In an effort to narrow our scope, we turn to clues provided in the scriptures. In the First Vision account in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith said, “Men of high standing took notice to excite the public mind against him.” We presume that we are not looking for a transient passing through Palmyra who just happened to break into one of the Harris homes and steal 116 pages. Paper that was written on would be of no value to a transient.
We are looking for men of means and influence. Doctrine and Covenants 10:37 states, “But as ye cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.” Hoping that the time is now when the Lord “shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter (116 pages),” and since we “cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous,” we now attempt to make a list of possible culprits.
To create the list books and articles on Palmyra that include the year 1828 were read. The reading included Mormon and anti-Mormon writings. As names of individuals were mentioned, they were added to what became an ever-growing list. We then entered the research phase which continues to date. We wrote to descendants, libraries, historical societies, and other repositories to learn more about each possible person of interest who may have taken the pages. This was followed by extensive research in the greater Palmyra area. The approach might best be described as “shot gun”—gather information on all persons of interest until there is enough information to begin eliminating those who do not appear to have a strong motive to steal the 116 pages. Is the approach exhaustive? Yes! Is it worth it? If it provides clues to finding the 116 pages.
Our hope was to recreate a social grouping map of individuals in Palmyra between the dates of June 14-July 7, 1828. Although we are not that precise, we now have social groupings for the year 1828. Note that the groupings you see do not include the entire town of Palmyra, only those men named in Mormon and anti-Mormon sources.
Age at the time the 116 pages were lost
This grouping places our “possible wicked men” in age-group categories. Why this is important? Think about your social friends—contemporaries. Most people choose their closest friends in their same age category. For example, teenagers choose to “hang out” with other teenagers and toddlers look for other toddlers to play with.
Men in their Fifties and Sixties
Men in their Forties
Men in their Thirties
Men in their Twenties
Men Age 18-23
Boys Age 10-17
Other Social Groupings
Neighbors of the Joseph Smith Sr. family in Palmyra
Neighbors when the Smiths lived on Stafford Road in Palmyra
Neighbors of the Martin Harris family in Palmyra
Town Officers in Palmyra
Republican Young Men of the Town of Palmyra
Bankers
Doctors
Lawyer or Judge
Masonic Lodge
Owned Commercial Property in Palmyra
Worked in a Commercial Property in Palmyra
Religious Affiliation
Places of Death
Died in Palmyra
Death in Michigan
Death in Wisconsin
Death in Ohio
Family Ties
The old saying, “Blood is stronger than water” needs to be considered. The man who kept the lost pages may have told a brother, cousin, etc. I am finding much inbreeding in Palmyra. The possible “wicked men” married into a family of other possible “wicked men” in Palmyra.