Mosiah Hancock, an addition written in 1896 to the “Autobiography” of his father, Levi Ward Hancock

Mosiah Hancock, an addition written in 1896 to the “Autobiography” of his father, Levi Ward Hancock, Ms 570, microfilm, 61-65. Transcribed by Don Bradley and reproduced here line for line:

As early as the Spring of 1832 Bro Joseph said

“Brother Levi, The Lord has revealed to me that

it is his will that righteous men shall take

Righteous women even a plurality of Wives

that a Righteous race may be sent forth Uppon [sic]

the Earth preparatory to the ushering in of the

[page 62] Millennial Reign of our Redeemer For the Lord

has such a high respect for the nobles of his king-

dom that he is not willing for them to come throu-

gh the Loins of a careles [sic] People—Therefore; it

behoves [sic] those who embrace that Principle to pay

strict attention to even the least requirement

of our Heavenly Father”—I wish the People to un-

derstand that Satan in those days sought to kill

the influence of of the Noble Prophet! And men whos [sic]

whole being was not wrapt up in the work of the Lord!

often were overpowered by the adversary to [sic] frequently

—I wish to be understood by those who may suppose

that I was to [sic] young to understand or remember

that I have a right to remember for as for tea, coffee

Whiskey and Tobacco are concerned I have kept the

word of wisdom in that respect […]

[***] [Loyd, these asterisks should be centered in the column]

When my Father had started on his first mission

to preach this Gospel He felt that perhaps he had done

wrong in not telling the Prophet that he had made

arrangements to marry Temperance Jane Miller of

New Lyme—When Father returned from his miss-

ion he spoke to the Prophet concerning the matter

The Prophet said – “Never mind Brother Levi about that

for the Lord has one prepared for you that will

[page 63] be a Blessing to you forever!”—.
At that time Clarissa Reed was working at the Prophet’s

She told the Prophet She loved brother Levi Hancock

The Prophet had the highest respect for her feelings

 She had thought that perhaps she might be one of the

Prophet’s wives as herself and Sister Emma were on

the best of terms My Father and Mother understanding

each other were inspired by the spirit of the Lord to respect

His word through the Prophet—Therefore Brother Joseph

said “Brother Levi I want to make a bargain with

you—If you will get Fanny Alger for me for a

wife you may have Clarissa Reed [Levi Hancock and

Clarrisa Reed Hancock married March 29, 1833]. I love Fanny”

 “I will” Said Father — “Go brother Levi and the Lord will

prosper you” Said Joseph–Father goes to the Father

Samuel Alger—his Father’s Brother in Law and [said] “Samuel the

Prophet Joseph loves your Daughter Fanny and wishes her

for a wife what say you”—Uncle Sam Says—“Go and talk

to the old woman about it twi’ll be as She says” Father

goes to his Sister and said “Clarissy, Brother Joseph

the Prophet of the most high God loves Fanny and wishes her

for a wife what say you” Said She “go and talk to Fanny

it will be all right with me”—Father goes to Fanny and said

“Fanny Brother Joseph the Prophet loves you and wishes

you for a wife will you be his wife”? “I will Levi” Said

She. Father takes Fanny to Joseph and said “Brother

Joseph I have been successful in my mission”—Father gave

her to Joseph repeating the Ceremony as Joseph repeated to him

[page 64] Clarissa Reed being in poor health Father takes her to his

folks in Rome—The reason of mother’s poor health was this She worked

hard at the Prophets—He had many visitors at that time and it

used to be frequently the Case that many of those worthies ?

Chewed tobacco to that extent that it would seem that where they

had been sitting in a Room for a little while that a flock of geese

had been waddling about the floor the filth was so great and

Mother being of a refined nature could not stand such nonsense

—Not far from this time Joseph received the Revelation on the word

[received February 27, 1833] of wisdom—As time progressed the Apostates thought they

had a good hold on Joseph because of Fanny and some of

the smart ? ones confined her in an upper room of the Temple

 

 

[completed April 1836] determined that the Prophet should be settled according to their notions

Brother Joseph came to Father and said “Brother Levi what can

be done”?—There being a wagon and a dry goods Box close by and

Joseph being strong and Father active Father soon gained the

window Sill and Fanny was soon on the ground Father mounts

his horse with Fanny behind him and altho dark they were in

New Lyme forty five miles distant—And when the worthies ?

sent Fannys [“y” overwriting “ie”] dinner the next day they were astonished not to

be able to find her—Father by that time had returned and his

animal was in the Stable

[***]

[page 65]

[***]

[…] On the 14th of June [over-writing May] 1835

my little sister Sariah was born She lived only a few days On the

14th of May 1836 my Sister Amy was born in Kirtland————–