The “Manuscript Found,” or “Manuscript Story” of the Late Rev. Solomon Spalding, From a Verbatim Copy of the Original Now in the Care of Pres. James H. Fairchild of Oberlin College, Ohio: Including Correspondence Touching This Manuscript, Its Preservation and Transmission until It Came into the Hands of the Publishers

In an 1833 affidavit, the author’s sister-in-law summarizes the plot as follows: “I was at [Spalding's] house a short time before he left Conneaut; he was then writing a historical novel founded upon the first settlers of America. He represented them as an enlightened and warlike people. He had for many years contended that the aborigines of American were descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question . . . disputes arose between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different bands, one of which was called Lamanites and the other Nephites. Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently covered the ground with slain; and their being buried in large heaps was the cause of numerous mounds in the country.”

Solomon Spalding (1761—1816), born in Ashford, Connecticut, was a member of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and was later educated at Dartmouth College.