Introduction to Copeland v. A. Brown

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Copeland v. A. Brown

Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Mayor’s Court, 5 September 1842

Historical Introduction

On or shortly before 1 September 1842, Asa Copeland filed a complaint against for not paying him $44.37½ for work he performed. JS issued a summons for Brown to appear before him in the mayor’s court on 5 September.

The outcome of the case is unknown. By 3 September, JS was in hiding to evade arrest for his alleged complicity in the attempted assassination of governor . The docket entry simply noted JS’s absence and stated that “the Cause could not be proceeded upon.”

Calendar of Documents

This calendar lists all known documents created by or for the court, whether extant or not. It does not include versions of documents created for other purposes, though those versions may be listed in footnotes. In certain cases, especially in cases concerning unpaid debts, the originating document (promissory note, invoice, etc.) is listed here. Note that documents in the calendar are grouped with their originating court. Where a version of a document was subsequently filed with another court, that version is listed under both courts.

Footnotes

1
Docket Entry, between 2 and ca. 5 Sept. 1842 [Copeland v. A. Brown]; Summons, 1 Sept. 1842 [Copeland v. A. Brown]. Additionally, Brown was to appear before JS on September 5 to defend a claim made by Joseph Harwood. Illinois law gave justices of the peace jurisdiction over claims “for work or labor done, or services rendered, where the amount claimed shall not exceed one hundred dollars.” (See Summons, 1 Sept. 1842 [Harwood v. Brown]; Docket Entry, ca. 1 Sept. 1842 [Harwood v. Brown]; An Act concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 June 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 402, sec. 1.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.
2
See “Nauvoo Journals, December 1841–April 1843”; JS, Journal, 3 Sept. 1842; Thomas Ford, Order Discharging Joseph Smith, 6 Jan. 1843.

Introduction to Copeland v. A. Brown

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