Affidavit, 24 June 1843 [JS v. Reynolds and Wilson–A]
Source Note
JS, Affidavit, before Charles Chase, , Lee Co., IL, 24 June 1843, JS v. Reynolds and Wilson–A (Lee Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844); handwriting of and ; signature of JS; certified by Charles Chase, 24 June 1843; docket by Charles Chase, [, Lee Co., IL, 24 June 1843]; notation by Charles Chase, 24 June 1843; docket by unidentified scribe, [ca. 25 June 1843]; three pages; first leaf of bifolium at BYU; photostat of verso of second leaf in JS v. Joseph H. Reynolds and Harmon T. Wilson, 1843–1845, CHL.
Bifolium measuring 12¼ × 7½ inches (31 × 19 cm). The affidavit was folded, and the leaves subsequently became separated. The second leaf is apparently not extant.
After its creation and use in JS’s legal proceedings, the document was presumably stored in the Lee County Courthouse during the remainder of the nineteenth century and for much of the twentieth century. By 1973, photostats of the first leaf and the verso of the second leaf had been donated to the Church Historical Department (now CHL). It is unclear from the photostats whether the leaves were still connected at that point. (See Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 5, 9.) In 1982, Lee County Circuit Court files were transferred to the Illinois Regional Archives Depository at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. (Inventory, 25 Oct. 1982, Lee Co., IL, Circuit Court Case Records, 1840–1940, Founders Memorial Library, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.) On an unknown date, the affidavit was removed from the case file. By 1998, the first leaf, which contains the text of the affidavit, was acquired by Brigham Young University. (See Case File for JS, Deposition, 24 June 1843, BYU.) The second leaf has not been located.
verily believes illegal and without competent authority of Law for the Same, and this deponent says that he is informed and verily believes it to be true that it is the intention of said defendants to convey this deponent to the State of , whereof wherefore and by reason whereof this deponent saith he is injured and hurt sustained damage and injury <and that the same is in danger of being lost unless said defendants be held to bail>— to the amount of and claims damages to the amounount of ten thousand dollars—
Joseph Smith
Subscribed and Sworn to)
before me this 24th day of)
June AD 1843)
Charles T. Chase Clerk Cir Courts [1/2 page blank] [p. [2]]