I was just asked about this letter. There is a partial transcription (with the entire document scanned) at:
Joel
King Noble to Jonathan B. Turner, March 8, 1842, John B. Turner Papers,
Correspondence, 1836-1849, Box 1, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum
I asked chat gpt (which is very good at transcribing letter
from this period) to do a transcription. Here it is:
Chenango County-Bainbridge March
8-1842
Sir I write to you under peculiar
circumstances having been confined to my room for 5 weeks and now it is with a
few hours at a time [that] our [friends?] come to me in winter by chance I
understood no answer had been given I volunteered to answer having at present
with a case of [?] in what I think of past I was compelled to having worked so.
So. Smith Senior lived in Vermont connected with a band of counterfeiting— ran
came to Mohawk river— adopted a married woman; to Canada, came to Palmyra;
[illegible] the 5 finally believe probably may be had to identify— Jo. Smith
(Mormon) came here when about 17-18 y. of age in the capacity of Glass Looker
or fortune-teller at that time his physiognomy indicated almost any thing
rather than native good common sound sense
Sir I do think I am not mistaken
in the above— you may then enquire ask me Behold what I shall have done I say
so, is the cat; have the Lion is behind the curtain you then know who is the
Lion I say Mr. Rigdon was not the lion until after the Book of Mormon was
printed he may be the Lion now you get on— who the Lion (first was I say &
individually names of I kept for himself I am well aware that it must the ram
in many? I prefers that the B. of M. was w— first for announcement and received
no Draft, by some individual said by some to—Mr. Rigdon In this I mean not I
can prove (calculate?) Mr. Rigdon did not individuals did (not hoistingly)
[illegible] (I have obtained after how I commence again) so engaged the attention
of a [illegible] money, both from our Golden & Silver and almost any thing every
thing until civil authority brought up to H. Huggings the boys suspended the
Vagabond act. So was condemned whisper came to be off off— took Reg- head for
Queen—) all things straight So was not seen in our town for 2 years and more
(except in Dark corners) his haunt was Palmyra and Harmony (Penn.) Bainbridge
(in the Dark) making a triangle— here for 2 y. and more So. mind kept same trait
only more hellish, stimulated by a individual [Ahab?] and perhaps by
suppressing himself to be considered the Author of a Bible in ----
After 2 years from the time of So
first tried he suffered in our place looked as a Lion again So was arrested
& once — nation had so pelted in two [illegible] of limitations So was no
sooner set on [illegible] than arrested again brought the fame me in an
adjoining County only 6 miles distant tried protected 23 hours? the premise was
manifested by 43 witnesses. Proof So a Vagrant idler Lang (not Drunkard) but
now and the Drunk Liver Decider So a medium to good society So was asked by
writing if he could see not the more than others So said he could not and
perhaps any thing for a living I would and then get a Shilling the Count. &
on you see made So any thing but a good man—dyer? for to Dye
An anecdote occurred So, and
these were Digging for a chest of money in night could not obtain it they
Proved one thing and an other together with Black Bitch the bitch was offered a
[crossed out word] old Spinkled prayer made at the time (no money at all) The
above Sworn to on trial— I’m a Small Volume at least might might be filled
similar to the above Intended to give to you the [illegible] chronicle of the
morrows who went from here— have you seen our mormonism was gathered helping
first started for body and I would, some was titled Universities some had been
baptized & Presbytery’s several Methodist’s all I think with 2 exceptions
were rejected some abandoned Drum Hard’s our place in some [illegible]— Mr.
Stowes, a famous horse man of Trapping Bay of 5 or 6000 given to the numerous
followers to the Ohio soon retired and now here or not far from this place—in
some of the morrows were good neighbors So. Did not have connection with
individuals in Ohio so my Knowledge I’m so fatigued I close I write to give in
confidence you will without doubt learn this is confidential friends if a part you
write to make use of Do so please manifest as much patience in— as I have in—
Rufus Gray? Jno. K. Nott?
P.S. Sir I give you no advise on—
but were I to write on the—I would begin at least where So. began to dig for
money I would follow So. step by step with the eye of people by affidavit and
certificate I would identify facts but perhaps your Book may be in your own
mind and even may be inferred then it might be of our [illegible] you could collect
facts you might if here individuals here could [illegible] could you say I
could and I think have it more right in common—[?] thing at all [?]
(circumstances) I have 8 children 7 of which look to me for support this Defend
principally on my Daily exerting (quer.) I owe more on the one of this and my
own [illegible]. Please send if communicate now and then a Mormon Taber (old) I
have this of paper from your place— Direct J.K. Noble Brown Co. Colesville
Michigan P.O. 3 miles one mile from O. 5 from Bainbridge O. J.K.N.
Again P.S. addressed [Hulish?]; a
Mormon [illegible] in your Book So. Smith cast a Devil out of him (Men—?) and
said how D. e. Look, said Dewd was a body of Light and Gave a Relation of in
whole Prophecy in near the month was a [????] man (or some [illegible] Deemed)
so present and silent— (silence) [illegible] followed the argument in I think I
share with hearty— you may think so (Pat’n?) in the same Man or (colour) said
an angel of Light or some holy being [illegible] from heaven tells him (M—n) to
a certain [illegible] the whole process show how him [illegible] to the
apostle? [illegible] is now in my [illegible]. If you in I think I now will be
silent— I’m I have a great anxiety for the success of your undertaking I’m be
Determined onward march &c.—
J.N.N.
P.S. if you want any information
of me Please let me know before — or must I say— sold on S.T.N. or— J.K.N.
