History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 1035
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<​March 17​> made affidavit at , that the officers of the Militia under the exterminating order of in in 1838 took possession carried off and destroyed a store of goods, of several hundred dollars value, belonging to the people called Mormons, in , that his life was threatened, his property taken, and he was obliged to flee the with <​No. 21​> his family, greatly to his disadvantage—
18 March 1840 • Wednesday
<​22 18​> Wednesday 18.
, Illinois, Adams County March 18. 1840 I do certify that I went back to the State of about the first of October last, with the calculation to live with my family, but finding it impossible as the Mob surrounded my house and threatened me with my life, Say to the amount of twenty or thirty of them, and whilst they were quarreling about me what they should do, and in what way they should dispose of me, I crept out of the back window and made my escape, and leaving my family to their most scandalous abuses; my Wife and oldest daughter barely escaping from their unholy designs— I was thus a second time obliged to leave the , or remain at the risk of my life; The former alternative I chose, My loss sustained by the above mentioned abuses was not less than three hundred dollars. A lot of land containing forty acres, for which I paid four dollars per acre, situated in , was unjustly and unlawfully taken [HC 4:69] from, and is still retained by some person or persons to me unknown— I hereby certify that the above is a true statement— ”— Sworn to before C. M. Woods
19 March 1840 • Thursday
<​19​> Thursday 19.
“I a resident of , Adams County Illinois, Practitioner of Medicine, certify that in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, I was a Citizen of , Caldwell County, Missouri, and that in the fall of said year, I saw the invaded by a numerous armed soldiery, who compelled its Inhabitants to surrender, give up their fire arms and submit to their dictation— They then set a strong guard round the , thereby preventing egress or ingress, without special permission. Then they collected the Citizens together upon the public square— formed round them a strong guard of soldiers, and then at the mouths of their rifles, compelled them to sign what was termed A Deed of Trust, thereby depriving them of all their property and civil rights— This occupied several days of most inclement weather, when they were brought to the same order by , and I Judge some forty or fifty were made special prisoners by him. At this time he delivered his speech to the Mormons which has been published, and which is substantially correct. I was compelled by a company of men armed with Rifles to leave my house, and go to ’s camp (he commanded as I understood a part of the Guard which surrounded the ) upon an indirect charge or insinuation. was detained a prisoner two days, examined and then liberated— I then asked the Clerk of the Company, who had been my keeper the following questions— which he readily answered— Were those men who massacred the Mormons [p. 1035]
March 17 made affidavit at , that the officers of the Militia under the exterminating order of in in 1838 took possession carried off and destroyed a store of goods, of several hundred dollars value, belonging to the people called Mormons, in , that his life was threatened, his property taken, and he was obliged to flee the with No. 21 his family, greatly to his disadvantage—
18 March 1840 • Wednesday
22 18 Wednesday 18.
, Illinois, Adams County March 18. 1840 I do certify that I went back to the State of about the first of October last, with the calculation to live with my family, but finding it impossible as the Mob surrounded my house and threatened me with my life, Say to the amount of twenty or thirty of them, and whilst they were quarreling about me what they should do, and in what way they should dispose of me, I crept out of the back window and made my escape, and leaving my family to their most scandalous abuses; my Wife and oldest daughter barely escaping from their unholy designs— I was thus a second time obliged to leave the , or remain at the risk of my life; The former alternative I chose, My loss sustained by the above mentioned abuses was not less than three hundred dollars. A lot of land containing forty acres, for which I paid four dollars per acre, situated in , was unjustly and unlawfully taken [HC 4:69] from, and is still retained by some person or persons to me unknown— I hereby certify that the above is a true statement— ”— Sworn to before C. M. Woods
19 March 1840 • Thursday
19 Thursday 19.
“I a resident of , Adams County Illinois, Practitioner of Medicine, certify that in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, I was a Citizen of , Caldwell County, Missouri, and that in the fall of said year, I saw the invaded by a numerous armed soldiery, who compelled its Inhabitants to surrender, give up their fire arms and submit to their dictation— They then set a strong guard round the , thereby preventing egress or ingress, without special permission. Then they collected the Citizens together upon the public square— formed round them a strong guard of soldiers, and then at the mouths of their rifles, compelled them to sign what was termed A Deed of Trust, thereby depriving them of all their property and civil rights— This occupied several days of most inclement weather, when they were brought to the same order by , and I Judge some forty or fifty were made special prisoners by him. At this time he delivered his speech to the Mormons which has been published, and which is substantially correct. I was compelled by a company of men armed with Rifles to leave my house, and go to ’s camp (he commanded as I understood a part of the Guard which surrounded the ) upon an indirect charge or insinuation. was detained a prisoner two days, examined and then liberated— I then asked the Clerk of the Company, who had been my keeper the following questions— which he readily answered— Were those men who massacred the Mormons [p. 1035]
Page 1035