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Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845

1 March 1845 • Saturday, continued Page 1 4 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 32 11 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 77 18 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 131 22 March 1845 • Saturday Page 181 25 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 231 5 April 1845 • Saturday Page 266 11 April 1845 • Friday Page 267 15 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 327 22 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 349 29 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 355 6 May 1845 • Tuesday Page 361

Source Note

See source note under Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845.

Historical Introduction

See historical introduction under Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845.

Page [115]

defenceless servants of God, our Prophet and our Patriarch, before the senate of that
state

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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rescued one of the indicted actors in that mournful tragedy, from the
Sheriff

24 Feb. 1810–10 Sept. 1845. Teacher, farmer. Born in Sharon, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. Son of Stephen Deming and Sarah Buel. Moved to Cincinnati, 1836. Married Abigail Barnum, 2 Aug. 1836, in Danbury, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. Moved to St. Mary’s Township...

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of
Hancock county

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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and gave him an honorable seat in her hall of legislation.
172

Following his indictment for participating in the murder of JS, Jacob C. Davis, the state senator for Hancock County, was arrested by Sheriff Miner R. Deming in Springfield, Illinois, while the legislature was in session in December 1844. In response, the senate created a committee to investigate Davis’s arrest. Following a brief examination, the senate ordered Deming to immediately discharge Davis. (Journal of the Senate . . . of Illinois, 2 and 26 Dec. 1844, 3, 117–118, 121–122; “Arrest of the Hon. Jacob C. Davis,” Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, 157–158.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Journal of the Senate of the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, 1844.

Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, at Their Session Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Vol. 1. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1845.

And all others who were indicted by the grand jury of
Hancock county

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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for the murder of Generals Joseph and
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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, are suffered to roam at large watching for further prey.
173

In September 1844 Aaron Johnson, a justice of the peace in Nauvoo, Illinois, issued a warrant for the arrest of Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp for their alleged roles in the murders of JS and Hyrum Smith based on an affidavit sworn by John Taylor. However, through a deal brokered by Governor Thomas Ford, both men were released on a recognizance to appear before the Hancock County Circuit Court at the May term. Shortly thereafter, a Hancock County grand jury indicted Williams, Sharp, John Wills, William Vorees, William H. Grover, Jacob C. Davis, Mark Aldrich, and two men known only by their last names—Gallaher and Allen—for the murders. Though a writ was later issued to arrest these men, only Davis was detained—albeit temporarily—prior to the trial. (John Taylor, Affidavit, 21 Sept. 1844; Warrant for Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp, 21 Sept. 1844; Recognizance Bond for Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp, 2 Oct. 1844; Indictment, 26 Oct. 1844, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, Civil and Criminal Files, 1830–1860, State of Illinois v. Williams et al. [Hancock Co. Cir. Ct. 1845], microfilm 1,521,604, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Thomas Ford, Agreement, 30 Sept. 1844, CHL; “Arrest of the Hon. Jacob C. Davis,” Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, 157–158.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Ford, Thomas. Agreement, 30 Sept. 1844. CHL.

Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, at Their Session Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Vol. 1. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1845.

To crown the climax of those bloody deeds, the
state

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...

More Info
has repealed all those chartered rights by which we might have defended ourselves against aggressors. If we defend ourselves hereafter against violence, whether it comes under the shadow of law or otherwise, (for we have reason to expect it both ways,) we shall then be charged with treason, and suffer the [p. [115]]
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Source Note

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Page [115]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845
ID #
11602
Total Pages
385
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [172]

    Following his indictment for participating in the murder of JS, Jacob C. Davis, the state senator for Hancock County, was arrested by Sheriff Miner R. Deming in Springfield, Illinois, while the legislature was in session in December 1844. In response, the senate created a committee to investigate Davis’s arrest. Following a brief examination, the senate ordered Deming to immediately discharge Davis. (Journal of the Senate . . . of Illinois, 2 and 26 Dec. 1844, 3, 117–118, 121–122; “Arrest of the Hon. Jacob C. Davis,” Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, 157–158.)

    Journal of the Senate of the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, 1844.

    Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, at Their Session Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Vol. 1. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1845.

  2. [173]

    In September 1844 Aaron Johnson, a justice of the peace in Nauvoo, Illinois, issued a warrant for the arrest of Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp for their alleged roles in the murders of JS and Hyrum Smith based on an affidavit sworn by John Taylor. However, through a deal brokered by Governor Thomas Ford, both men were released on a recognizance to appear before the Hancock County Circuit Court at the May term. Shortly thereafter, a Hancock County grand jury indicted Williams, Sharp, John Wills, William Vorees, William H. Grover, Jacob C. Davis, Mark Aldrich, and two men known only by their last names—Gallaher and Allen—for the murders. Though a writ was later issued to arrest these men, only Davis was detained—albeit temporarily—prior to the trial. (John Taylor, Affidavit, 21 Sept. 1844; Warrant for Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp, 21 Sept. 1844; Recognizance Bond for Levi Williams and Thomas C. Sharp, 2 Oct. 1844; Indictment, 26 Oct. 1844, Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court, Civil and Criminal Files, 1830–1860, State of Illinois v. Williams et al. [Hancock Co. Cir. Ct. 1845], microfilm 1,521,604, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Thomas Ford, Agreement, 30 Sept. 1844, CHL; “Arrest of the Hon. Jacob C. Davis,” Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, 157–158.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Ford, Thomas. Agreement, 30 Sept. 1844. CHL.

    Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, at Their Session Begun and Held at Springfield, December 2, 1844. Vol. 1. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1845.

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