Benjamin Winchester

Benjamin Winchester was serving in Sullivan Co., New York with Elder Joshua Grant, Jr. when they were encountered by Elder Jedediah M. Grant. JH, 6 Jun 1837 p. 1

JH index: 7 Jul 1838; He went to Missouri in 1834 with Zion's Camp; moved to Kirtland. There he was ordained an Elder and then Seventy. He performed several missions to the States.

JH index: 10 Feb, 20 Apr 1840 & 22 Apr 1842 - All of these JH entries are tied to Pennsylvania. Jensen does mention that this mission included Great Britain; however, Benjamin Winchester did not travel to England until August of 1840.

According to the JSP, Benjamin Winchester presided over the Philadelphia Branch from April 1840 to 15 Oct 1842. On the 11th of Aug 1840, he and his wife arrived in Liverpool. This was not strictly a mission as the destination was Staffordshire, where his bride's mother's family came from. This couple could not have stayed for very long as he is documented, through this period, as also being in Philadelphia, writing articles and letters. The MS, Vol 1., p. 135 for issue September 1840, states the following: "Elder B. Winchester with his wife (who is on a visit to her friends) arrived in Manchester on the 11th instant from New York and has proceeded on his way to Staffordshire." There is a notation that this mission lasted for 26 months, from August 11, 1840 to September 25, 1842, when he departed from the field; however, this can not be, as Benjamin wrote a letter from Philadelphia to Joseph Smith in Nauvoo on September 18, 1841, and Benjamin was on a mission in Salem, Massachusetts in August 1841. This return date has not been reconciled. He was also elected Stake President in Philadelphia at a Conference on 6 Apr 1841. Source: Mormons in Erie County, Pennsylvania, 1832-1833 by Cheryl Harmon Bills 1995, a document posted at Family Tree for Benjamin Winchester.

JH index: 16 Aug, . Elder Winchester served with Erastus Snow.31 Oct 1841 & 27 May 1843

JH index: 31 Jan 1844: nothing listed on this page for Elder Winchester.

To  preside over thirteen Elders in Virginia who were to preach the gospel and to assist with Joseph Smith's presidential campaign.