Lianne Kruger
Timothy Bancroft was born and raised in Tyngsborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,
where most of his family remained after he moved to Ray and then Clay County, Missouri,
in the 1820s.1 He married
Nancy Davis of Saline Co., Missouri, in 1825. Timothy wrote to his New England family
about a variety of topics, including the “Mormonites” in his area. Document collector
Ken Sanders owns a collection of Bancroft family correspondence, which includes
a letter to Timothy Bancroft from his nephew John Parlin. Parlin pleads for information
about the Book of Mormon and asks Bancroft a series of penetrating questions about
the restored gospel, particularly about the Book of Mormon—the “American bible,”
as he calls it. Strikingly, most of Parlin’s questions are answered by the Book
of Mormon.
Timothy’s youngest brother, Benjamin, born 1796, became a doctor in Wethersprings,
New York. He authored four letters in this collection, including one that expresses
his disgust with Mormonism. The remarkable contrast between John Parlin’s letter
and Benjamin Bancroft’s letter shows the extremes of the ways Americans were responding
to the new church in the early 1830s. Everywhere they went, the early missionaries
found people like John Parlin, hungering for the answers the Book of Mormon offered.
And they also found antagonists like Benjamin Bancroft, who had arrived at prejudiced
conclusions and therefore had no questions for which to seek answers.
The letters from John Parlin and Benjamin Bancroft to Timothy Bancroft are featured
below. Original spelling and usage has been maintained. Brackets [ like these ]
indicate editorial insertions. Angle brackets < like these > indicate insertions
made by the letter’s author.
Tyngsboro 2 Jan 3. 1834
Respected and Remembered Uncle
I after a silence of several years, again attempt to write to you; after having
arisen slowly from a short low run of the typhus fever: yet more enjoying better
health than here to fore as I think. I am still present at Tyngsboro and all thy
friends – and old acquaintances are enjoying very good health, as also all the people,
Thy Mother, my Grandma,3
is now at Mont Vernon and in good health for so aged a person, yet able to wait
upon herself, and knit etc. yet it is plainly discernable that old age is making
inroads on both her mind and body, and her memory of present transactions begins
to shorten, but her mind appears strongly bent upon her dissolution, and futurity:
shewing a great anxiety for the happiness and future welfare of others.
Aunt Clement
4 and Phebe
5 were here last summer, and when they departed for home it almost over came her,
they parted at Uncle Jonathan’s,
6 Aunt Jones
7 is well, Sarah and Daniel Adams J–
8 is with her, Sarah enjoys rather poor health, she kept school in Tyngsboro last
summer, and gave good satisfaction. Timothy
9 is with Uncle Benj–
10 but I think he will not stay long, for there appears uneasiness between them,
or, some other way. Nathan
11 is with Phebe Flint in Bellville Upper Canada, he came here with her. Uncle S–,
12 family is well as usual, Elizabeth S–
13 was married to Isaac T. Cummings
14 she and the others who are married are well. Mary
15 married
16 to Zimri Kidder
17 has 4 children, and —, Mary Jane,
18 Henry Swan, Sarah Elizabeth and Martha. Delphia
19 married
20 to Lt. Joseph Danforth, Jr
21 has two children, Lucy Taylor,
22 and Sarah Thompson.
23 Sarah Swan
24 married
25 to James W Cummings
26 has two — James Whitney,
27 and Julia Ann.
28 Eben
29 married to Mary Jo Lieghton
30 of Westford> has one
31 — and —. Mary Elizabeth, and Uncle J. B.
32 family is well—Sarah
33 has no children yet Mary
34 is at home smoking her pipe—, Abiah
35 has three children, Mary, Henry and a babe, her husband
36 conducts very poorly. Julia
37 is living in Lynn.
38 Jane
39 has sat up the work of mantau making
40 in town—Rebecca
41 is sometimes with Jane and at others at home, Martha
42 is with Sarah this winter, Jonathan
43 lived with Sarah last summer and how much longer I know not, Ephraim
44 is now attending school in town. Mr Daniel Ingalls
45 family is well—five children Daniel Howard,
46 Mercy Maria,
47 Isaac Bancroft,
48 Jonathan Coburn, and a younger –,
49 James Parkin is recovering from a fever, his family is well, three boys, George
Newton, the others names I cannot recollect. I have not heard from Stockholm
50 since last summer, they were all well as usual or gaining, save Alma B, who it
is feared will soon leave with the consumption. Aaron
51 is in Berlin Ohio Huron county and has bo’t [bought] him a farm, as perhaps before
this you have learned. Bancroft
52 is in Auburn, N.Y. studying –. Uncle B–
53 and family were well the last I heard. Josiah Spalding Jr.
54 from Ohio is here on a visit. [page break; the text resumes on p. 3 instead of 2] Uncle Swan
55 received a letter from you last fall with pleasure, and with others were astonished that there
was no mention of Moses not so much as a word. Dear
56 Howard almost looked upon it as tho’ you had forgotten him. He is well, tho’ old
age begins to mark him, and Jonathan
57 is well and his wife
58 and child, Otis.
59 Elijah F–
60 and Anna Lawrence
61 keep house together—and Benjamin
62 lives in slab city cutting stone. Rhoda<
63 is married to Luther Butterfield.
64 Joseph
65 is with Elijah, I believe. The seasons are quite propitious as they pass, good sleding,
not very cold and as yet a plenty of food fuel and raiment: but, not that I want to judge
others, there is a great want of grateful hearts, or speaking from their fruit, few appear
to render due homage and thanksgiving to him from whom all good proceeds. The past society
of this place is, to appearance, well nigh faded away, or passed by as useless. The babtists
have formed a society, and built them a meeting house closely by Col-Taylors, West. The rest
or almost all are for unitarian or Universalism,
66 and it has become the law of the state, to pay a minister or not, and thus what think you of
us here. But few attend meeting, and I think there would be less where [were] it not, they
are indulged the priviledge of visiting the store. Some go not because they say,
as tho’ they were the most skilled, that it is the same old story over and over
again, or a lie, or I don’t believe it, and I know better. and that Mr Lawrence
67 is good for nothing as a preacher, and does not keep up with the improvement of the times,
which as I can see no other way, must be because he is not a Unitarian or Universalist, or
does not try to preach that which the people wish to hear. There is considerable talk of moving
the meeting house more towards the schoolhouse, and altering it to the modern style or some other
way. But I think by the present movement of things Mr L. mission or settlement will soon be at
an end, and the meeting house set at naught, or a Unitarian – established. But there is one
comforting consideration, God is able to overrule all events for his own glory. In the letter
you wrote to Uncle S–,
68 and the one to Aunt S–,
69 you wrote of a sect called Mormonits, with you, which is rather difficult for us to fully
comprehend as we know of no such about here, and of an american bible, carrying the idea as if it
was preferable to the Asiatic bible. Here suffer me to ask, where did this american bible spring
from? where was it first found and how or by whom written?
70 Does it treat of salvation of the soul, only in and thro’ the merit of a crucified – and ascended
Lord and Saviour?
71 does it give examples of crucifying the flesh with its affections?
72 Does it declare and enforce a change of heart, a being born again, the new birth?
73 Do the historians declare that they were eye and ear witnesses of the transactions of Jesus, and
of his passion, death resurrection, and assension
74 Does it hold miracles yet in full force, with the gifts of tongues, healing casting out of evil sprits?
75 Of the faithfulness labours, watchings, persecutions and privations of primitive christians?
76 and those recorded in the Asiatic bible? Does it prescribe an easier way of salvation than the denying
the flesh, of casting off the love of the world, and obeying the command of Jesus Christ our Lord and
Saviour, as declared unto us in the Asiatic bible?
77 O forgive my inquisitiveness, and if consistent with your judgement, please to write to me, and send me
an american bible. From whence came those Mormonites into your country. I read a notice in the news
print the other day, that there was quite an outrage of the inhabitants upon the Mormonites about St.
Louis, but perhaps I took a wrong idea of what I read. O please to rightly and inform the ignorant. [page break]
How do those Mormonites practice sacraments of baptisms, and the Lord’s supper?
78 Do they hold baptism a prerequisite to a participation of the supper?
79 Whence do they derive the name of their sect?
80 Do they like some of the primitive christians hold all things in common?
81 What is the tenor of their creed?
82 Which do they practice from the Asiatic or american bible?
83 Do they observe particular days, meats, drinks, and garments?
84 And how is the ceremonies conducted in joining them?
85 If I have not too far wearied they [thy] patienc[e], nor raised thine
indignation; I should well like to have these my curiosities (questions)
answered, for I like to know the sum and substance of a thing, before I give
assent. Please to inform me if any of the ancestors of your wife (my Aunt) are
known to any about here? and inform me of the names of your children. And of
Moses and his wife and children, and please to make my regards acceptable to
him. Has he any care or anxi[e]ty for the future world? Does he live near to
you? I as one of the race of sinful disobedient fallen Adam have through much
of my condition by nature and by wilful disobedience, and on the plan of
recovery and salvation of man, the souls of men, but I am so ignorant I as yet
do no more than to stand gaze and wonder admire and long to become wise, wise
to know and strong to do that which be seeking for honour from God glory,
immortality, so as to be rewarded with eternal life thro’ Jesus: and if it be
with you to extend any information to me hereto, I would humbly, yet earnestly
crave it of you, but most especially I would desire to be remembered by you in
your prayers, that I may be made wise unto salvation. I often remember thee O
far distant Uncle, in my attempts to approach the mercy seat, and to seek for
grace to help in every time of need: but I’ll assure you my prayers are very
poor, because of the hardness of the work to keep my heart and soul tho’ts
[thoughts] and affections close up to the work; ier [ere?] I am aware my tho’ts
and mind are roving to the utmost ends of the earth, or holding converse with
the flesh, those whom I hold as near and dear friends, or endeavouring to make
contracts with one and another, or bent upon some curious subject or other,
almost any thing that will cause my soul to run out from God, rather than call
it up unto him. And then again the buzzing of a fly, or the rattling of a leaf,
or such trivial circumstances will gain my mind, that it is very seldom that I
can raise a petition to the throne in purity to be well accepted even thro’
Jesus, But when my whole soul goes out on God, O what sweet peace comfort what
consolation, yea I would not wish to lose the relish all my days I feel as
unwillling to leave this abode, as it is hard to leave the world thither
ascend. O that I could like Abraham who left his servants at the foot of the
mount, whilst he and his son ascended to offer sacrifice, leave the love for
the flesh with its affections and lusts, the tho’ts of the world and all those
cares which hinder my sacrifice from going up with purity, behind whilst I
ascend the mount of sincerity, by the ladder of fervent desires, and offer my
sacrifice of gratitude and humble acknowldegements, with confession and
intercession upon the alter of my heart in truth Sometimes I find my desires
granted even whilst asking for them, and again they appear so long deffered
that it make my heart sick, but hope keeps it whole. As a token of friendship
remembrance and respect receive this, and not as a provocation, and herefrom be
pleased to take up the work and write to me concerning all these things, very
copiously fully comprehensively and edifying for my guidance comfort and
support, and to thy rejoicing [page break] Lastly, receive this from your
nephew and well wisher John Parlin.
87 [This last line is written upside down at the bottom of the first page]
[addressed]
Tyngsboro Mr
Jany 4
Mr. Timothy Bancroft
Liberty
Clay County Missouri
Wethersfield87 Springs [New York]
April 29, 1834
Respected Brother,
I confess my negligence and plead forgiveness your line dated Nov 3,
1833 was duly received and from time to time proposed to be answered but days,
weeks, months, have passed and no line has been penned Dear Brother I am truly
sorry for your situation—and would with the utmost pleasure assist you were it
in my power, to the amount proposed this country is new, settlers poor, and
cash is very scarce especially this season, Timothy B Jones
88 has been with me
for most 3 years, tomorrow he starts for home he has been
a source of trouble to me I should have sent him before could I have trusted
him I am afraid his mother will meet with difficulty for he has some bad
properties—I have just been writing to his mother but dare not write some
things I have told her that he stands in need of a steady master home &
employment, I send him in company with some on their return to the East He is a
bright boy and capable of doing most any business but I cannot keep him it will
cost me near sixty dollars beside fitting him now we all have trouble in some
shape or other I have been bail for some merchants here by which I have lost
some, and expect to loose more so you see that I have my trouble, but we shall
be soon over with troubles and afflictions here [page break] We have some
townsmen that have left this season which I have since understood are going to
Missouri they are Mormonites so called a poor deluded race [two crossed out
words] of beings pretending to heal the sick, cast out devils, and to talk
different tongues, pretending to hold converse with Christ, and disclaiming all
other Christians—I presume some are, or will be, in your state from this
section viz # Leonard Rich 89
High Priest a great drunkard (no mistake) Joseph,
90 and Chandler,91
Holbrook, decent men, but full of vanity # Joel Wethy, # Aron Lion
92 Mr Harding
93 most of these men have been
in years past expelled from other Churches (namely these (#)) they have all now left this
section of the country 94 —they
are just such men as we can well spare being no benefit to themselves nor
community
The last I heard from our friends at the East they were all well – our honoured Mother
95 is failing very fast she is done writing to
me—she is now 85 years old (April 19 OS
96) I think—I never receive any lines from Jonathan
97 or Mrs Swan going on 10 years we have 2 children
one 3 years old named Martha, Bayden,
99 the other 3 months named Mary Caroline,
100 Edwards, are [our] healths are comfortable
business about the same very healthy much talk about the bank weave we are Jackson men in full blood no
mistake our town meetings have been very warm but the Jackson ticket carries we have but 12
opposition in our Legislature and this county sends 3 out of the 12 namely
Rufus Robertson and Peter Paterson from Londonderry & Truman Lewis—this is
a fair example of the timber on the Opposition Ticket it being the last year it
will ever carry—I have filled this up with much nonsense believe me as usual
your friend and Brother
B Bancroft 101
[Addressed]
Wethersfield Springs May 1-25 [1825]
Mr Timothy Bancroft
Clay
Clay County Missouri
Lianne Kruger is in her eleventh year as a volunteer seminary and institute
teacher. She is a speaker at EFY. As a family historian she has researched her
own line back to the first three landowners of Canada. She has done extensive research on Elijah and Jewish
Passover traditions. After graduating from Ricks College, she served in the California Sacramento Mission. She and her
husband, Ephraim, are the parents of five children.
