Martin Harris was age 45 when the pages were lost. This group of men would be the movers and shakers in Palmyra. They were not ready for nor do they want the rocking chair approach to life. Martin showed a “particular friend” the 116 page manuscript—no doubt someone near his age on the list below or someone above his age group. He would not be willing to compromise his covenant to show someone younger the pages. This age group would be considered the sandwich generation and feel the weight of aging parents and teenage children. They would be impressive in town, socially maneuvering into ever more influential groups, and busy accumulating wealth and leveraging their economic position.
Ackley, Stephen – age 47
Beckwith, Nathaniel H. – age 43
Anderson, Wells – age 40
Bradish, Luther – age 45
Cole, Abner – age 45
Durfee, Isaac – age 43
Jackway, David – age 41
Lakey, Abner F. – age 41
Lawrence, Samuel – age 42
Seymour, Dr. Ezra – age 44
Stafford, William – age 42
Thayer, Joel – age 41
Thayer, Levi – age 41