Need help in identifying early patriarch

[classylady]

I recently requested the Patriarchal blessing of my Great great grandfather.  I received a copy from Church headquarters, but for the life of me, I cannot decipher the patriarch's first name.  The last name is Smith.  At the time it was given, Sept. 1844, I cannot find any name for the church patriarch.  Patriarch Hyrum Smith died in June of 1844.  William Smith wasn't named until 1845.  Any historians out there that can help me figure this out?

 

Here is a scanned portion of the blessing:

 

 

 

If you click on the image it will expand so you can read it.

Edited December 31, 2014 by classylady

[sxfritz]

It looks like Isiz, which is a valid name out in the world. I would assume temple work was done on the name, but I didn't search for you there. 

[mordorbund]

I just read this earlier this week in the account of the Prophet's martyrdom.

 

 

Patriarch John Smith came from Macedonia to jail to see his nephew, Joseph and Hyrum. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 382)

 

Hyrum is also identified as Patriarch Hyrum Smith, so it sounds like they were contemporaries.

 

EDIT: and look - your copy even says it was done in Macedonia!

Edited December 31, 2014 by mordorbund

[Just_A_Guy]

I agree; this sounds like "Uncle John" Smith--Here's his Wikipedia article and here's an interesting Dialogue article on him.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Just_A_Guy

[classylady]

Thanks for the info Mordorbund and JAG.  I'm thinking it probably is John Smith who gave the blessing.  The first letter of his first name definitely looks like the capital J's in other parts of the blessing.  And according to the "Dialogue" article some of the blessings he gave could be somewhat dramatic, which my G. G. Grandfather's blessing somewhat had.  Thank you!

Edited December 31, 2014 by classylady

[Just_A_Guy]

The first name could be "Jno".  I see that a lot as shorthand for "Jonathan"; but this is the first time I remember seeing it used for "John".

[Vort]

I think it's "Jn" with a period, and perhaps an apostrophe or other elision mark, or maybe just a stray ink blot.

[classylady]

I've transcribed the blessing so it will be easier to read by other family members.  I'm going to go with Jn. (John) Smith as the patriarch's name.  It may not be a period, but could be a different mark showing it's short for John, but I'm not sure what that last character actually is.

 

It has been so interesting and spiritually uplifting to read the blessings of my ancestors.  The church allows you to request 4 per month (if my memory serves me correct) of direct line ancestors.

[yoyoteacher]

I won't lie, I'm a little jealous of those who grew up in the church when it comes to little things like this. As a convert, I don't have access to this sort of thing. I have one line of family that joined the church in England in the 1850s, came over on an LDS chartered ship with about 500 people, traveled all the way to Winter Quarters, and then ended up not traveling to Utah. They settled in St. Louis instead and fell away from the church.

 

Then again, as a convert I have the blessing of being able to take the names of my direct line ancestors to the temple and I would never trade that feeling for the world. Who knows, maybe I'll have lineage in the future that will request my patriarchal blessing.

[Maureen]

I think it does sound like John Smith, brother to Joseph Smith Sr. (uncle to JS Jr).

 

Appointed to preside at Macedonia (later Webster), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1843–1844.20 Ordained a patriarch, 10 Jan. 1844.21

 

http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/john-smith

 

M.

[classylady]

Just a little more information I learned about this particular ancestor.  He was baptized around 1833 and he served as secretary to Patriarch John Smith, the man who gave him his blessing.  He was also the Church Recorder at one time.  I have read a lot about him, (there's a book on his history), and I just never put two-and-two together that the Patriarch that gave my g.g. Grandfather his blessing was John Smith, the patriarch he was secretary to.  I should have caught that sooner.