The Widow's Testimony: Uncovering the Truth of Dr. John C. Bennett's Scandal in Nauvoo
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Catherine Laur Fuller Warren
and the Exposé of
Dr. John C. Bennett
In 2001 asked to prepare a vignette of a notable Mormon woman
Selected Elvira Annie Cowles, a direct maternal ancestor
Compelled to research Annie and her family
Reluctant Polygamist is result – to be published April 2016
The Widow’s Testimony discusses the core finding of my research
BACKGROUND
In 1842 Dr. John C. Bennett attacked the
character of Mormon Prophet
Joseph Smith, accusing Joseph of sexual
misconduct
For years it has been assumed Dr. Bennett
knew about Joseph Smith’s teachings
regarding Plural Marriage
The truth is both more and less disturbing
THE SCANDAL OF NAUVOO
Catherine: From Niagara to Nauvoo
Bennett: From Savior to Scoundrel
The Women’s Testimony
Denouement
OUTLINE
CATHERINE LAUR
From Niagara to Nauvoo
Catherine Laur was born 1807 in Bertie, Ontario
on the Canada side of Niagara Falls
In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed,
connecting the Hudson River at Albany
to the Niagara River at Buffalo
In 1829, Catherine Laur married Josiah Fuller of New York
It seems Catherine had her son Josiah in 1830, when she was 23
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO:
MARRIAGE
Catherine’s son, Benjamin, is born 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio
Catherine’s daughter, Sarah, is born about 1835
Another son, Moroni Napthali, is born 1838 in Caldwell
County, Missouri
The Fuller family is listed as in Nauvoo in the 1840 Federal
Census with a girl and four boys
A John Fuller is listed for Catherine’s household in the 1842
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO:
MORMONISM
In 1838 the Fullers lived in Caldwell County, Missouri,
in a small village near the Shoal River
The village boasted a blacksmith and a mill
The Mill was owned by Jacob Haun
On October 30, 1838, Josiah Fuller was one of 17
Mormons killed by a 250 member Missouri militia
Some say the militia raped the widows of the dead
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO:
MASSACRE
JOHN C. BENNETT
From Savior to Scoundrel
Dr. John Cook Bennett was made
Quartermaster General of Illinois in June 1840
As Bennett arrived in Nauvoo, a woman and
her child were killed by a mob from Missouri
By September 1840, Bennett was in Nauvoo protecting the Smith
Family during the death of Joseph Smith, Sr.
Bennett wrote a City Charter to address the imminent threat
and won passage of the Charter in December 1840
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL:
PROTECTOR
Dr. Bennett fell in love with a young woman
Joseph Smith was informed Dr. Bennett had abandoned a wife
and children
Bishop George Miller was sent to investigate
Joseph Smith required Bennett to end his courtship
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL:
PUNISHED
Dr. Bennett was trained in treatment of female hysteria
After his courtship was broken off, Bennett began
having an affair with his laundress, Sarah Pratt
Bennett’s adulterous affair was discovered
and prosecuted on July 5, 1841
Sarah’s husband, Orson Pratt,
returned from Europe two weeks later
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL:
PHILANDERER
THE WOMEN
Testimonies of May 1842
By December 1841, Joseph Smith had learned of a
widespread network of sexual corruption
Joseph and Emma Smith embarked on a comprehensive
campaign rejecting immorality and spiritual wivery
By May, several informants came forward to report suspicious
behavior
Several women reported being coerced into illicit intercourse
during the first few months of 1842
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
INFORMANTS AND VICTIMS
Matilda and Margaret Nyman were taken to
Catherine Fuller’s home by Chauncy Higbee
Chauncy Higbee urged them to engage in
illicit intercourse with him
Matilda held out until William Smith
told her it was a legitimate doctrine
Matilda reported seeing John C. Bennett
in the act with Sister Fuller
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
THE NYMAN SISTERS
“Nearly a year ago I became acquainted with John C. Bennett,”
likely in June 1841
Bennett proposed unlawful intercourse on the third visit
After vigorous debate, Bennett succeeded in seducing Catherine
By mid-July, Catherine was propositioned
by George Thatcher and yielded
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
CATHERINE CONFESSES
*Dr. John C. Bennett, Mayor and General of the Nauvoo Legion
*Chauncy Higbee, Bennett’s Aide-de-camp
*Joel S. Miles
*George M. Thatcher
*Jacob B. Backenstos, non-member, sheriff of Hancock County
*Gustavus Hills, Nauvoo alderman
Justus Morse
Lyman O. Littlefield
Darwin Chase, member of the Seventy
William Smith, apostle, Joseph’s brother
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
PARTIAL LIST OF STRIKERS
There was no ceremony or covenant
Women were expected to yield to many men
Some of the men weren’t even Mormon
The whole purpose was sex and
avoidance of procreation
There was no purpose other than physical gratification
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
NOT “MORMON POLYGAMY”
Claiming betters were engaging in illicit intercourse
Promising food in exchange for sex
Giving medicine to prevent pregnancy
Involvement of high profile individuals
Claiming Joseph secretly taught the doctrine (circa Aug 1841)
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842:
WHY THE SEDUCERS SUCCEEDED
DENOUEMENT
Catherine decided to end her involvement in April 1842
She married William L. Warren
Catherine’s family withdrew from the Mormon community
During the Civil War, Moroni would claim his name was Maroni
or Murroni and that he was born in Canada
Decades later we see William Warren
in the home of Catherine’s son
DENOUEMENT:
CATHERINE AND HER FAMILY
Margaret would leave the Mormon community
Matilda disappeared
Women who were not publicly exposed
remained with the Mormon community:
Mary Clift
Lucy Ann Munjar
and unknown numbers of others
DENOUEMENT:
OTHER WOMEN
In fall 1843 Bennett was told about Celestial Marriage
In December 1843, Bennett returned to Nauvoo
In spring 1844, Bennett booked Marlboro hall and confessed
Bennett was almost killed by the audience
Marlboro was Bennett’s last attempt to set the record straight
DENOUEMENT:
BENNETT’S REPENTANCE
Joseph Smith would covenant with dozens of women,
mostly relatives of his most cherished colleagues
No children are known to have been
born to these dozens of women*
except children of legal fathers
Only two children born to polygamous wives prior to
Joseph’s death are known to have been engendered
by the polygamous father. Both were conceived in April 1842
DENOUEMENT:
JOSEPH AND EMMA
* During Joseph’s lifetime
SELECT REFERENCES
May 1842 statements before the Nauvoo High Council, LDS Archives MS/d/2375/Box 8/fd. Nauvoo, copied
and included in the Valeen T. Avery Papers USU_COLL MSS 316, Box 24, Fd 14, Special Collections and
Archives, Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library, Logan, Utah
The Nauvoo City Council and High Council Minutes
,
John S. Dinger editor, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 2011
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No 8, of May 15, 1844, “Municipal Court”
http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/8375
,
retrieved 27 March 2014
May 29, 1844 issue of the Nauvoo Neighbor,
http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor/1844/5-29-1844.pdf
,
retrieved 18 March 2014
Times & Seasons, July-August, 1842,
http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9200
,
retrieved Feb 22, 2014
MEG STOUT
stoutmtc@gmail.com
Reluctant Polyamist
April 2016
The Widow's Testimony delves into the scandal of Nauvoo where Dr. John C. Bennett accused Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith of misconduct. It uncovers the intriguing story of Catherine Laur Fuller Warren and her family, shedding light on their journey from Niagara to Nauvoo, including the tragic events they faced. The narrative exposes the complexities of relationships, beliefs, and betrayals in the historical context of Mormonism.
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Presentation Transcript
THE WIDOWS TESTIMONY Catherine Laur Fuller Warren and the Expos of Dr. John C. Bennett
BACKGROUND In 2001 asked to prepare a vignette of a notable Mormon woman Selected Elvira Annie Cowles, a direct maternal ancestor Compelled to research Annie and her family Reluctant Polygamist is result to be published April 2016 The Widow s Testimony discusses the core finding of my research
THE SCANDAL OF NAUVOO In 1842 Dr. John C. Bennett attacked the character of Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, accusing Joseph of sexual misconduct For years it has been assumed Dr. Bennett knew about Joseph Smith s teachings regarding Plural Marriage The truth is both more and less disturbing
OUTLINE Catherine: From Niagara to Nauvoo Bennett: From Savior to Scoundrel The Women s Testimony Denouement
CATHERINE LAUR From Niagara to Nauvoo
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MARRIAGE Catherine Laur was born 1807 in Bertie, Ontario on the Canada side of Niagara Falls In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed, connecting the Hudson River at Albany to the Niagara River at Buffalo In 1829, Catherine Laur married Josiah Fuller of New York It seems Catherine had her son Josiah in 1830, when she was 23
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MORMONISM Catherine s son, Benjamin, is born 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio Catherine s daughter, Sarah, is born about 1835 Another son, Moroni Napthali, is born 1838 in Caldwell County, Missouri The Fuller family is listed as in Nauvoo in the 1840 Federal Census with a girl and four boys A John Fuller is listed for Catherine s household in the 1842
FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MASSACRE In 1838 the Fullers lived in Caldwell County, Missouri, in a small village near the Shoal River The village boasted a blacksmith and a mill The Mill was owned by Jacob Haun On October 30, 1838, Josiah Fuller was one of 17 Mormons killed by a 250 member Missouri militia Some say the militia raped the widows of the dead
JOHN C. BENNETT From Savior to Scoundrel
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PROTECTOR Dr. John Cook Bennett was made Quartermaster General of Illinois in June 1840 As Bennett arrived in Nauvoo, a woman and her child were killed by a mob from Missouri By September 1840, Bennett was in Nauvoo protecting the Smith Family during the death of Joseph Smith, Sr. Bennett wrote a City Charter to address the imminent threat and won passage of the Charter in December 1840
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PUNISHED Dr. Bennett fell in love with a young woman Joseph Smith was informed Dr. Bennett had abandoned a wife and children Bishop George Miller was sent to investigate Joseph Smith required Bennett to end his courtship
FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PHILANDERER Dr. Bennett was trained in treatment of female hysteria After his courtship was broken off, Bennett began having an affair with his laundress, Sarah Pratt Bennett s adulterous affair was discovered and prosecuted on July 5, 1841 Sarah s husband, Orson Pratt, returned from Europe two weeks later
THE WOMEN Testimonies of May 1842
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: INFORMANTS AND VICTIMS By December 1841, Joseph Smith had learned of a widespread network of sexual corruption Joseph and Emma Smith embarked on a comprehensive campaign rejecting immorality and spiritual wivery By May, several informants came forward to report suspicious behavior Several women reported being coerced into illicit intercourse during the first few months of 1842
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: THE NYMAN SISTERS Matilda and Margaret Nyman were taken to Catherine Fuller s home by Chauncy Higbee Chauncy Higbee urged them to engage in illicit intercourse with him Matilda held out until William Smith told her it was a legitimate doctrine Matilda reported seeing John C. Bennett in the act with Sister Fuller
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: CATHERINE CONFESSES Nearly a year ago I became acquainted with John C. Bennett, likely in June 1841 Bennett proposed unlawful intercourse on the third visit After vigorous debate, Bennett succeeded in seducing Catherine By mid-July, Catherine was propositioned by George Thatcher and yielded
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: PARTIAL LIST OF STRIKERS *Dr. John C. Bennett, Mayor and General of the Nauvoo Legion *Chauncy Higbee, Bennett s Aide-de-camp *Joel S. Miles *George M. Thatcher *Jacob B. Backenstos, non-member, sheriff of Hancock County *Gustavus Hills, Nauvoo alderman Justus Morse Lyman O. Littlefield Darwin Chase, member of the Seventy William Smith, apostle, Joseph s brother
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: NOT MORMON POLYGAMY There was no ceremony or covenant Women were expected to yield to many men Some of the men weren t even Mormon The whole purpose was sex and avoidance of procreation There was no purpose other than physical gratification
THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: WHY THE SEDUCERS SUCCEEDED Claiming betters were engaging in illicit intercourse Promising food in exchange for sex Giving medicine to prevent pregnancy Involvement of high profile individuals Claiming Joseph secretly taught the doctrine (circa Aug 1841)
DENOUEMENT: CATHERINE AND HER FAMILY Catherine decided to end her involvement in April 1842 She married William L. Warren Catherine s family withdrew from the Mormon community During the Civil War, Moroni would claim his name was Maroni or Murroni and that he was born in Canada Decades later we see William Warren in the home of Catherine s son
DENOUEMENT: OTHER WOMEN Margaret would leave the Mormon community Matilda disappeared Women who were not publicly exposed remained with the Mormon community: Mary Clift Lucy Ann Munjar and unknown numbers of others
DENOUEMENT: BENNETT S REPENTANCE In fall 1843 Bennett was told about Celestial Marriage In December 1843, Bennett returned to Nauvoo In spring 1844, Bennett booked Marlboro hall and confessed Bennett was almost killed by the audience Marlboro was Bennett s last attempt to set the record straight
DENOUEMENT: JOSEPH AND EMMA Joseph Smith would covenant with dozens of women, mostly relatives of his most cherished colleagues No children are known to have been born to these dozens of women* except children of legal fathers Only two children born to polygamous wives prior to Joseph s death are known to have been engendered by the polygamous father. Both were conceived in April 1842 * During Joseph s lifetime
SELECT REFERENCES May 1842 statements before the Nauvoo High Council, LDS Archives MS/d/2375/Box 8/fd. Nauvoo, copied and included in the Valeen T. Avery Papers USU_COLL MSS 316, Box 24, Fd 14, Special Collections and Archives, Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library, Logan, Utah The Nauvoo City Council and High Council Minutes, John S. Dinger editor, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 2011 Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No 8, of May 15, 1844, Municipal Court http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/8375, retrieved 27 March 2014 May 29, 1844 issue of the Nauvoo Neighbor, http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor/1844/5-29-1844.pdf, retrieved 18 March 2014 Times & Seasons, July-August, 1842, http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9200, retrieved Feb 22, 2014
MEG STOUT stoutmtc@gmail.com Reluctant Polyamist April 2016
