Matches 115,501 to 115,550 of 122,413
| # | Notes | Linked to |
|---|---|---|
| 115501 | Tennessee, Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955 about Stevens Name: Stevens Birth Date: 22 Feb 1924 Birth Place: Tennessee Age: 0 Death Date: 22 Feb 1924 Death Place: Fayette County, Tennessee Burial Date: 22 Feb 1924 Cemetery Name: Union Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Single Father's Name: David A Stevens Father's Birth Place: Tennessee Mother's Name: Mary E Carl Mother's Birth Place: Kentucky FHL Film Number: 1299770 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=68879437&PIpi=46768760 Burial: McCulley Cemetery, Oakland, Fayette County, Tennessee Double STEVENS Headstone: Infant Infant Dau. of Son of D.A. & Mary D.A. & Mary Feb. 15, 1918 Feb. 21, 1924 | STEPHENS (I120294)
|
| 115502 | Tennessee, Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955 about Stevens Name: Stevens Birth Date: 22 Feb 1924 Birth Place: Tennessee Age: 0 Death Date: 22 Feb 1924 Death Place: Fayette County, Tennessee Burial Date: 22 Feb 1924 Cemetery Name: Union Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Single Father's Name: David A Stevens Father's Birth Place: Tennessee Mother's Name: Mary E Carl Mother's Birth Place: Kentucky FHL Film Number: 1299770 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=68879437&PIpi=46768760 Burial: McCulley Cemetery, Oakland, Fayette County, Tennessee Double STEVENS Headstone: Infant Infant Dau. of Son of D.A. & Mary D.A. & Mary Feb. 15, 1918 Feb. 21, 1924 | STEPHENS (I120294)
|
| 115503 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115504 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115505 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115506 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115507 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115508 | Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 Name: Daniel Jefferson Maberry Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Aug 1897 Birth Place: Jackson Father: Thomas Maberry Mother: Rendie Way Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Name: D J Mayberry Gender: Male Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1927 Marriage Place: Jackson, Tennessee, USA Spouse: Elsie Stafford 1930 Jackson Co., Tenn. census Mabery, D. J. age 28, married when 25, born Tenn. Elsie, wife age 21, married when 18, born Tenn. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Name: D. Mayberry Last Residence: 38562 Gainesboro, Jackson, Tennessee BORN: 26 Aug 1897 Died: Aug 1979 State (Year) SSN issued: Tennessee (Before 1951) Daniel J Mayberry Birth: 1898 Jackson County, Tennessee Death: Aug. 4, 1979 Jackson County, Tennessee Burial: Clark Cemetery, Jackson County, Tennessee Parents: Thomas William Mayberry (1860 - 1947) Husband of Elsie Stafford Mayberry | MAYBERRY, Daniel Jefferson (I140630)
|
| 115509 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115510 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115511 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115512 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115513 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115514 | Tennie M., age 6, is listed as daughter on the 1930 Clay Co., Tenn. census in the HH of Eddie & Minnie M. Lackey. Tennessee State Marriages Name: Lonzo Stafford Spouse: Tinnie Mae Lackey Marriage Date: 1 May 1941 Marriage County: Overton Tennessee State Marriages Name: Edward Anderson Ballard, age 42, born 6-9-1909 Spouse: Tennie Mae Lackey, age 25, born 10-15-1925 Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1951 Marriage County: Putnam kin of male: Elizabeth Ballard kin of fem.: Edd Lackey http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=55180654&PIpi=30906300 Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Carlock, Jackson County, Tennessee Double BALLARD Headstone: tennie Mae Edgar A. Oct. 15, 1925 June 9, 1909 Oct. 4, 2004 Oct. 11, 1992 | LACKEY, Tennie Mae (I119144)
|
| 115515 | Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. | Source Source: S1763 (S1763)
|
| 115516 | TEREZIE (Terezye) was born in house # 62, Boemo Ribna (later called Ceske Rybna). | DRAHOS, Terezye (Terezie) (I86020)
|
| 115517 | TEREZIE (Terezye) was born in house # 62, Boemo Ribna (later called Ceske Rybna). | DRAHOS, Terezye (Terezie) (I86020)
|
| 115518 | TEREZIE (Terezye) was born in house # 62, Boemo Ribna (later called Ceske Rybna). | DRAHOS, Terezye (Terezie) (I86020)
|
| 115519 | Terezie, before her marriage to Josef Drahos, was from the village of Mokrysova. The surname "MAKOVSKY" is derived from a village named Makov (near the town of Litomysl) where the original bearer once lived. | MAKOVSKA, Anna (I86037)
|
| 115520 | Terezie, before her marriage to Josef Drahos, was from the village of Mokrysova. The surname "MAKOVSKY" is derived from a village named Makov (near the town of Litomysl) where the original bearer once lived. | MAKOVSKA, Anna (I86037)
|
| 115521 | Terezie, before her marriage to Josef Drahos, was from the village of Mokrysova. The surname "MAKOVSKY" is derived from a village named Makov (near the town of Litomysl) where the original bearer once lived. | MAKOVSKA, Anna (I86037)
|
| 115522 | Terre Haute Tribune, Pg 2 Saturday, Aug 12, 1922 - A J(G) Barrett, 78 years old, died Saturday morning at his home in Central Terre Haute. He is survived by the widow, Sarah Elizabeth; three sons, Jack, Oscar and Albert Barrett, and three daughters, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Cook and Mrs. Merrit, all of Terre Haute. The funeral will be held from the home at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Burial will be made in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Andrew was born Thursday, May 2, 1844 in Casey, Clark County, Illinois to David & Esther (Rogers) Barrett & moved to Cottonwood, Cumberland County, Illinois before the age of 6. At the age of 20 Andrew enlisted & volunteered to serve the Union in the 37th Regiment Illinois Infantry Co E Private out of Chicago, Illinois. He was transferred over to the 97th Regiment Illinois Infantry Co D Private (National Archives M539 Roll 5). Andrew was from Cumberland County, Illinois, 5'8" tall, light hair (been told light red), blue eyes, light complexion, single, laborer originally from Edgar County, Illinois. Major battles he would fight in include (Wikipedia) Battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills & Big Black River; Siege of Vicksburg & Fort Blakely. According to documentation from his pension papers & reports issued by the War Department he was considered a deserter. During the battle of Vicksburg he met Sarah; a servant. Story goes that he promised to give her a home & a family since she had none if she'd wait for him & that he'd return someday to get her (per family letters). Following the end of the siege of Vicksburg his regiment was sent to Galveston, Texas. Documentation reports he came up missing in the months of Jan & Feb of 1866 at or near Houston, Texas & was officially reported a deserter Feb 13, 1866. Andrew returned to his regiment & did muster out May 15, 1866. His charge of desertion was removed & he did file pension papers May 11, 1912. It unknown how or when he returned to get Sarah but she states on her widow's pension papers they married in 1868 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois filed Aug 17, 1922. Andrew was a cooper. Andrew & Sarah lived in a two story red brick home along the Wabash River on North Water Street in Terre Haute with their children always close by. They had 8 children; with 1 dying at infancy. Melissa Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Cook), George Washington, Andrew Jackson "Jack" JR, Mary Ollie (Anderson), Nellie (Merritt), Oscar B "Os or Brick" & Albert "Abb" Barrett. Andrew & Sarah have no headstone. I have personally walked the cemetery & have talked to family but no one knows of their exact location. The records for this cemetery burned up in a fire in the 1960's. Family links: Parents: Hester Rogers Barrett (1807 - 1897) Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth Baldwin Barrett (1844 - ____)* Children: Melissa Elizabeth Barrett Cook (1870 - 1947)* Infant Barrett (1874 - 1874)* George Washington Barrett (1875 - 1948)* Mary Ollie Barrett Anderson (1878 - 1943)* Nellie Barrett Merritt (1880 - 1957)* Oscar B Barrett (1883 - 1958)* Albert Barrett (1887 - 1953)* | BARRETT, Andrew Jackson Sr. (I123057)
|
| 115523 | Terre Haute Tribune, Pg 2 Saturday, Aug 12, 1922 - A J(G) Barrett, 78 years old, died Saturday morning at his home in Central Terre Haute. He is survived by the widow, Sarah Elizabeth; three sons, Jack, Oscar and Albert Barrett, and three daughters, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Cook and Mrs. Merrit, all of Terre Haute. The funeral will be held from the home at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Burial will be made in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Andrew was born Thursday, May 2, 1844 in Casey, Clark County, Illinois to David & Esther (Rogers) Barrett & moved to Cottonwood, Cumberland County, Illinois before the age of 6. At the age of 20 Andrew enlisted & volunteered to serve the Union in the 37th Regiment Illinois Infantry Co E Private out of Chicago, Illinois. He was transferred over to the 97th Regiment Illinois Infantry Co D Private (National Archives M539 Roll 5). Andrew was from Cumberland County, Illinois, 5'8" tall, light hair (been told light red), blue eyes, light complexion, single, laborer originally from Edgar County, Illinois. Major battles he would fight in include (Wikipedia) Battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills & Big Black River; Siege of Vicksburg & Fort Blakely. According to documentation from his pension papers & reports issued by the War Department he was considered a deserter. During the battle of Vicksburg he met Sarah; a servant. Story goes that he promised to give her a home & a family since she had none if she'd wait for him & that he'd return someday to get her (per family letters). Following the end of the siege of Vicksburg his regiment was sent to Galveston, Texas. Documentation reports he came up missing in the months of Jan & Feb of 1866 at or near Houston, Texas & was officially reported a deserter Feb 13, 1866. Andrew returned to his regiment & did muster out May 15, 1866. His charge of desertion was removed & he did file pension papers May 11, 1912. It unknown how or when he returned to get Sarah but she states on her widow's pension papers they married in 1868 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois filed Aug 17, 1922. Andrew was a cooper. Andrew & Sarah lived in a two story red brick home along the Wabash River on North Water Street in Terre Haute with their children always close by. They had 8 children; with 1 dying at infancy. Melissa Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Cook), George Washington, Andrew Jackson "Jack" JR, Mary Ollie (Anderson), Nellie (Merritt), Oscar B "Os or Brick" & Albert "Abb" Barrett. Andrew & Sarah have no headstone. I have personally walked the cemetery & have talked to family but no one knows of their exact location. The records for this cemetery burned up in a fire in the 1960's. Family links: Parents: Hester Rogers Barrett (1807 - 1897) Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth Baldwin Barrett (1844 - ____)* Children: Melissa Elizabeth Barrett Cook (1870 - 1947)* Infant Barrett (1874 - 1874)* George Washington Barrett (1875 - 1948)* Mary Ollie Barrett Anderson (1878 - 1943)* Nellie Barrett Merritt (1880 - 1957)* Oscar B Barrett (1883 - 1958)* Albert Barrett (1887 - 1953)* | BARRETT, Andrew Jackson Sr. (I123057)
|
| 115524 | Territorial Census. Listed as Nathan Stafford b. VT, a farmer, with wife Louise and children George W. Elizabeth I., Mary Ann, Jacob, Simon E., Lilly and Helen. | Family F20264
|
| 115525 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115526 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115527 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115528 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115529 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115530 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115531 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115532 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115533 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115534 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115535 | TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM STAFFORD. Manchester, Ontario Co. N. Y. Dec. 8th, 1833. I, William Stafford, having been called upon to give a true statement of my knowledge, concerning the character and conduct of the family of Smiths, known to the world as the founders of the Mormon sect, do say, that I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: especially in the night time, when they said the money could be most easily obtained. I have heard them tell marvellous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such a place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited keys, barrels and hogsheads of coined silver and gold -- bars of gold, golden images, brass kettles filled with gold and silver -- gold candlesticks, swords, &c. &c. They would say, also, that nearly all the hills in this part of New York, were thrown up by human hands, and in them were large caves, which Joseph, Jr., could see, by placing a stone of singular appearance in his hat, in such a manner as to exclude all light; at which time they pretended he could see all things within and under the earth, -- that he could see within the above mentioned caves, large gold bars and silver plates -- that he could also discover the spirits in whose charge these treasures were, clothed in ancient dress. At certain times, these treasures could be obtained very easily; at others, the obtaining of them was difficult. The facility of approaching them, depended in a great measure on the state of the moon. New moon and good Friday, I believe, were regarded as the most favorable times for obtaining these treasures. These tales I regarded as visionary. However, being prompted by curiosity, I at length accepted of their invitations, to join them in their nocturnal excursions. I will now relate a few incidents attending these excursions. Joseph Smith, Sen., came to me one night, and told me, that Joseph Jr. had been looking in his glass, and had seen, not many rods from his house, two or three kegs of gold and silver, some feet under the surface of the earth: and that none others but the elder Joseph and myself could get them. I accordingly consented to go, and early in the evening repaired to the place of deposit. Joseph, Sen. first made a circle, twelve or fourteen feet in diameter. This circle, said he, contains the treasure. He then stuck in the ground a row of witch hazel sticks, around the said circle, for the purpose of keeping off the evil spirits. Within this circle he made another, of about eight or ten feet in diameter. He walked around three times on the periphery of this last circle, muttering to himself something which I could not understand. He next stuck a steel rod in the centre of the circles, and then enjoined profound silence upon us, lest we should arouse the evil spirit who had the charge of these treasures. After we had dug a trench about five feet in depth around the rod, the old man by signs and motions, asked leave of absence, and went to the house to inquire of young Joseph the cause of our disappointment. He soon returned and said, that Joseph had remained all this time in the house, looking in his stone and watching the motions of the evil spirit--that he saw the spirit come up to the ring and as soon as it beheld the cone which we had formed around the rod, it caused the money to sink. We then went into the house, and the old man observed, that we had made a mistake in the commencemnt of the operation; if it had not been for that, said he, we should have got the money. At another time, they devised a scheme, by which they might satiate their hunger, with the mutton of one of my sheep. They had seen in my flock of sheep, a large, fat, black weather. Old Joseph and one of the boys came to me one day, and said that Joseph Jr. had discovered some very remarkable and valuable treasures, which could be procured only in one way. That way, was as follows: -- That a black sheep should be taken on to the ground where the treasures were concealed -- that after cutting its throat, it should be led around a circle while bleeding. This being done, the wrath of the evil spirit would be appeased: the treasures could then be obtained, and my share of them was to be four fold. To gratify my curiosity, I let them have a large fat sheep. They afterwards informed me, that the sheep was killed pursuant to commandment; but as there was some mistake in the process, it did not have the desired effect. This, I believe, is the only time they ever made money-digging a profitable business. They, however, had around them constantly a worthless gang, whose employment it was to dig money nights, and who, day times, had more to do with mutton than money. When they found that the people of this vicinity would no longer put any faith in their schemes for digging money, they then pretended to find a gold bible, of which, they said, the book of Mormon was only an introduction. This latter book was at length fitted for the press. No means were taken by any individual to suppress its publication: No one apprehended any danger from a book, originating with individuals who had neither influence, honesty or honor. The two Josephs and Hiram, promised to show me the plates, after the book of Mormon was translated. But, afterwards, they pretended to have received an express commandment, forbidding them to show the plates. Respecting the manner of receiving and translating the book of Mormon, their statements were always discordant. The elder Joseph would say that he had seen the plates, and that he knew them to be gold; at other times he would say that they looked like gold; and other times he would say he had not seen the plates at all. I have thus briefly stated a few of the facts, in relation to the conduct and character of this family of Smiths; probably sufficient has been stated without my going into detail. WILLIAM STAFFORD. State of New York, Wayne County, ss: I certify, that on this 9th day of December, 1833, personally appeared before me, William Stafford, to me known, and made oath to the truth of the above statement, and signed the same. TH. P. BALDWIN, Judge of Wane County Court. From Palmyra and Vicinity by Thomas L. Cook Passing on a little further ... was the old William Stafford homestead, until a few years ago when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Stafford came here at an early date and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Manchester. He was in the War of 1812 and was taken prisoner. One dark night he made his escape by passing the guards, crawling on his hands and knees through a prickley ash bramble and before he had gotten beyond speaking range he heard the guard call out "One o'clock and all is well?. When daylight came, he found himself covered with mud and blood he had received from the scratches of the prickley ash. He was also a neighbor of the Smiths and had a good opportunity to know something of the wonderful power Joseph possessed and he was at one time personally interested in one of Joseph's prophetic visions. While passing, mention might be made of a little circumstance that transpired between him and Joseph. But before doing this we will go back to a time a little previous to this transaction with Joseph. In September 1819, the older Smith and his sons, Alvin and Hiram in digging a well (of which the location will be pointed out ....) threw up a stone of vitreous though opaque appearance and in form like an infant's foot. This stone was secured by Joseph and turned to account as a revalator of present and future in the role of fortune telling. Small amounts were received from the credulous, and thus the imposter was encouraged to enlarge his field by asserting a vision of gold and silver, buried in rion chests in the vicinity. The stone was finally placed in his hat to shade its marvelous brightness when its sevices were required. Persisting in his apparitions, there were those who in the Spring of 1820 contributed to defray the expense of digging for the buried treasure. At midnight dupe's laborers and himself, with lanterns, repaired the hillside east of the Smith house, where following mystic ceremony, digging began in enjoined silence. Two hours elapsed when just as the money box was about to be unearthed, someone spoke and the treasure vanished. This was the explanation of the failure and to this they all agreed. But Joseph had another vision, assuming to see where vast treasures lay entombed. Joseph asserted tha a "black sheep" was necessary as an offering upon the ground before the work of digging could begin. As various stories have been told about the sacrificing of the sheep perhaps the following might be interesting to some. I therefore quote from Wallace W. Miner, what Mr. Stafford told him, and as I hav been personally and intimately acquainted with Mr. Miner for over 80 years, I believe this to be true: "The location for this sacrifice was on the second hill east of the Smith house, at that time on the Chase farm. This hill was called by the neighbors, 'Old Sharp' and by divine command he was to go to the barnyard of William Stafford and take from the fold a black sheep without leave or license, and lead it to the place where it was to be sacrificed. That night the parties met at the appointed hour, at the chosen spot with lanterns. Joseph traced a circle within which the wether was placed and his throat cut; the blood saturated the ground. Silently and solemnly, but with vigor, excavation began. "Three hours of futile labor had passed, when it was discoverd that the older Smith, assisted by one of his boys, had taken the sheep quietly away, thus giving the Smith family a stock of fat mutton for family use. "The next day Joseph went to Mr. Stafford and said to him: 'I suppose you have missed your black wether. God owns all the cattle and sheep on the hills and commanded me to come and take that wether. I am willing to pay for the sheep. I have no money, but I will work for you until you are satisfied you are paid.' "Joseph could make good sap buckets and Mr. Stafford needed a few more so he told Joseph he could make him sap buckets enough to pay for the sheep, which he did to the satisfaction of Mr. Stafford. "In regard to the sheep, who knows but what there was an understanding between Joseph and his father, that he was to come for the carcas after Joseph had sacrificed the blood of the sheep, and if Joseph paid for the sheep, why was not the sheep his, and who had a better right than he and his family? This matter we will leave for philosophers to decide upon." The above was told to Mr. Miner by Mr. Stafford. | STAFFORD, William (I25794)
|
| 115536 | At least one living or private individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. | BROWN, Delmer Lee (I120655)
|
| 115537 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115538 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115539 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115540 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115541 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115542 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 Social Security Death Index Name: Connie S. Simpson Last Residence: 75150 Mesquite, Dallas, Texas Born: 3 Nov 1961 Died: 19 Jun 2005 State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (1973) | SIMPSON, Connie Sue (I118998)
|
| 115543 | Texas Birth Index Name: Connie Sue Simpson Date of Birth: 3 Nov 1961 Gender: Female Birth County: Dallas Father's Name: Fredrick Orian Simpson Mother's name: Virginia Ann Chapman Roll Number: 1961_0015 | SIMPSON, Fredrick Orion (I118997)
|
| 115544 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
| 115545 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
| 115546 | At least one living or private individual is linked to this note - Details withheld. | CORDELL (I118992)
|
| 115547 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
| 115548 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
| 115549 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
| 115550 | Texas Birth Index Name: Cordell Date of Birth: 3 Sep 1930 Gender: Female Birth County: Hill Father's Name: G W Cordell Mother's name: N L Saddles Roll Number: 1930_0002 | CORDELL, George W. (I118988)
|
This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 13.0.3, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2025.
Maintained by Michael Stafford.
