1. For a sketch of the life and activities of William Clayton, see Paul E. Dahl, William Clayton: Missionary, Pioneer, and Public Servant (2nd ed. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1964).

2. An illuminating discussion of Joseph Smith’s financial activities is found in Robert Bruce Flanders, Nauvoo, Kingdom on the Mississippi (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1965), pp. 116–78. Joseph’s activities as a land jobber are discussed on pages 119 to 127.

3. This is William Hardman, whom William Clayton baptized in Manchester. Church records show that Hardman was baptized on June 21, 1840, although Clayton’s diary indicates that he baptized Hardman on June 14. “Manchester Branch, Record of Members, Early to 1852,” Brigham Young University Library microfilm #488, Serial #13656, part 43, p. 39, entry 661; William Clayton, “Journal,” hand-written MS, Brigham Young University Library, June 14, 1840. Hardman was later cut off from the Church.

4. William Clayton, along with all the other immigrants, undoubtedly felt a great deal of joy at their reunion with old friends from England. It became common for English converts to immigrate in large numbers to Nauvoo, where they could unite with the saints in the Promised Land. In Clayton’s diary, in fact, one gets the impression that they now considered America, rather than England, their home. In the midst of his own rather harrowing voyage, Clayton had recorded, on September 22, 1840, “As soon as the bustle subsided the wind began to blow and were again on our way home.”

5. “Sister Davies” was probably either Mary Davies, who was baptized on March 21, 1839, or Elya Davies, who was baptized on July 14, 1839. Both women lived on Cookson Street in Manchester, while Clayton presided over the branch, and both immigrated to America. “Manchester Branch Records,” page 22, entries 323 and 325. The branch records do not mention a Martha Davies; but two men, Benjamin and John Davies, also lived on Cookson Street and may have been brothers. The only mention of a Sister Davies in Clayton’s missionary journal is on January 25, 1840, in connection with some personal problems in the branch. A Brother Jackson was apparently having an argument with a leather cutter, and Sister Davies reported that the leather cutter said to her that one of their Latter-day Saints had turned “latter-day sinner.”

6. This probably refers to James Burgess, who lived on Pollard Street in Manchester and immigrated to the United States. A Brother Burgess and his family appear frequently in Clayton’s missionary journal, and they were apparently quite active in the Church. On one occasion, William Clayton attempted to convert Burgess’s two brothers to the Church but apparently with little success. “Manchester Branch Records,” page 7, entry 124; Clayton, “Journal,” February 15, 1840.

7. Richard Hardman was baptized in 1838, lived on Colton Street in Manchester, and later emigrated to the United States. “Manchester Branch Records,” page 38, entry 643. There are several Hardmans listed in the branch records, and William Clayton’s Journal shows a very close association with the Hardman family. He frequently stayed at the Hardman home and often ate with them. This is particularly significant in view of the fact that Clayton was apparently traveling without purse or script and relying entirely on the members of the branch to proved a livelihood for him while he was conducting his Church responsibilities in Manchester.

8. No Robert Williams is listed in the Manchester Branch Records, but this may have been the Rob Williams who appears frequently in Clayton’s Journal. Williams was apparently very ill, and Clayton frequently records praying with him and anointing him with oil. On February 18, 1840, Clayton wrote a letter for R. Williams to his father in London.

9. This is a very significant statement for Clayton to make, for he had suffered considerable illness and hardship on his voyage across the ocean, and in his efforts to settle on the banks of the Mississippi. He had even lost a little child in an outbreak of malaria in 1841, and he had seen some of his friends die. Such a faith in the face of hardship is indeed impressive.

William Clayton

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