Hurlbut affidavits Mormonism Unvailed

1 hurlbut affidavits

1.1 manchester residents
1.2 affidavit of willard chase

1.2.1 discovery of seer stone
1.2.2 toad treasure guardian


1.3 affidavit of isaac hale
1.4 affidavit of lucy harris
1.5 letter charles anthon

hurlbut affidavits

howe introduces section containing affidavits stating:

next present reader few, among many despositions have been obtained neighborhood of smith family, , scene far famed gold bible had pretended origin. (howe 1834, p. 231).

the affidavits attesting character of joseph smith collected doctor philastus hurlbut. affidavits not known exist outside of printing in mormonism unvailed (mitton 2004, p. xviii, note 13). 1 purpose of affidavits discredit smith family emphasizing treasure seeking activities negative reflection upon character. in doing so, however, of providing these statements revealed own involvement treasure seeking (bushman 2005, p. 49). martin harris subject of number of these statements.

hurlbut had been excommunicated on charges of immorality. contemporary author discusses hurlbut s background, noting prior joining lds church member of methodist congregation expelled unvirtuous conduct young lady (winchester 1840, p. 5). member, hurlbut commenced old practices, in attempting seduce young female ... crime expelled church. in response expulsion church, hurlbut determined demolish, far practicable, had once endeavoured build (winchester 1840, p. 6).

hurlbut traveled palmyra , surrounding regions @ request of ohio anti-mormon committee purpose of collecting statements disparaging smith name (jessee 1989, p. 12, editor s note).

lds scholars have challenged hurlbut affidavits, claiming appear contain selected rather random comments , appear hearsay , gossip rather reflection of firsthand knowledge (mitton 2004, p. xix-xx).

manchester residents

eleven residents of manchester area signed following statement: we, undersigned, being acquainted family of joseph smith, sen. whom celebrated gold bible, called, originated, state: not lazy, indolent set of men, intemperate; , word not depended upon; , glad dispense society. (howe 1834, p. 262).

one lds scholar points out contradiction large household of ten smiths survived dozen years without working spent days , nights in seeking treasures , finding none. (anderson 1990). smith himself wrote in journal:

@ age of ten years father joseph smith, siegnior [senior], moved palmyra, ontario county in state of new york. , being in indigent circumstances [we] obliged labour hard support of large family having 9 chilldren. required exertions of able render assistance support of family, therefore deprived of bennifit of education. suffice merely instructed in reading, writing, , ground rule of arithmatic const[it]uted whole literary acquirements. (hill 1995, p. 26).

affidavit of willard chase

willard chase friend of joseph smith. according 1 author, ordinary people @ time had no difficulty blending christianity magic , described chase vigorous of manchester treasure-seekers methodist class leader (bushman 2005, p. 50).

discovery of seer stone

the willard chase affidavit discusses joint discovery , joseph smith made of seer stone while digging together. chase states smith claimed able see things in stone, , allowed remain in smith s possession several years. chase describes how wanted stone , sent friend smiths house view it. response related chase friend said smith said don t care in devil belongs to, shall not have it. (chase 1833, p. 242).

lds scholars note chase s statements represent second or third-hand accounts. note chase involved in treasure seeking joseph smith, , reason perhaps envied seer stone once became aware of purported abilities (harper 2003, pp. 273–308).

toad treasure guardian

the chase affidavit relates conversation states had father of joseph smith in june 1827. story relates smith s claim have seen angel named moroni @ time attempting retrieve stone box golden plates, book of mormon said have been translated. according chase, there requirements related treasure seeking smith had fulfill in order able obtain plates (chase 1833, p. 242). 1 statement attributed chase joseph smith senior smith (junior) saw in box toad, assumed appearance of man, , struck him on side of head (chase 1833, p. 242). years later chase s brother-in-law, benjamin saunders claimed heard story directly joseph smith. 1893, saunders nephew quoting joseph smith having said animal enormous toad turned flaming monster glittering eyes (ashurst-mcgee 2006). according author d. michael quinn, american folk traditions associate toad satanism, black magic, sorcery, , witchcraft , [i]f changed appearance of toad appearance of person, thing evil spirit, or witch, or bewitched person (quinn 1998, p. 152).

it suggested lds scholars chase , others intentionally portrayed moroni particular type of treasure guardian incompatible angel (ashurst-mcgee 2003).

affidavit of isaac hale

isaac hale father-in-law of joseph smith junior. hale s affidavit concerns belief story of translation of gold plates delusion on part of smith , associates. hale states:

told them, considered whole of delusion, , advised them abandon it. manner in pretended read , interpret, same when looked money-diggers, stone in hat, , hat on face, while book of plates @ same time hid in woods! (hale 1834, p. 265).

one author suggests isaac hale affidavit not obtained hurlbut, instead published first in local newspaper, susquehanna register on 1 may 1834, , howe reprinted letter in mormonism unvailed (quinn 1998, p. 140). howe not single out source of hale s statement, other state [a]ffirmed , subscribed before me, march 20, 1834. charles dimon, j. peace of susquehanna county, approximately 1 , half months before publication in susquehanna register. howe s introduction affidavit section of book implies statements (including hale s) contained therein obtained depositions .

affidavit of lucy harris

lucy harris former wife of martin harris. during period of time married martin harris, lucy harris once claimed have dream in said saw gold plates. result of offered joseph smith gift of $28 in order finance book of mormon translation. (black & porter 2005, pp. 4–11). lucy harris involved in lost 116 pages incident.

harris s affidavit claims husband once industrious attentive domestic concerns , , once worth ten thousand dollars. stated [i]f had labored hard on farm has make mormons, might 1 of wealthiest farmers in country. stated harris s motivation in being associated mormonism make money.

harris accused husband martin of beating whip, , implied having affair neighbor, mrs. haggard (harris 1833, p. 255).

letter charles anthon

howe includes letter received charles anthon regarding visit made him martin harris. harris showed him copy of characters reported have been copied gold plates. anthon states viewed hoax, , later decided scheme cheat harris out of money. anthon described characters evidently copied after mexican calender given humboldt, copied in such way not betray source whence derived . anthon requested letter published in case name mentioned again these wretched fanatics (anthon 1834, p. 272).