99. # 1, ZION'S CAMP, and my gg grandfather, Thomas Colborn
Early Church history has always fascinated me. What inspiration the Prophet Joseph received, to be the instrument for setting up the true Church in these last days. He received "line upon line". One of those deciding experiences was when the Prophet Joseph took men on what has been historically called "Zion's Camp", in 1834.
Thomas Colborn, my gg grandfather was one of the men who went with Zion's Camp. He was the son of Jonathan Colborn and Hannah Hamilton Colborn, born 3 August 1801, at Genoa, Cayuga County, New York. He was baptized on April 15, 1833, and his wife Sarah on December 26, 1834. I wish we had more details about their conversion. As far as we can find out he is the only one of the family who accepted Mormonism, and he was opposed by his parents and some of his sisters when he joined the Church. However, he remained faithful to the cause and was a devoted Latter-day Saint all the remaining days of his life.
In 1825 Thomas Colborn married Sarah Bower, daughter of John Bower and Rosina Jung Bower of Lansing, Thompson County, New York. They had 6 children, but the second and last child died young.
Much to the displeasure of his parents and his wife’s parents, Thomas Colborn moved his family to Kirtland, Ohio, to be near the body of the Saints. He was soon a member of Zion’s Camp and experienced the terrible persecutions that Saints then endured.
In the following February 1835 the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of the Seventy were organized. Nine of the original Apostles, all seven presidents of the Seventy’s quorum, and all sixty-three other members of that quorum had served in the army of Israel that marched to western Missouri in 1834. Zion’s Camp may not have accomplished what some of the members thought it would, but as the Lord said in Doctrine and Covenants 105:19 , it served as a “trial of their faith.” Some did not pass the test and left the Church, while the faithful were strengthened by their experience.
Thomas Colborn was a faithful friend to the Prophet Joseph Smith. One of his daughters said she remembered the Prophet coming to their home and borrowing $100.00 against the objections of their Aunt Catherine. The night the money was to be returned was a wild and stormy one. Sarah Matilda, his daughter, thought surely the payment could not be made that night, but in the night Joseph Smith came with the $100.00. He had been going in the storm to raise the cash.
Personal Recollections of Those Who Know the Prophet Joseph Smith
as told by his daughter Sarah Matilda C. Pomeroy
My father, Thomas Colborn, a member of Zion's Camp, and well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph, moved from the state of New York to Nauvoo with his family in the spring of 1843. I was then in my ninth year. Upon arriving there, we camped down by the river in a little log cabin, near the Hilbert stone house. The day after our arrival, I was out in the yard, when a gentleman rode up and inquired for Thomas Colborn. Of course I did not know who it was, but there was something so noble and dignified in his appearance that it struck me forcibly. My father soon came out and shook him cordially by the hand, and called him Brother Joseph. I knew then it was the Prophet. Father invited him in and he alighted and followed him into the house. He soon told his errand.
It was quite an exciting time just then. The Prophet had been falsely accused of an attempt to murder Governor Boggs of Missouri. The mobbers had tried every means to take him, and had made their boast that if they got him, he never should return alive. Porter Rockwell, a firm friend of Joseph's, had been kidnapped and taken to Missouri as an accomplice, and was about to have his trial, but money was scarce wherewith to pay the lawyers' fees. Joseph requested my father to lend him $100.00 to pay the lawyer who defended Porter Rockwell. He explained the situation, and father freely counted out the money. "This shall be returned within three days, if I am alive," said the Prophet, and departed.
My aunt, father's sister, who was camped with us, was quite wrathy, and called my father very foolish and unwise. "Don't you know, Thomas," said she, "you will never see a cent of that money again. Here are your family without a home, and you throw your money away." "Don't worry, Katie," father replied, "if he cannot pay it, he is welcome to it." This conversation was held before us children, and I thought seriously about it. Would he pay it, or would he not? But I had strong faith that he would.
The day came when it was to be paid. A cold, wet, rainy day. The day passed. Night came; 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and we all retired for the night. Shortly after there was a knock at the door. Father arose and went to it, and there in the driving rain stood the Prophet Joseph. "Here, Brother Thomas, is the money." A light was struck, and seated at the table, he counted out the $100.00 in gold. He said, "Brother Thomas, I have been trying all day to raise this sum, for my honor was at stake. God bless you." My aunt had nothing to say. She afterwards left the Church.
My testimony is that Joseph Smith was truly a Prophet of God. This incident I have related strengthened my testimony.He received an injury so for a time he could not concentrate or think clearly. His wife Sarah knew if they didn’t go with the Saints then they likely never would so made the effort and they moved to Nauvoo shortly before the exodus and prepared an outfit so they could cross the plains. They had many hardships, but their faith never faltered.
Sarah M. Pomeroy, "Joseph Smith, the Prophet," Young Woman's Journal 17, no. 12 (December 1906): page 539.
They made their home in Salt Lake City. Thomas was a farmer as was his father. In June 1853 he was called on a Mission to Germany, and was gone 2 years. His wife, Sarah Bower (Bauer) had German ancestry. At the time of his death, April, 1887 in Salt Lake City, he was a High Priest. My great grandfather, Samuel Miles, who was a pioneer to St. George, married his daughter Hannah Marinda. Samuel and Hannah were among those called to "Dixie", and they both had parents who were faithful members, and had helped give them the faith and stamina for that important venture. In Samuel's journal he mentions that they would visit his father-in-law Thomas Colborn in Salt Lake City when they went up there for various visits.
Both of Thomas Colborn's parents had "Pennsylvania Dutch" ancestors -- and their story is quite fascinating. I'll tell more of them in later blogs. They settled "New Amsterdam", which name was changed to "New York City" after the English fought the Dutch, and won it in 1664.
We have been blessed to have in our pioneer history many different examples of experiences, including persecutions, that Saints at that time had. I am so thankful that none of my or Wayne's direct ancestors ever left the Church, and they stood by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Most of the men served several missions, and in local Church leadership positions. "Where much is given, much is required", and I truly feel that because I have been given so great a heritage, part of my mission is to help preserve and publish their stories! I truly hope that these histories will give courage to our rising generations to face trials you will have, because surely you will have them!
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