The Spalding Enigma: The Fallacy of Repetition Continued?

The Conneaut Statements Compared

	John Spalding	Martha Spalding	Oliver Smith	Nahum Howard	Aron Wright	Henry Lake	John Miller	Artemus Cunningham
	Jul/Aug 1833	Jul/Aug 1833	Aug 183	Aug 1833	Aug 1833	Sep 1833	Sep 1833	Sep 1833?
Relation to S.S.?	Brother	Sister-in-law	Landlord/neighbor	Neighbor	Neighbor	Bus. Partner	Employee/Tenet/close neighbor and friend with John Spalding	Loanee
When?	I made a visit in about three years after (1812 or 1813?)	I was at his house a short time before he left Conneaut (1812 or 1813?)	While engaged in this business (land sells) he boarded at my house, in all nearly six months. All his leisure hours were occupied writing an historical novel	first . .acquanted with Solomon Spalding in December, 1810. After that time I frequently saw him at his house, and also at my house.	first acquinted with Solomon Spalding in 1808 or '9. . .When I was at home one day. (?)	I arrived at this place [Conneaut] about the first of January [1811]. Soon after my arrival, I formed a copartnership with Solomon Spalding	In the year 1811, I was in the employ of Henry Lake and Solomon Spalding. While ther I boarded and lodged in the family of said Spalding for several months. I was soon introduced to the manuscripts	In the month of October, 1811. . .I tarried with him nearly two days.
Writing?	Writing a book	he was then writing	All his leisure hours were occupied writing an historical novel . . .I (Spalding) have been writing the history of the first Settlement of America, and I intend to go to Pittsburg, and there live a retired life, till I have completed the work	He told me he was writing a history	he was writing	from a manuscript he was writing	He soon after failed in business, and told me he would retire from the din of his creditors, finish the book and have it published.	a book, which he had been writing
Title?	Manuscript Found					Manuscript Found	Manuscript Found
Read How Much?	he (Spalding) read to me many passages	I read and heard read	During this time he was at my house, I read and heard read one hundred pages or more.	frequently showed me his writing, which I read.	one day, he showed and read to me . . .Upon the subject we had frequent conversations. . .as I read and heard read in the writings of Spalding	He very frequently read to me from a manuscript. . .I spent many hours in reading said writing, and became well acquainted with its contents.	I was soon introduced to the manuscripts of Spalding, and perused them as often as I had leisure. . . .From this [Manuscript Found] he would frequently read some humorous passages to the company present.	Before showing me his manuscript, he went into a verbal relation of its outlines. . .He then presented the manuscript, when we sat down, and spent a good share of the night in reading them, and conversing upon them.
Introduction?						Manuscript Found', and which he represented a being found in this town		Purported to have been a record found buried in the earth, or in a cave
Romance?	historical romance	historical novel	historical novel	a history	a history		a historic novel	fabulous or romantic history
About?	first settlers of America	founded upon the first settlers of America	founded upon the first settlers of this country. . .first settlers of America	account of the inhabitants once in this country	first settlers of America		It purported to be a history of the first settlement of America, before discovered by Columbus.	of the first settlers of this country. . . .account of the first inhabitants of America
Race?	show that American Indians are descendants of Jews or lost tribes	He had for many years contended that the aborigines of America were the descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, and his idea is carried out in the book in question		lost tribes of Israel. . .and that the Indians were there descendents	This book represented the American Indians as the descendants of the lost tribes
Journey?	It gave a detailed account of their journey	He gave a particular account of their journey	He intended to trace their journey		He traced their journey		detailing their travels
Why?			There main objective was to escape the judgment which they supposed were coming upon the old world.
From where?	from Jerusalem	first came off from Jerusalem	from Jerusalem		from Jerusalem	gave an account of their leaving Jerusalem	He brought them off from Jerusalem
To where?	till they arrived in America	till they arrived in America	till their arrival in America		to America		landing at the Straits of Darien. . .they were marched about the country for a length of time. . .he brought them across North America in a northeast direction.
By?	land and sea	land and sea	by land and sea				land and sea
Leaders named?	under the command of Nephi and Lehi	Nephi and Lehi are yet fresh in my memory as the principle heroes of this tale. They were officers�	Nephi and Lehi were by him represented as leading characters					Nephi, which appeared to be the principle hero of the story.
Disputations?	quarrels and contentions	disputes arose between the chiefs	gave an account of their . . .contentions			gave account of their. . .contentions. . .which were many and great
Resulting in?	separated into two distinct nations	caused them to separate into two different bands
Nations named?	denominated Nephites, and the other Lamanites	one of which was called Lamanites, and the other Nephites
Wars?	Cruel and bloody wars ensued	Between these two were recounted tremendous battles	gave and account of their. . .wars			gave account of their. . .wars. . .which were many and great	they were marched about the country for a length of time, in which wars and great bloodshed ensued.
Dead?	great multitudes were slain	which covered the ground with the slain
Buried?	They buried their dead in large heaps	their being buried in large heaps
Mounds?	which caused the mounds so common in this country	was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country	In this way, he would give a satisfactory account of all the old mounds so common to this country	erected. . .mounds, etc.
Fortifications?				who erected old forts	account for all the fortifications
Description of people?		some of these people he represented as being very large
Specific accounts?						One time, when he was reading to me the tragic account of laban,	From this [Manuscript Found] he would frequently read some humorous passages to the company present.
Art,Science,etc.	Their arts, sciences and civilizations were brought into view	enlightened and warlike people	gave an account of their arts, sciences, civilizations				detailing. . .their manners, customs, laws
Why stated?	in order to account for all the curious antiquities found in the various parts of North and South America							He attempted to account for the numorous antiquities which are found upon this continent
Writing style?	he wrote in the old style	the old, obsolete style						he had adopted the ancient scripture style of writing
Example of style?	commenced about every sentence with 'And it came to pass' or Now it came to pass"	the phrases of "and it came to pass' &c. are the same				I well recollect telling Mr. Spaulding that the so freuquent use of the words 'And it came to pass,' and 'Now it came to pass,' rendered it ridiculous		The frequent repetition of the phrase, 'I Nephi,' I recollect as distinctly as though it was but yesterday.
Read BoM?	I recently read the Book of Mormon	I have read the Book of Mormon	When I heard the historical part of it [the Book of Mormon] related. . .Soon after, I obtained the book, and on reading it. . .	I have lately read the Book of Mormon		Some months ago, I borrowed the Golden Bible. . .About a week after, my wife. . .commenced reading it aloud as I lay upon the bed.	I have recently examined the Book of Mormon	The Mormon Bible I have partially examined
Same historical?	I find it nearly the same historic matter	I have no manner of doubt that the historical parts are the same	When I heard the historical part related, I at once said it was the writings of Solomon Spalding. . .found much of it the same as Spalding had written		He traced their journey. . .as it is given in the Book of Mormon.The historical parts of the Book of Mormon I know to be the same . . .as the writtings of Spalding. . .the historical part of the Book of Mormon , were as familiar to me before I read it, as most modern history.	One time, when he was reading to me the tragic account of laban, I pointed out to him what I considered an inconsistency, which he promised ot correct: but. . .referring to the Book of Mormon. . .I find. . .it stands there just as he read it to me then. . . .I was astonished to find the same passages in it [the Book of Mormon] that Spalding had read to me. . . .I. . .have no hesitation in saying that the historical part of it is principally, if not wholly, taken from the manuscript Found
Same names?	nearly the same. . .names				the names, especially, are the same without any alteration. . .I will observe the names. . .were as familiar to me before I read it [the Book of Mormon]		The names of Nephi, Lehi, and Moroni, and in fact all the principal names, are brought fresh to my recollection by the Golden Bible.	I well remember the name of Nephi
Same in general	it is the same as my Brother Solomon wrote		I. . .found much of it the same as Spalding had written	believe it to be the same as Spalding had written	If it is not Spaldings writing, it is the same as he wrote		I. . .find in it [the Book of Mormon] the writings of Solomon Spalding, from beginning to end. . .Many of the passages in the Mormon book are verbatim from Splading, and other in part.	I. . .am fully of the opinion that Solomon Spalding had written its [the Mormon Bible] its outline before he left Conneaut.
Exceptions?	It is the same. . .with the exception of the religious matter		But no religious matter was introduced as I now recollect.	I. . .believe it to be the same as Spalding wrote, except the religious part.	except the religious matter		but mixed up with Scripture and other religious matter, which I did not meet with in the Manuscript Found.
How long ago?		more than twenty years ago	more than twenty years before		more than twenty years ago	more than twenty years before		the lapse of twenty-two years.
Publish?			I intend to go to Pittsburg. . .and when it is printed. . .	he intended to get his writing published in Pittsburg		He wished me to assist him in getting his production printed, alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid sale. . . .but. . .we failed in business, when I declined to have anything to do with publication of the book.
Intent of publishing	the avails of which he though would enable him to pay all debt		when it is printed, it will bring me a fine sum of money, which will enable me to return and pay off all my debts	in one centuries time, it [the history] would be believed as any other history	in time it would fully believed by all, except learned men and historians. . . .I think it was by the same spirit that Spalding was, which he confessed to be the love of money.	Spalding left here in 1812 and I furnished him the means to carry him to Pittsburgh, where he said he would get the book printed and pay me.	that in after years it would be believed by many people as much as the history of England. . . .He soon after failed in business, and told me he would retire from the din of his creditors, finish the book and have it published, which would enable him to pay his debts and support his family.	his only hope of ever paying his debts, appeared to be upon the sale of the book, which he had been writing. He endeavored to convince me from the nature and character of the work, that it would meet with a ready sale. . . .He. . .remarked that, after this generation had passed away, his account of the first inhabitants of America would be considered as authentic as any other history.
Qualifiers?	By what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph Smith, Jr., I am unable to determine	The lapse of time which has intervened, prevents my recollecting but a few of the leading incidents of his writing						. . .although the general features of the story have passed from my memory through the lapse of twenty-two years.
Other manuscripts?					Spalding had many other manuscripts		I was soon introduced to the manuscripts of Spalding. . .He had written two or three books or pamphlets on different subjects

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Last updated 7/14/01