requests you to let no one but me know of it—he writes in confidence to you—says that Joseph and Sidney took their families Saturday night and it is supposed they
have gone to Missourie and the word is for all to follow that possibly can to
escape the destruction that is comeing upon K. There is a great division there and
a number have left the church and raised what they call a standard of truth
and liberty and drew up a remonstration against wickedness and the pro
cedings that have been illegally, takeing for their guide the book of Mormon the
bible the and covenantsfor their guide. I will mention some of their names N. Milliken and wife, John Gayland and wife, W. Parish and wife, J. F.
Boynton and wifeMartin Harris and wife, Leonard Rich and wife, Joseph
Coe and wife, Sarah Lowell, and Aphia, and many others but I hope not
Willford and Phebe—there was about thirty five that signed the remon
strance, but the letter stated that there was thousands of the same opinion.
The high counsil met and cut them all of from the church. Doct Cowd
ry has withdrawn from the church, the printing office has been taken and sold
for Joseph’s and Sidney’s debts N. Millikens bid it off, therefore we shall not
have the papers at present. I am verry sorry for that for there is much eccitem
ent [excitement] here already about the delay of the papers and I suppose that they have the same
account here in the papers that you saw, some of them have already written to
the Post Masters in Cleaveland and Kirt. to learn the truth of these things although
it is kept private here now. O Willford what is this world comeing to. my heart almost
shrinks within me when I look around on the state of things. Brother Ball
has received a letter from his Mothers family in Boston requesting him to return
to them and he thinks of starting in 8 or 10 days. I rather expect that he will
baptize Mr. Ephraim Luce and Lucy Fry as they have been waiting for an oppo-
rtunity most ever since you lelft. Brother Ames has had his case tried and the cost
was trown upon him. Mr Douglass has been in a great rage about you he says
that he will spend all his property in law with you but that he will have his
character cleared up, he has applied to two Justices for an execution against you but
requests you to let no one but me know of it—he writes in confidence to you—says that
Joseph and Sidney took their families Saturday night and it is supposed they
have gone to Missourie and the word is for all to follow that possibly can to
escape the destruction that is comeing upon K. There is a great division there and
a number have left the church and raised what they call a standard of truth
and liberty and drew up a remonstration against wickedness and the pro
cedings that have been illegal, takeing for their guide the book of Mormon the
bible and covenants. I will mention some of their names
N. Milliken and wife, John Gayland and wife, W. Parish and wife, J. F.
Boynton and wifeMartin Harris and wife, Leonard Rich and wife, Joseph
Coe and wife, Sarah Lowell, and Aphia, and many others but I hope not
Willford and Phebe—there was about thirty five that signed the remon
strance, but the letter stated that there was thousands of the same opinion.
The high counsil met and cut them all of from the church. Doct Cowd
ry has withdrawn from the church, the printing office has been taken and sold
for Joseph’s and Sidney’s debts N. Milliken bid it off, therefore we shall not
have the papers at present. I am verry sorry for that for there is much eccitem
ent excitement here already about the delay of the papers and I suppose that they have the same
account here in the papers that you saw, some of them have already written to
the Post Masters in Cleaveland and Kirt. to learn the truth of these things although
it is kept private here now. O Willford what is this world comeing to. my heart almost
shrinks within me when I look around on the state of things. Brother Ball
has received a letter from his Mothers family in Boston requesting him to return
to them and he thinks of starting in 8 or 10 days. I rather expect that he will
baptize Mr. Ephraim Luce and Lucy Fry as they have been waiting for an opportunity most ever since you lelft. Brother Ames has had his case tried and the cost
was trown upon him. Mr Douglass has been in a great rage about you he says
that he will spend all his property in law with you but that he will have his
character cleared up, he has applied to two Justices for an execution against you but
"Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 1 March 1838," p. 2, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 20, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/VOZB