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Affidavit from William Daniels, 4 July 1844, John McEwan Copy

Source Note

William Daniels, Affidavit, before
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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,
Hancock Co.

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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, IL, 4 July 1844; handwriting of John McEwan; dockets in unidentified handwriting; two pages; JS Office Papers, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to State of Illinois v. Williams et al. and State of Illinois v. Elliott–C.

Page [2]

before the
Governor

5 Dec. 1800–3 Nov. 1850. Schoolteacher, newspaperman, lawyer, politician, judge, author. Born in Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Robert Ford and Elizabeth Logue Forquer. Moved to St. Louis, 1804; to New Design (later American Bottom), Randolph...

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returned. that they then turned to th[e]
1

TEXT: “th[page torn]”; missing text supplied from context.


left between the
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

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and
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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Road and were not seen again by your affiant till they arrived at the Jail in
Carthag[e]

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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2

TEXT: “Carthag[page torn]”; missing text supplied from context.


that among the names of those who committed the murder at the Jail in
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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Hancock County aforesaid on the 27th. day of June 1844, At about 5 oclock and 20 minutes was Col
Levi Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

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of green plains precinct, Capt. [Alexander] Wires, Chittenden Esqr of
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

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, Lockwood of
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

More Info
, Houck the Sailor, Capt. Grovenor three brothers by the name of Stephens; Coopers, Allen a Cooper, all of
warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

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and a man by the name of Wells was wounded in the right arm
That your affiant would further state that his Company before mentioned were painted black; that the Guns of the guard of the Jail were loaded with blank catridges, that this was an arrangement entered into by the Carthage greys as said the messenger who came to meet said Company in the morning: that your said affiant saw Joseph Smith leap from the window of the Jail, and that one of the Company picked him up & placed him against the well curb, and several shot him,
Col Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

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exclaiming shoot him! shoot him! Damn him! shoot him! and further your affiant saith not.
Daniel M
William M Daniels
Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 4th day of July 1844.
(signed)
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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J. P. L. S.
3

TEXT: “L. S.” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


 

Dockets in red ink in unidentified handwriting.


July 4— 1844
Deposition of Wm. M. Daniels recognized as authentic by
A. Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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— an.— 1867.
 
July 4— 1844—
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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Deposition of Wm. M. Daniels relating to the Murder of Joseph &
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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. [p. [2]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [2]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Affidavit from William Daniels, 4 July 1844, John McEwan Copy
ID #
7766
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • John McEwan
  • Unidentified

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: “th[page torn]”; missing text supplied from context.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “Carthag[page torn]”; missing text supplied from context.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “L. S.” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  4. new scribe logo

    Dockets in red ink in unidentified handwriting.

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