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

Date
Jul 1872
Type
Letter
Source
William McLellin
Excommunicated
Critic
Hearsay
3rd Hand
Late
Reference

William E. McLellin, Letter to Joseph Smith III, July 1872, typescript

Scribe/Publisher
William McLellin
People
Fanny Alger, Sidney Rigdon, Emma Hale Smith, Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith III, William McLellin, Frederick G. Williams
Audience
Joseph Smith III
PDF
Transcription

Now Joseph I will relate to you some history, and refer you to your own dear Mother for the truth. You will probably remember that I visited your Mother and family in 1847, and held a lengthy conversation with her, retired in the Mansion House in Nauvoo. I did not ask her to tell, but I told her some stories I had heard. And she told me whether I was properly informed. Dr. F. G. Williams practiced with me in Clay Co. Mo. during the latter part of 1838. And he told me that at your birth your father committed an act with a Miss Hill—a hired girl. Emma saw him, and spoke to him. He desisted, but Mrs. Smith refused to be satisfied. He called in Dr. Williams, O. Cowdery, and S. Rigdon to reconcile Emma. But she told them just as the circumstances took place. He found he was caught. He confessed humbly, and begged forgiveness. Emma and all forgave him. She told me this story was true!! Again I told her I heard that one night she missed Joseph and Fanny Alger. She went to the barn and saw him and Fanny in the barn together alone. She looked through a crack and saw the transaction!!! She told me this story too was verily true.

BHR Staff Commentary

McLellin identified the "hired girl" as "Miss Hill." He later mentioned Fanny in the same letter, but it is not clear if the reference to her is a separate incident around the same time period as "Miss Hill" or if "Miss Hill" was actually meant to refer to Fanny.

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