included all that he was to give me for my
farm &
the obligation which I held against him &c. but he never gave me any
obligation for my farm whatever |
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Family |
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| Wife |
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Rebecca Swain md. 1815 |
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| Children |
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Lovina Susan (1816–1847) md. Burr Riggs,
Nov. 19, 1834
Joseph Swain (1819–1838)
Lucy Eliza (1821)
Ezra Granger (1823–1905)
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Biographies
Ousters
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