170 years ago today - 19 December 1842, Monday

[William Clayton Writings] The prophet had no intention of defaulting, but the pressures became so great that he finally decided to take advantage of the new Bankruptcy Act of 1841 and file for discharge, still planning to make full payment of all his debts when he was able.

At first Justin Butterfield opposed such action, partly because of Joseph's responsibilities as trustee-in-trust for the church. Shortly after Joseph's delegation arrived in Springfield, however, Hyrum Smith was actually discharged in bankruptcy and Butterfield himself consented to an ``arrangement'' whereby Joseph also could be discharged. So confident was Willam Clayton of the outcome that he wrote in his diary on his way home that ``there is now nothing to prevent pres. Joseph discharge in Bankruptcy.''

[Source: Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]

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