1

Life History of Reuben Hedlock (1809-1861) By Clifford James Stratton, Revised 7.17.2013

Reuben Hedlock was born in the United States in about 1809.1 His passport application on 21 Aug

1843, when he was 40 years old, stated that he was born in 1803, had a high forehead, blue eyes,

prominent nose, medium mouth, long chin, brown hair, sallow or yellow complexion, long face, and

was 5’11” in height.2 He was a printer, carpenter and journeyman.3 He is a descendant of Jonathan

Hedlock and Betty.4 He joined the Church with other Hedlock family members.5 He was baptized into

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1834.3 He and his family moved to Kirtland,

Geauga Co., Ohio, where he was appointed counselor to Alvah Beman in the Elders Quorum

Presidency on 25 Jan 1836, and then served as President from 27 Nov 1837 after Beman’s demise.

He moved to Missouri with the Kirtland Camp in 1838; to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, before

1839; to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois in April 1839; and finally settled in Commerce, later Nauvoo,

Hancock Co., Illinois in Sept 1839.3 He was called in Sept 1839 by the Prophet Joseph Smith to be

one of the first missionaries to England. He arrived in Liverpool on 6 April 1840. In 1840, he was the

first missionary to preach the gospel in Ireland. 6 Elder Hedlock returned home to Nauvoo a year later,

in April 1841. He was ordained a High Priest at Nauvoo on 3 Oct 1841. He was an active member of

the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Reuben Hedlock was called by the Prophet Joseph Smith to preside

over the British Mission.3 He served as President of the British Mission from October 1843 until after

the Martyrdom of the Prophet in 1844, until January 1845. Upon his return to his family at Nauvoo,

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, under the direction of President Brigham Young, immediately

called him to return to Great Britain to continue his service as President of the British Mission. This

was during one of the greatest conversion and emigration periods in Great Britain in the history of the

Church.

President Hedlock continued to lead in the affairs of the Church in England. His dedication to the

work, training and assisting new missionaries and new converts, giving inspired remarks at the

various conferences throughout Britain, solving ecclesiastical difficulties, and his direct involvement in

the emigration of Saints to Nauvoo, was remarkable. On one occasion, 16 Oct 1843, he confided in

his dear friend, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Twelve, “When I return from my journey through

the churches, you may expect a full detail of the circumstances and situation of the Church in this

land, so I will close this subject by bidding you good night and retire to rest, as I am now in the office

alone, and it is now two o’clock in the morning and I am weary from much fatigue in assisting the

brethren in getting on board of the ship yesterday.”7 His selfless dedication and commitment to the

Prophet Joseph and the Gospel were absolute and extraordinary.

President Hedlock assisted thousands of Saints to emigrate to Nauvoo. At the direction of the

Twelve, but not under the auspices of the Church, President Hedlock became a Licensed Emigration

Agent and established The Joint Stock Company, with the office at the Stanley Buildings, Bath Street,

Prince’s Dock, Liverpool, England. The funds he received from arranging the emigration of non-

members from England to the United States, he used to assist the poor among the Latter-day Saints

to emigrate to Nauvoo. One group of Latter-day Saint emigrants wrote: “We know through bitter

experience, that there are men in our ports, fair of face and gentle of tongue, inveigling strangers into

2 emigrating in dangerous ships, as well as sucking twice as much money as necessary out of their

pockets. There are, at this moment, hundreds of innocent Welshmen, feeding the fish of the Atlantic,

because of negligence at the beginning of their voyage. Mr. Hedlock is not one of these. His terms

will be found to be lower, and his food, convenience and safety to be equal to the best ships out of

Liverpool.”8

Financial irregularities in The Joint Stock Company and the British Mission resulted in Elders

Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor of the Twelve, being sent to England, after the first

exodus from Nauvoo, to set the British Mission in order. President Hedlock would not meet with the

Apostles. Reuben Hedlock was disfellowshipped on 16 July 1846.8,3 The Joint Stock Company was

dissolved on 17 and 19 of Oct 1846: “Thus ended The Joint Stock Company scheme for the temporal

and rapid enrichment of the Saints; which, however good the intentions that prompted its inception,

became a means of robbing the worthy poor, (and) to minister to the folly and vanity of man…”9

Reuben Hedlock was excommunicated on 17 Oct 1846 at Manchester, Lancashire Co., England.3,9

He turned his back on everything of eternal consequence; his wife and children, his Priesthood, his

friends in England and in America, his anointed brethren in the Quorum of the Twelve, and went to

London to live in seclusion. Sometime later, President John Taylor wrote: “Elder Hedlock might have

occupied a high and exalted situation in the Church, both in time and in eternity; but he has cast from

his head the crown – he has dashed from him the cup of mercy, and has bartered the hope of eternal

life with crowns, principalities, powers, thrones and dominions, for the gratification of his own sensual

appetite; to feed on husks and straw – to wallow in filth and mire!” 8 Reuben Hedlock never returned

to the Church that he had so fervently promoted. Later, he declined to emigrate to the Church in the

West. He married Lydia Fox and then Mary A. Hedlock in England.1 He died from bronchitis on 5 July

1869 at 2 Garrick Street, Gravesend, Kent Co., England.10 On 23 June 2012, under the direction of

the First Presidency, all of the vicarious Temple ordinances from baptism to endowment, were

completed for Reuben Hedlock. The current First Presidency chose to retain his original baptism and

confirmation dates on his official Church record, FamilySearch: LZPT-C5B, even though they were

redone. He was then sealed to a possible first wife and children, and to his subsequent spouses, on

28 June 2012.11

The original lead engravings of Facsimiles 2 and 3 by Reuben Hedlock for the Prophet Joseph Smith.

3

The Facsimiles as they appear in the Book of Abraham today,

2012. Arrows: “ENG. BY R. HEDLOCK.”

Reuben Hedlock is today, most honorably remembered and

revered by the Latter-day Saints for his role in the financing,

promotion, and the publication of the Egyptian papyri facsimiles and the Book of Abraham

translations by the Prophet Joseph Smith. In July, 1835, at Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet, with the

financial assistance of Joseph Coe, Simeon Andrews and others, purchased four mummies and at

least five papyrus documents from Michael Chandler.12 On 2 Nov 1837, the Prophet Joseph Smith

recorded in his journal, “The Church voted to sustain Phineas Richards and Reuben Hedlock to

transact business to procure money to translate and print records taken from the catacombs of

Egypt.”13 Reuben worked tirelessly, in addition to his service as the President of the Elders Quorum in

Kirtland, to procure money and to promote interest in the Egyptian collection. The Prophet then sent

him on a proselyting mission to England, after which, he returned to his family in Nauvoo in April

1841.

In early 1842 Reuben Hedlock was called by the Prophet Joseph Smith to carve the wood-cut

engravings for the three facsimiles the Prophet had chosen to include in his three publications of the

Book of Abraham in the Times and Seasons. Although we call them “wood cuts,” the engravings are

actually on lead, metal, see picture above.14 Text at the arrows in Facsimiles 2 and 3 above, says

“ENG. BY R. HEDLOCK.” The Prophet Joseph Smith was directly involved in instructing Reuben on

the details of the engravings. From the Prophet’s journal: “23 February 1842. [I] gave Reuben

Hedlock instruction concerning the cut for the altar and gods in the Records of Abraham.” (Facsimile

1). “1 March 1842. During the forenoon I was at my office and the printing office, correcting the first

plate or cut of the records of Father Abraham, prepared by Reuben Hedlock.” “4 March 1842. At my

office exhibiting the Book of Abraham in the original to Brother Reuben Hedlock, so that he might take

the size of the several plates or cuts, and prepare the blocks for the Times and Seasons; and also

gave instruction concerning the arrangement of the writing on the large cut, illustrating the principles

of astronomy.”15 (Facsimile 2). It is speculated that in these meetings, the Prophet Joseph instructed

Reuben to illustrate the Egyptian Priest of Elkenah behind the lion couch in Facsimile 1, to better

illustrate the Angel of the Lord saving Abraham from human sacrifice. He may have also given

instructions on what image to incorporate as Facsimile 2, Fig. 3, and additions to restore Figs. 2 and

23, which the Prophet wanted to include in his “Explanations.” He may have addressed the

4 miscellaneous text additions in Facsimile 2, Figures 12-15 and 18, which he did not choose to include

in his “Explanations.” The Prophet may have also have given Reuben specific instructions concerning

the engraving of the characters and their unique religious attire in Facsimile 3. All in preparation for

the opening of the Nauvoo Temple, as the Book of Abraham and the Prophet Joseph Smith’s

“Explanations” were published to prepare the Saints for their Temple experiences in the Restoration

of the Temple Ordinances.18 Reuben’s engravings were meticulously accomplished with great skill

and precision. The original facsimiles on the papyri and the reproductions in the Book of Abraham

engraved by Reuben Hedlock, were on exhibition at the home of the Prophet’s parents at Nauvoo for

several years, even after the exodus, for all to see and compare and enjoy. Reuben was generally

applauded for his fine craftsmanship.

A Conclusion. President Reuben Hedlock’s apostasy was very deeply felt by the Saints in

England. President Orson Spencer and then Elder Orson Pratt resumed President Hedlock’s duties.

Finally, President Franklin D. Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was called to preside

over the British Mission. The total worldwide membership of the Church at that time was 57,278. Of

that number, 32,894, or over half of the Church, still resided in England. Only about 6,000 Saints had

emigrated to Salt Lake City. In 1851, only a few years after President Hedlock’s estrangement,

President Richards prepared a pamphlet, a compilation of unpublished revelations received by the

Prophet Joseph Smith. Included were the Prophet’s Egyptian translations of the Book of Abraham

and Reuben’s engravings of the facsimiles with the Prophet Joseph’s “Explanations.” It was a “sweet

morsel” to the Saints in England who had experienced the turmoil and confusion of President

Hedlock’s apostasy. The pamphlet eventually evolved into the Pearl of Great Price, including the

three facsimiles, that we all treasure today.16

For many years, Reuben

Hedlock and his family were very

close to our Benjamin Bird (left),

and Charles and Mary Bird

(middle, right) and their families.

Under the direction of the

Prophet Joseph Smith, at

Kirtland, on 6 Dec 1837, it was

Presidents Beman and Hedlock

who conferred the

Melchezedek Priesthood upon Charles and ordained him an Elder. Shortly thereafter, Reuben

became Charles’ Elders Quorum President. The Hedlock and Bird families enjoyed many, very

spiritual, experiences together in Kirtland and Nauvoo, including Temple ordinances.17 Mary Bird was

particularly close to Reuben’s wife. Mary and Charles provided strength and consolation to the

Hedlock family when Reuben refused to return to his family in Nauvoo. Our families remained close

through the Kirtland, Far West and Nauvoo periods, during some of the most difficult times in Church

history. We treasure our bonds with the Hedlock family.

If it be the will of Kind Heaven, Reuben Hedlock will someday return to his former self, again being

totally dedicated to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration. When I depart mortal life on this

terraqueous globe, I hope to enjoy the power and strength of Reuben’s testimony with the same

impact that it had on many of my ancestors and thousands of other Saints in the British Isles during

5 his service there. President Hedlock’s powerful testimony touched many members of our own family

who were converted in England while he was the Mission President and who, with his assistance,

emigrated to America and eventually to Salt Lake City. Now that his baptism and other temple

ordinances have again been completed, this time vicariously, what a powerful leader and teacher of

righteousness he can be in the Spirit World. Humbled, repentant, like each of us after having

experienced the vicissitudes of life, Reuben now stands at a cross-road. I feel hopeful that he has

already, or soon will, return to the love and companionship of his family and of his dearest friend, the

Prophet Joseph Smith, in the Spirit World. Now, eternity awaits him. As with all of us, he will

ultimately be the author of his own destiny.

References: 1 1861 England Census. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861, Kew, Surrey, England: The

National Archives of the UK. Ancestry.com. 2 Reuben Hedlock, U.S. Passport Application, 1795-1925, dated 21 Aug 1843. Ancestry.com. 3 Church Records. In Reuben Hedlock, josephsmithpapers.org, it has been proposed that Reuben

was a member of Zion’s Camp in 1834, however his name does not appear on the most extensive list

available. Members of Zion’s Camp, Milton V. Backman, Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-

day Saints in Ohio, 1830-1838, Appendix A; GospeLink.com. 4 The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1, 1832-1839, p. 412. 5 The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1, 1832-1839, p. 412, lists the Reuben Hedlock,

B. 1809, D. 5 July 1869, who engraved the Egyptian facsimile plates for the Prophet Joseph Smith for

publication in the Book of Abraham in the Times and Seasons in 1842, as a descendant of Jonathan

Hedlock and Betty. This is supported by information provided by the Temple Department of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Author; personal communication, 26 June 2012.

Reuben Hedlock stated on an application in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, while on one of his

missions, that he was born in Bath, New Hampshire, United States; ancestry.com. Reuben Hedlock’s

new.familysearch.org Person Identifier Number or PIN is LZPT-C5B. According to

new.familysearch.or, Reuben’s father was Jonathan Hadlock (Jr.) (PIN LHPJ-NFZ) and his mother is

unknown. His grandparents were Jonathan Hadlock (Sr.) (PIN LCR2-QVN) and Betty Petty (PIN

LCP4-FX8). See new.familysearch.org for the ancestry and Temple ordinance work of the

Hedlock/Hadlock family.

From new.familysearch.org and other, Church records, it appears that Reuben and his family

joined the Church in New Hampshire in 1834, with his Uncle Stephen A. Hadlock and his family

(references for Stephen A. Hadlock, PIN KVP1-C5H). His Uncle Stephen A. Hadlock died while

crossing the plains as a Mormon Pioneer on 9 Sept 1847 at Council Bluffs, Pottawattame, Iowa.

Reuben’s Uncle Samuel Hadlock and some of his family may also have joined the Church with

Reuben and Stephen (see references for Samuel Hadlock, PIN LCP8-KJJ). A Joseph Hadlock also

joined the Church and was a witness in a Church Court held by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo,

Illinois, on 10 Feb 1843; The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 2, December 1841 – April

1843, pp. 258-260. Several early Hedlock/Hadlock individuals who emigrated to Utah as Mormon

Pioneers are listed in a variety of civil records in Salt Lake City and in Weber Co, Utah; ancestry.com.

6 Elder John Taylor was a close personal friend of Reuben Hedlock. Elder Taylor was the Managing

Editor of the Times and Seasons at Nauvoo, and like Reuben was also a trained carpenter craftsman.

He assisted Reuben in the preparation of the lead engravings of the Egyptian facsimile plates which

were printed in the Times and Seasons in 1842; Manuscript History of the Church. Elder Taylor was a

native of Canada and felt close to Reuben because some of Reuben’s ancestral homes in Jay,

Orleans, Vermont, were exactly on the border of Canada. Reuben frequently referred to his family

ancestral roots as “Canadian;” several documents on ancestry.com, see particularly Beers Map of

Jay, 1878. Finally, Elder John Taylor was the presiding Apostle at Reuben’s Excommunication in

England; see 9.

The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1, 1832-1839, p. 412, suggests that Reuben

Hedlock’s first wife was Susan Dickinson Wheeler (PIN LZG8-R7M). This may not be accurate.

Susan Dickinson is her maiden name. She married first Simon Wheeler on 16 Aug 1821 at Lyman,

New Hampshire; New Hampshire Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947, ancestry.com. She probably

married second, a different Reuben Hadlock. This other Reuben Hadlock was B. 25 May 1787,

Lyman, Grafton, New Hampshire; M. Susan Dickinson Wheeler on 12 Feb 1827 at Lyman, Grafton,

New Hampshire, New Hampshire Town Records Vol 1:341; and D. 12 Sept 1850 at Lyman, Grafton,

New Hampshire. 6 E. Breck, Gospel Seeds in Scottish Soil, Ensign, Feb, 1987. 7 Numerous correspondences between President Reuben Hedlock and the Prophet Joseph Smith,

members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, family, and friends, including: Monday, 16 Oct 1843,

Letter to Willard Richards, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Nauvoo,

from Liverpool, describing the missionary efforts in Preston, England, Wales and the Isle of Man. An

extensive, published, letter, dated Wednesday, 4 Oct 1843, from President Hedlock to the First

Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Nauvoo, describing the arrival of missionaries

to serve in the British Isles. It is an extensive letter to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the

Twelve Apostles in Nauvoo, describing in detail, his missionary service in Scotland. 16 Oct 1843, A

very personal letter addressed to “President Joseph Smith and the Quorum of the Twelve at Nauvoo,”

a very tender, moving and emotional account of his feelings about his interactions with the British

Saints as the President of the British Mission and his efforts to lead in the teaching of the Gospel in

England and the responsibilities of helping them emigrate to Nauvoo. A quote from this touching letter

is included in the above text. And many other correspondences found in the Manuscript History of the

Church; the Church Historical Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. 8 B. H. Roberts, Life of John Taylor, 164-178. 9 B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 3,

124-127. 10 Death Certificate, Reuben Hedlock, died 5 July 1869, age 60 years, Gravesend, Kent Co., England.

Certified copy in possession of the author. 11 All vicarious Temple ordinances for Reuben Hedlock, from baptism to endowment, were completed

on 23 June 2012, under the direction of the First Presidency; see familysearch.org for details; Reuben

Hedlock, LZPT-C5B. Reno Nevada Temple. The complete Temple endowment was available to

Church leaders beginning 4 May 1842; Clifford James Stratton, The Facsimiles in the Pearl of Great

Price: The Prophet Joseph Smith’s “Explanations,” 2011, 100-101. It has been assumed that Reuben

Hedlock and his wife received the endowment and that their children may have been sealed to them

7 in Nauvoo under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, before Reuben’s first calling to be the

President of the British Mission, before Nov 1843; The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, 1:412. Or, he

almost certainly would have received the endowment before his second calling to serve as the

President of the British Mission after Jan 1845; Reuben Hedlock, josephsmithpapers.org. A complete

search by the Temple Department in June 2012, found Reuben’s baptism and confirmation in 1834,

and his excommunication, but there is no record of his Temple ordinances. The records may have

been lost during the Nauvoo persecutions or during the emigration from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City.

However, the point is moot, since he was Excommunicated on 17 Oct 1846 and all previous

ordinances involving Reuben Hedlock would have become invalid. Most of the Temple ordinances for

Reuben’s ancestral family have been completed by subsequent family members; familysearch.org.

The current First Presidency chose to retain his original baptism and confirmation date, 1834, on the

official Church Record on FamilySearch, LZPT-C5B. 12 John Gee, A Guide to the Joseph Smith Papyri. FARMS. 2000: 1-4. 13 Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 2:520-521. 14 Joseph Smith, The Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, Illinois, vol. III, Nos. 9, 19. Photographs of the

original lead engravings: Brian M. Hauglid, A Textual History of the Book of Abraham: Manuscripts

and Editions, FARMS, 2010, 274-276. 15 Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 4:518, 519, 543. 16 The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, Religion 327, The Church Educational System, 2. 17 gospelink.com. For details on Reuben and Charles’ shared, spiritual experiences in the Elders

Quorum at Kirtland, see link to Kirtland Elders' Quorum Record, RLDS Archives; (originally published

in Milton V. Backman, Jr. and Lyndon W. Cook, eds., Kirtland Elders' Quorum Record, 1836-1841,

Provo: Grandin Book Co., 1985). In general, the Kirtland Temple experiences are addressed in link to

Milton V. Backman, Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-day Saints in Ohio, 1830-1838. Also,

peruse gospelink.com for Kirtland Elders Quorum, Reuben Hedlock, Charles Bird. A preliminary

biography of the Bird families is treated by their descendants, Carole Openshaw, Cliff Stratton,

Margaret Dana Jorgenson and Chuck Stratton, in Clifford James Stratton, Mormon Pioneer Ancestry

of Clifford Stratton Sr., 49-56, familysearch.org, books; or amazon.com. Comprehensive Bird

information and additional pictures are at www.benjamin-freeman-bird.org/. The evolution of the

Temple ordinances is in Clifford James Stratton, The Facsimiles in the Pearl of Great Price: The

Prophet Joseph Smith’s “Explanations.” 2011, 100-101. 18 Clifford James Stratton, The Facsimiles in the Pearl of Great Price: The Prophet Joseph Smith’s

“Explanations.” 2011, English or Spanish, print or e-book at amazon.co.

Author contact: cjstratton@charter.net

(775) 673-9540

8

Reuben Hedlock Geography Clifford James Stratton, 25 May 2012

1. Born, may have married Susan Wheeler, had children: Bath, Grafton Co., New Hampshire.

2. Joined the Church 1834, Kirtland, Zion’s Camp, Nauvoo, Engraved the Egyptian Facsimiles.

Reuben and Susan Hedlock and their family

were very close to our Benjamin Bird (left), and

Charles and Mary Bird (middle and right), families.

Together, our families experienced family and

9 community events. They often attended meetings together in the Kirtland Temple.

Charles and Reuben experienced very spiritual, Testimony and Annointing Meetings in their Kirtland

Elders Quorum, under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They rejoiced when Moses, Elijah

and Elias restored the priesthood keys for the gathering of Israel and genealogy work. Both families

helped construct the Nauvoo Temple and were endowed and sealed as families in Nauvoo. At

Nauvoo, Reuben engraved the Egyptian facsimiles for the Prophet, for publication in the Book of

Abraham. At arrows, “ENG. R. HEDLOCK.”

3. President British Mission; 1843-1845, 1846. The Joint Stock Company: Bath Street, Prince’s Dock,

Liverpool, England.

10 4. Died: 5 July 1869, 2 Garrick St., Gravesend, Kent Co., England.