Webster Dictionary's definition of "scrape" (1830).

Webster's Dictionary's definition of "affair" (1830).

M. Hancock provides his birthdate in his autobiography.

Joseph records officiating at the marriage of the Knights in November 1835.

J. Smith and O. Cowdery receive the sealing keys in April 1836.

W Cowdery's Defense of Joseph and the Rigdon family against rumors in Milton and Palmyra areas.

Whitmer on Kirtland secret combinations and plurality of wives.

Letter from Marsh with multiple testimonies regarding Joseph's and Alger's relationship.

Joseph records William McLellin's 1838 trial and excommunication.

Joseph reported that he was born on December 23, 1805.

Record book shows Alger (Custer) attending a Church conference in 1840.

Joseph Smith records a revelation in D&C 132 that lays out the concept of plural marriage.

Orson Hyde writes to Wilford Woodruff about Oliver Cowdery's rebaptism.

1850 U.S. Census lists "Francis Custer" as 31 years old.

The Republican Party Platform of 1856 lists polygamy as one of the "twin relics of barbarism."

Holbrook recounts Johnson dying in the Smith home in 1833.

W.W. Phelps writes to Brigham about Joseph's 1831 revelation on polygamy.

Joseph B. Noble provides affidavit stating that he sealed Joseph to Louisa Beaman.

Orson Pratt says that Joseph said polygamy was "a true principle" in 1831.

McLellin describes the Smith/Alger relationship to Joseph Smith III.

William Clayton recounts the writing of the revelation on plural marriage.

McLellin is quoted in the SLT about Joseph and Alger's sealing.

E. Webb refers to Joseph's and Alger's relationship as similar to a "sealing."

Orson Pratt quotes Lyman Johnson as saying that Smith knew about plural marriage in 1831.

1880 U.S. Census lists "Fanny W Custer" as 63 years old.

Unknown author from The Hagerstown Exponent claims that Custer and Alger are practicing spiritualism.

Littlefield states that Joseph "understood and believed" plural marriage in Kirtland.

Eliza Snow recounts a conversation between Lorenzo Snow and Joseph about plural marriage and the angel with a sword.

Emily D. P. Young says that Emma Smith knew about plural marriage and was "bitter" and "unpleasant" about it.

E.R. Snow says that she lived with the Smiths in the "Spring of 1836."

C. Webb describes the Fanny Alger/Joseph relationship as a sealing and states that Fanny Alger was pregnant.

Eliza R. Snow lists Fanny Alger as one of "Joseph Smith's Plural wives."

Newspaper interviews Eliza R. Snow about plural marriage; she mentions the angel with a sword commanding Joseph to practice polygamy.

Martin Harris quoted about Joseph's "improper proposals" to Alger.

Winchester talks about Joseph's "licentious conduct" during the Kirtland period.

Official Declaration 1 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lucy Walker recalls that Joseph saying he learned the "principle of plural marriage" in 1831.

W. Woodruff discontinues plural marriage, naming revelation and opposition as the reason.

Levi Hancock marries Clarissa Reed.

Lightner recalls Joseph saying an angel with a sword commanded him to practice polygamy.

Lightner says that Joseph was commanded by an angel in 1834 to practice plural marriage.

Lightner quotes Joseph saying that an angel commanded him between 1834 and 1842 to practice polygamy; if not, the angel would slay him.

B.H. Roberts states that the revelation on plural marriage was received in 1831.

Todd Compton reviews Fanny Alger's departure from Ohio.

Todd Compton speculates that Fanny Alger may have miscarried.

Richard Lyman Bushman explains the possible background for the 1835 "Article of Marriage."

DNA study confirms that Oliver N. Buell and Mosiah Hancock were not Joseph's sons.

Mark Staker argues that Alger lived with the Smiths between 1834 and 1836.

Don Bradley dates the discovery of the Smith-Alger marriage between April-September 1836.

Don Bradley concludes that the Alger/Smith relationship was Smith's first polygamous marriage.

Massachusetts statistics indicate 15-20% of women were married before age 20 in the 1840s.

W. Smith explains the evolution of the meaning of "celestial marriage."

Ugo Perego reports on how DNA results rule out Josephine Lyon as Joseph Smith's daughter.

FamilySearch lists Fanny Alger's birthdate as September 30, 1817.

Joseph Smith Papers Website list 1818 as Fanny Alger's birthyear.

Find a Grave Website lists Fanny Alger's birthdate as September 30, 1816.