Small Kirtland Camp Group
A small group of about nine wagons left the main Kirtland Camp group near the Mississippi River about September 18, 1838*. On October 23, 1838, this group was detained for three days at Whitney’s Mill, Livingston County, by a ‘patrol’ of about 40 men organized to prevent the immigration of any more ‘Mormons’ into the area. On the afternoon of October 26th this group left Whitney’s Mill, travelled all night, and paused to bury a son of Nathan Knight. On October 27th, they made their way to the residence of a friend near Hawn’s Mill. Most of the group arrived at Hawn’s Mill, Sunday October 28th about noon.
Joseph Young 1797-1881
Joseph was Brigham Young’s brother and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He did not go into the blacksmith shop during the attack and was not injured. He assisted in burying the dead. He wrote a first-hand account.
• Jane Adeline Bicknell Young 1814-1913
Wrote a first-hand account
o Jane Adeline Young 1834-1907
o Joseph Bicknell Young 1836-1858
o Seymour Bicknell Young 1837-1924
George Spencer Richards 1823-1838
George was born in Richmond, Massachusetts, the fifteen-year-old son of Phineas and Wealthy Dewey Richards. He travelled with the Joseph Young family. Joseph Young was his father’s cousin. He was on guard duty when he was killed.
Levi Newton Merrick/Myrick 1808-1838
Levi was killed at Hawn’s Mill.
• Philinda Clark Eldredge Merrick/Myrick 1809-1852
Philinda wrote a first-hand account.
o Charles Merrick/Myrick 1828-1838
Charles was mortally wounded and died November 25, 1838.
o Fannie Merrick/Myrick 1831-1911
o George Levi Merrick/Myrick 1834-1875
o Newton Mosiah Merrick/Myrick 1836-1911
Warren Smith 1794-1838
Warren was killed at Hawn’s Mill.
• Amanda Melissa Barnes Smith 1809-1886
Amanda wrote at least four separate accounts of the attack. Her husband Warren and their son Sardius were killed at Hawn’s Mill.
Another son Alma was seriously injured but miraculously recovered. As she made her escape from the mill, a number of bullets passed
through her clothes but she was not injured.
o Willard Gilbert Smith 1827-1903
Willard was eleven-years-old at the time of the attack. He made several attempts to go into the blacksmith shop but was
unable to enter. Instead he fled and found temporary safety in two homes, then fled across the millrace to the opposite
side of Shoal Creek where he observed the rest of the attack from behind a sycamore tree. He was the first person to enter
the blacksmith shop following the assault. Willard wrote a first-hand account.
o Sardius Washington Smith 1828-1838
Sardius was nine-years-old and was killed in the blacksmith shop.
o Alma Lamoni Smith 1831-1887
Alma was seven-years-old and a twin to Alvira. He went into the blacksmith shop at the time of the attack and hid behind
the bellows along with his brother Sardius and Charles Merrick. He was wounded in the hip and miraculously recovered.
o Alvira Lavona Smith 1831-1921
Alvira was a twin to Alma.
o Ortencia Howard Smith 1837-1908
Nathan Kinsman Knight 1802-1874
Nathan buried a son soon after leaving Whitney’s Mill and before arriving at Hawn’s Mill. While yelling for quarters his finger was shot off and
another one injured. In making his escape he was wounded in his leg and back. Nathan wrote a first-hand account.
• Lucinda Sanborn Knight 1806-1842
o Levi Knight 1823-1843
o John Knight 1825-1838
o Mary Knight 1827-1894
o Frances Knight 1829-1892
o Zelotus Knight 1831-1863
o Emma Knight 1837-
Abraham Whitney Palmer 1807-1875
Abraham wrote a first-hand account.
• Patience Delilah Pierce Palmer 1809-1894
Patience wrote a first-hand account.
o Luther Moses Palmer 1827-1919
o John Quincy Palmer 1829-1840
o Elizabeth Palmer 1831-1844
o Ann Eliza Palmer 1833-1904
o Susannah Charlotte Palmer 1835-185
o Abraham Pierce Palmer 1838-1846
George Washington Clyde Sr. 1798-1844
• Cynthia Davis Clyde 1806-1879
o George Washington Clyde Jr. 1825-1899
George was raised by Solomon and Fanny Davis from four years of age.
o Solomon Davis Clyde 1827-1882
o William Morgan Clyde 1829-1919
o Edward Prentis Clyde 1831-1909
o Almon Davis Clyde 1834-1898
o Lucy Bethia Clyde 1836-1903
[Solomon Davis 1797-1838
Solomon died on the way at McDonough County, Illinois.]
• Fanny Davis 1801-
Sister of George Washington Clyde S
o George Washington [Clyde Jr.] Davis 1825-1899
George’s biological parents are George Washington Clyde Sr. and Cynthia Davis Clyde.
He was raised by Solomon and Fanny from four years of age.
David C. Deming 1798-?
David wrote a first-hand account.
• Mary Ann
Jonas Putnam?
*Gordon Orville Hill, A History of Kirtland Camp: Its Initial Purpose and Notable Accomplishments, BYU Master’s Thesis, p. 113, 1975; History of the Church, Volume 3, pp. 140-41.
