Edward Partridge (1793-1840)

Edward Partridge (1793–1840)

First bishop of the Church of Christ, presided over the church in Missouri from early 1831 until the organization of a high council, July 7, 1834.
Born	August 27, 1793 in Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts
Died	May 27, 1840 in Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois
Father	William Partridge (1756–1836)
Mother	Jemima Bidwell (1765–1842)
Baptized	December 11, 1830 in Seneca River by Joseph Smith Jr.
Ordinations	Elder, by Sidney Rigdon, a few days after baptism.
	Bishop, by Sidney Rigdon, February 4, 1831.	D&C 41:9
	To the High Priesthood by Lyman Wight (h) (swh), June 6, 1831.	¶ Conference of June 3, 1831.
	Bishop, Nauvoo Upper Ward, 1839.
Missions	Massachusetts (to relatives), December 1830–January 1831.
	Eastern states and New England, January–October 1835.	Papers 2:56n1.
	Eastern states June 2–November 3, 1835.
	Eastern states, fall 1836.
Events	1813 journeyman hatter in Clinton, New York.
Campbellite	1828 baptized a Disciple (Campbellite) by Sidney Rigdon in Mentor, Ohio (previously a Unitarian).
Visits Joseph	December 1830 goes with Sidney to see Joseph in New York . Investigates family reputation in Manchester, inspects farm, concludes to be baptized.	Lucy's Book, 504; Early Mormon Documents 1:444.
Blessed	December [11–15], 1830 called to preach the gospel.	¶ The Bishop and the Lord
Bishop	February 4, 1831 named first bishop of the church.	¶ The Bishop and the Lord
Rebuked	May 9, 1831 rebuked for interfering with the missionary calls.	¶ The Bishop and the Lord
Consecration	May 20, 1831 revelation outlines Edward's responsibilities in consecration and stewardship.	D&C 51
High Priesthood	June 3–6, 1831 attends first church conference in Kirtland. The High Priesthood bestowed for the first time and the "man of sin" is revealed. Edward is ordained to the High Priesthood and blesses the others that are ordained.	Conference of June 3–6, 1831
	June 7, 1831 assigned to travel to Missouri with Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver.	D&C 52:24
To Missouri with Joseph	June 19, 1831 leaves Kirtland for Missouri with Joseph, Sidney, Martin, and others.	Joseph Smith history (1839) in Papers 1:356; also HC 1:188.
Angers Joseph	July 1831 angers Joseph by intimating he and Oliver chose the tract of land.	¶ Ezra Booth Letters (7)
Rebuked	August 1, 1831 rebuked in Jackson county for "unbelief and blindness of heart."	D&C 58:14–15
Prevented from returning to Ohio	August 5, 1831 writes Lydia, "I have a strong desire to return to Painsville this fall, but must not. You know I stand in an important station; and as I am occasionally chastened I sometimes feel as though I must fall." Edward was directed not to return home because, according to Ezra Booth, he had offended Sydney by cautioning him about exaggerating his description of Zion.	"What I Remember," 5. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (7)
Rebuked	September 11, 1831 rebuked for having "sinned, and Satan seeketh to destroy his souls," but will be forgiven when he repents.	¶ D&C 64
Rebuked	January 14, 1832 Hyrum Smith and Orson Hyde (h) write Edward objecting to his indirectly accusing Joseph of "seeking after monarchial power and authority."	HC 1:317–19.
Family to Independence Lilburn Boggs	Spring 1832 Lydia and their 6 children arrive, move into the log house room Edward had rented from future Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs. The cabin is on the corner of the temple lot.	"What I Remember," 6.
Dedicates office	May 29, 1832 dedicates the office of The Evening and the Morning Star in Independence.
Differences settled—briefly	April 26, 1832 conference in Independence, Jackson county, Joseph is sustained as president of the High Priesthood, and "All differences settled & the hearts of all run together in love." However, by July the accord had dissolved.	Council of April 26–27, 1832 ¶ Joseph to W. W. Phelps, July 31, 1832
Warned	[July 31, 1832 Joseph:] I the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong … to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints … While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.	On November 13, 1905, the First Presidency (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund), issued a statement on this controversial passage and stating that Edward Partridge was "undoubtedly" the object of the warning. Messages, 4:107–120.
Crowded room	Winter 1832–1833 takes in a widow and her 4 children, making 12 or 13 living in one room.	"What I Remember," 6.
Criticizes Joseph	January 14, 1833 Hyrum and Orson Hyde write Edward, objecting to his "accusing Brother Joseph in rather an indirect way of seeking after monarchial power and authority."	HC 1:317–19.
Joseph chooses counselors	June 25, 1833 Joseph writes Edward to choose Parley P. Pratt and Titus Billings as his counselors.	HC 1:363
Tarred	July 20, 1833 tarred and feathered with Josiah Gregg when they try to interfere with mob burning the office of The Evening and the Morning Star. >	Times and Seasons vol. 6 no. 5 (March 15, 1845), 834
Offers self as ransom Agree to leave Jackson	July 23, 1833 Edward, John Corrill, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, A. S. Gilbert, and Isaac Morley meet with Jackson county citizens' committee and offer themselves as a ransom for the church "willing to be scourged or die, if that would appease their anger toward the church." Instead, the citizens agree to stop the violence and the Mormons agree to leave the county by April 1, 1834.	The Evening and the Morning Star, vol.2 no.15 (December 1833), 114. ¶ History of Joseph Smith
Head of church in Zion	September 11, 1833 acknowledged as "head of the Church in Zion … [and] Moderator in councils or conferences by virtue of his office."	¶ Council of Septmber 11, 1833.
Violence	October 31, 1833 mob attacks Whitmer settlement about 8 miles from Independence, starting a season of violence.	Outrage in Jackson (1)
Clay county	November, 1833 temporarily moves family into log and tent shelter on the banks of the Missouri river. Then into old log cabin with John Corrill and his family in Clay county—at or near Liberty. It had been used as stable. John is Edward's second counselor.	"What I Remember," 16.
Named for Kirtland endowment	June 23, 1834 at a council in Clay county, Edward is named in first group to receive Kirtland endowment.	¶ Council of June 23, 1834
Leave for Kirtland	January 27, 1835 leaves Missouri for Kirtland with Thomas B. Marsh (h), arriving April 29, 1835.
Patriarchal blessing	May 4, 1835 receives patriarchal blessing.
Mission to the East	June 2, 1835 leaves on mission to eastern states and New England with Isaac Morley.	Personal, 2nd ed., 103n70.; Messenger and Advocate, vol. 2 no. 2 (November 1835), 221,
Returns	November 5, 1835 returns from mission to the East.	Personal, 2nd ed., 102.
Sins forgiven Remain in Kirtland	[November 7, 1835] The word <of the Lord> came to me saying, behold I am well pleased with my servant Isaac Morley and my servant Edward Partridge, because of the integrity of their harts in laboring in my vinyard for the salvation of the souls of men, Verely I say unto you their sins are forgiven them, therefore say unto them in my name that it is my will that they should tarry for a little season and attend the school, and also the solem assembly for a wise purpose in me, even so amen	Personal, 2nd ed., 102.
Visits churches	November 10, 1835 writes he and Isaac Morley have visited 26 churches with 700 "lively members," held about 50 meetings, baptized 3.	Messenger and Advocate, vol. 2 no. 2 (November 1835), 221–222.
School of the Prophets	Attends Hebrew class taught by Mr. Sexias with Joseph, Sidney, Oliver, W. W. Phelps, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin (h) and others.	Papers 1:77
Kirtland temple dedication	March 27, 1836 attends dedication of the House of the Lord in Kirtland.
Return to Zion	April 9, 1836 leaves Kirtland for Zion with Isaac Morley, John Corrill, and W. W. Phelps.	HC 2:436.
Clay county	May 4, 1836 returns to Clay County.
Far West	Fall 1836 moves from Clay County, Missouri, to Far West.
Numbered with the blessed	January 7, 1838 unpublished revelation: "Edward and his house shall be numbered with the blessed, and Abraham their father, and his name shall be had in sacred rememberance."	Kirtland Revelations Book
Arrested at Far West	November 1838 arrested and charged with treason.
Released, to Quincy	January 1839 released from jail, joins family in Quincy, Illinois.
Advises scattering	Spring 1839 with Far West stake president William W. Marks advocates those fleeing to Illinois pay their own way, scatter out in communities. Overruled by Joseph and the Twelve.	Things in Heaven, 82; WWJ (April 27, 1839), 329.
Bishop	October 5, 1839 appointed bishop of the Upper Ward in Commerce, Illinois.
Family	Lydia Clisbee (1793–1878), md. August 22, 1819 in Painesville township, Geauga (Lake) county, Ohio.
	Eliza Maria (1820–1886) Harriet Pamelia (1822–1840) Emily Dow (1824–1899) Caroline Ely (1827–1908) Clisbee (1829–1829) Lydia (1830–1875) Edward (1833–1900)

		Tarred and feathered in Independence: autobiography
To court house George Simpson leader Tarred		I was taken from my house by the mob, George Simpson being their leader, who escorted me about half a mile, to the court house, on the public square in Independence; and then and there, a few rods from said court house, surrounded by hundreds of the mob, I was stripped of my hat, coat and vest, and daubed with tar from head to foot, and then had a quantity of feathers put upon me, and all this, because I would not agree to leave the county, my home where I had lived two years. <	Edward Partridge "autobiography," qtd. in Times and Seasons, vol. 6 no. 4 (March 1, 1845), 819.
Speech before being tarred		Before tarring and feathering me, I was permitted to speak. I told them that the saints had had to suffer persecution in all ages of the world, that I had done nothing which ought to offend any one. That if they abused me, they would abuse an innocent person. That I was willing to suffer for the sake of Christ; but, to leave the country I was not then willing to consent to it.
Attitude of crowd		By this time the multitude made so much noise that I could not be heard: some were cursing and swearing, saying, call upon your Jesus &c.; others were equally noisy in trying to still the rest, that they might be enabled to hear what I was saying.
Filled with love		Until after I had spoken, I knew not what they intended to do with me, whether to kill me, to whip me, or what else I knew not. I bore my abuse with so much resignation and meekness, that it appeared to astound the multitude, who permitted me to retire in silence, many looking very solemn, their sympathies having been touched as I thought; and, as to myself, I was so filled with the spirit and love of God, that I had no hatred towards my persecutors, or any one else.
		Tarred and feathered in Independence: affidavit	Dated May 15, 1839 Original in the National Archives, qtd. in "Missouri Persecutions: Redress Petitons," 532, 534. Entire affidavit, 512–514.
July 20, 1833 Mob enters home 50 at house, 200-300 at square	¶	On the 20th day of July A. D. 1833 George Simpson and two other mobbers entered my house (whilst I was sitting with my wife, who was Then quite feeble my youngest child being then about three weeks old,) and compelled me to go with them. soon after leaving my house I was surrounded by about fifty mobbers who escorted me about half a mile to the public square, where I was surrounded by some two or three hundred more.
Leave or else	¶	Russell Hicks Esqr. appeared to be the head man of the mob, he told me that his word was the law of the county, and that I must agree to leave the county or suffer the consequences. I answered that if I must suffer for my religion it was no more than others had done before me—That I was not conscious of having Injured any one in the county therefore I could not consent to leave it.	Hicks led the citizens' organizing meeting that preceded this incident. ¶ History of Joseph Smith
Hicks begins to strip Edward Others protest stripping Tarred and featherd		Mr. Hicks then proceeded to strip off my clothes and was disposed to strip them all off—I strongly protested against being stripped naked in the street, when some more humane than the rest interfered and I was permitted to wear my shirt and pantaloons. Tar and feathers were then brought and a man by the name of — Davies with the help of an other daubed me with tar from the crown of my head to my feet, after which feathers were thrown over me.
Sued for $50,000 Lost $800		For this abuse I have never received any satisfaction, although I commenced a suit against some of them for $50,000 damage, and paid my lawyers six hundred dollars to carry it on, I also paid near two hundred dollars to get a change of venue.—
Lawyers double-dealing		My lawyers after getting their pay of me, made a compromise with the defendents, without my consent, and threw my case out of court without giving me any damages by their agreeing to pay the costs, which they never have paid that I know of, and I never could prevail upon my lawyers to collect them for me though they agreed so to do.
		Effect of sermon on Joseph
… like apples of gold in pitchers of silver		November 29, 1835 (Sunday): went to meeting at the usal hour Elder Morley preachd and Bishop Partridge in the afternoon; their discourses were well adapted to the times in which we live, and the circumstances under which we are placed, their words were words of wisdom, like apples of gold in pitchers of silver, spoken in the simple accents of a child, yet sublime as the voice of an angels, the saints, appeared to be much pleased with the beautiful discourse these two fathers in Israel	Papers, 2:92.
		W. W. Phelps on Edward Partridge
Sweet communion Snaps of passion		…few will be able to wear his mantle with such simple dignity. He was an honest man, and I loved him. … We lived together in peace, and our communion was sweet; although we often rebuked each other in plainness and had snaps according to passion, yet, like the used key, our friendship was bright and moistened with tears.	Times and Seasons, vol.1 no. 8 (June 1840), 120.
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