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Petition to George O. Tompkins, between 9 and 15 March 1839, Copy [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]

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Alanson Ripley

8 Jan. 1798–before 1860. Surveyor, lawyer. Born at New York. Son of Asa Ripley and Polly Deforest. Married Sarah Finkle. Resided in Massachusetts, 1827. Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition...

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,
Heber C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

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,
William Huntington

28 Mar. 1784–19 Aug. 1846. Farmer, brick maker, potash manufacturer. Born in New Grantham, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of William Huntington and Prescendia Lathrop. Married first Zina Baker, 28 Dec. 1806, in Plainfield, Sullivan Co. Moved to Watertown...

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,
Joseph B. Noble

14 Jan. 1810–17 Aug. 1900. Farmer, miller, stock raiser. Born in Egremont, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ezekiel Noble and Theodotia Bates. Moved to Penfield, Monroe Co., New York, 1815. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, ca. 1828. Baptized...

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, and JS, Petition,
Liberty

Located in western Missouri, thirteen miles north of Independence. Settled 1820. Clay Co. seat, 1822. Incorporated as town, May 1829. Following expulsion from Jackson Co., 1833, many Latter-day Saints found refuge in Clay Co., with church leaders and other...

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, Clay Co., MO, to
George O. Tompkins

20 Mar. 1780–4 Apr. 1846. Judge. Born in Fluvanna Co., Virginia. Son of Benjamin Tompkins and Elizabeth Goodloe. Moved to Jefferson Co., Kentucky, where he taught school, by 1806. Moved to Franklin, Howard Co., Missouri, and practiced law, 1816. Married Elizabeth...

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, [
Jefferson City

City on south bank of Missouri River, about 130 miles west of St. Louis. Became capital of Missouri, 11 Jan. 1822. Population in 1844 about 1,200.

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, Cole Co., MO], between 9 and 15 Mar. 1839. Version copied [between late Apr. and early June 1839]; handwriting of
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

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; six pages; JS Collection, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Petition to George O. Tompkins, between 9 and 15 Mar. 1839 [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason].
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Petition to George O. Tompkins, between 9 and 15 March 1839 [ State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason ]

Page [2]

Some of them have acknowledged since, which your Petitioners do testify, and are able to prove, that they did swear false, and that they did it in Order to save their Lives, and yr. Petitioners testify that all the Testimony that had any tendency or bearing of criminality against said Joseph Smith Junr. is false, we are personally acquainted with the Circumstances, and being with him most of the time, and being present at the times spoken of by them, therefore we know that their Testimony was false, and if he could have had a fair and impartial and lawful examination before that Court, and could have been allowed the priviledge of introducing his Witnesses, he could have disproved every thing that was against him, but the Court, suffered them to be intimidated, some of them in the presence of the Court, and they were driven also, and hunted, and some of them entirely driven out of the
State

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, and thus he was not able to have a fair Trial, that the Spirit of the Court was tyranical and overbearing, and the whole transaction of his treatment, during the examination was calculated to convince your Petitioners that it was a religious persecution, proscribing him in the liberty of Conscience, which is guaranteed to him by the Constitution of the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

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, and the State of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, that a long Catalogue of garbled Testimony was permitted by the Court, purporting to be the religious Sentiment, of the said Joseph Smith Junr., which Testimony was false, and yr. Petitioners know that it was false, and can prove also that it was false, because the Witneses testified that those sentiments were promulged on certain Days, and in the presence of large Congregations, and yr. Petitioners can prove by those Congregations that the said Joseph Smith Junr. did not promulge such ridiculous and absurd sentiments for his Religion, as was testified of, and admitted before the honorable
Austin A. King

21 Sept. 1802–22 Apr. 1870. Attorney, judge, politician, farmer. Born at Sullivan Co., Tennessee. Son of Walter King and Nancy Sevier. Married first Nancy Harris Roberts, 13 May 1828, at Jackson, Madison Co., Tennessee. In 1830, moved to Missouri, where he...

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, and at the same time those things had no bearing on the Case, that the said Joseph Smith Junr. was pretended to be charged with, and after the examination the said Prisoner was committed to the Jail for Treason against the State of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, whereas the said Joseph Smith Junr. did not levy War against the State of
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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, neither did he commit [p. [2]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Petition to George O. Tompkins, between 9 and 15 March 1839, Copy [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]
ID #
2025
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Sloan

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