The New Hampshire Manchester Mission was created from the two New England
States Missions, Massachusetts Boston Mission and Connecticut Hartford
Mission, in July of 1987. The Mission took in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
and northeastern part of New York.
There are many famous and/or important places within the geography of
the Mission. Church History begins here with Sharon,Vermont, home of the
birth place of Joseph Smith junior.
The Smith Family then moved to West Lebanon, New Hampshire, where Joseph
under went the painful surgery that left him with a slight limp for the
rest of his life. They then moved to Norwich, Vermont , which for three
years in a row, they experienced crop failure due heavy frost. After serving
in this area and inquiring about such a thing, historians and older farmers
were familiar with with this event. This caused the Smith Family to move
to New York so that they might start their life over.
Hyrum Smith - was born to Joseph
Smith, Sr., and Lucy Mack Smith on February 9, 1800, in Tunbridge, Vermont.
During his childhood, the family moved to eight different locations near
the Connecticut River while the father struggled as a farmer, storekeeper,
and tenant farmer. At age eleven, Hyrum was sent to Moor's Charity School,
associated with Dartmouth College. About two years later, a severe epidemic
of typhoid fever broke out and Hyrum returned home ill to find several
siblings ill as well. Joseph, Jr., was stricken with the dreaded disease,
which developed into osteomyelitis in his left leg. Hyrum, who was already
recognized for his tender and compassionate nature, became young Joseph's
nurse, developing an enduring bond between the brothers. Encyclopedia
of Mormonism, Vol.3, SMITH, HYRUM
Brigham Young - was born in Whittingham,
Windham county, Vermont, and here he was born, on the first of June, 1801.
He was the ninth child and fourth son of his father's family: and was early
taught by his parents to live a strictly moral life: it was not until he
was in his twenty-second year, however, that he gave serious thought to
religion. He soon afterwards joined the Methodist church. On the 8th of
October he married Miriam Works, daughter of Asa and Jerusha Works, and
for a number of years followed the trade of carpenter and joiner, painter
and glazier. In the spring of 1829 he made his home at Mendon, a small
town some fifteen miles south and east of Rochester, in Monroe county,
where his father had also come to reside. A year later he saw for the first
time the Book of Mormon, a copy that was left at the home of his brother,
Phineas Young, by Samuel H. Smith, brother of the Prophet. In the fall
of 1831, Elders Alpheus Gifford, Elial Strong and others appeared in the
vicinity of Mendon, preaching the restored gospel as revealed through Joseph
Smith the Prophet, and Brigham believed their testimony. In company with
his brother, Phineas, and Heber C. Kimball he visited a branch of the church
in Columbia, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. The three brethren remained
with the branch of the church about a week, during which time their faith
was much strengthened in the mission of the modern Prophet. On returning
to Mendon, Brigham Young, in company with John P. Greene, started for Canada
to find Joseph Young, above mentioned, and then a preacher in the Methodist
church. On meeting his brother. Brigham related what be had learned of
the New Dispensation, and Joseph rejoiced at hearing the glad tidings.
Together they returned to Mendon, where they arrived in March, 1832. Joseph
Young was baptized on the 6th of April following, and on the 14th of April,
Brigham was baptized by Eleazer Miller, and confirmed a member of the church
at the water's edge; and almost immediately afterwards he was ordained
an elder in the church. During the summer of 1832 Brigham preached in Mendon
and vicinity and assisted in raising up several branches of the church.
On the 8th of September his wife died of consumption, leaving him with
two small children, both girls. After the death of his wife he made his
home with Heber C. Kimball, the latter's wife taking in charge his motherless
babes.
Heber C. Kimball - was born June
14, 1801, in Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont. His parents were American
born, though of Scotch extraction, the ancient name of the family being,
it is believed, Campbell. His opportunities for acquiring an education
even of the common school order were extremely limited. At the age of nineteen
he was apprenticed to his elder brother, Charles, to learn the potter's
trade. He served some two years as an apprentice and then worked for his
brother as a journeyman potter. While yet in the employ of his brother
they together moved to Mendon, Monroe county, where the latter established
a pottery. While living here Heber married Vilate Murray, of Victor, a
town near Mendon, but in the adjoining county of Ontario. Soon after his
marriage he joined the Baptist church. Three weeks later, and some time
in the winter of 1831, a number of the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints began preaching in the town of Victor, and Heber C.
Kimball and a number of the Youngs attended their meetings. Then followed
the visit to the branch of the church in Columbia, Pennsylvania, mentioned
above. After his return from Columbia he was baptized by Alpheus Gifford,
on the 15th day of April, 1832. During the summer of 1832 Heber C. Kimball
was ordained an elder and with the Youngs labored part of his time in the
ministry, and succeeded in raising up several small branches of the church.
B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.1, Ch.23, p.288
Oliver Cowdery -- Born at Wells,
Rutland Co., Vermont, October, 1805; baptized May 15, 1829; died at Richmond,
Mo., March 3, 1850. James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith, p.503, Footnotes
Hiram Page -- Born in Vermont 1800;
baptized April 11, 1830; withdrew from the Church, 1838; died in Ray Co.,
Missouri, August 12, 1852.
Heber C. Kimball was born June 14, 1801, near Sheldon, Vermont, to Solomon
F. and Anna Spaulding Kimball. In 1811 the family moved to western New
York, where, after scanty schooling, young Heber became a potter. He grew
to be a physically impressive man, six feet tall and weighing more than
two hundred pounds, barrel-chested, and dark-eyed. He married Vilate Murray
in 1822. He, his friend Brigham Young, and their wives joined the Church
in 1832, after a two-year period of inquiry, and in 1833 they moved to
Church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio. Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.2,
KIMBALL, HEBER C.
From Newel Knight's Journal: "I
was born September 13, 1800 in Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont.
Shadrach Roundy became prominent
in church affairs. He was born in Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont,
January 1, 1789. At twenty-five he married Betsy Quimby. He first heard
of the Gospel on moving from Vermont to Onondaga County, New York, and
in the winter of 1830--I sought out the Prophet, then residing at Fayette,
Seneca county, New York. After his first interview he was baptized; and
subsequently his wife and all his children of sufficient age received the
Gospel. He removed with the New York saints to Ohio, settling near Willoughby,
where the Prophet frequently visited him.
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