A Bill of Damagees Susstaind by the Jackson County Mob of Missoury 1833

Five years I was Deprived of the youse of my Farm

1200 feet of Sqare Timber Stolen

02 thousand feet of Square of Shingle

40 Perch of Stone Laid in the Wall in Lime Morter

4 Window frames & one Door frame all of Oak Plank

Diggin the Suller 28 feet by the 20

2500 or 3000 Rails

Also the Land Strip of All the Best Timber on 100 Hundred

Acres

the Loss of 1 Cow & Caff 6 Hoogs

[Not sworn.]

With intrust from Date at 12 per sent Jackson County Independance Missouri November 5the 1833

James H. Aldridge

[Not sworn.]

Gideon Allen loss of property be being driven out of Missouri

The amount lost $900

[Not sworn.]

I removed my family from the state of Michigan to Clay county, Missouri, in the year 1835, where I lived in peace with the people, on my own land, eighteen months or more, when the people began to be excited in consequence of the emigration of our people to that county. The excitement became so great that I was obliged to sell my place at half price, and removed to the county of Caldwell, where I purchased me a farm, and settled my family, and made a good improvement, and was in a good situation to support my family, and there lived in peace with the people until the summer and fall of 1838, when the mob began to rise, and we were obliged to fly to arms in self defense; but notwithstanding our exertion, they murdered and massacred many of our people. We applied to the governor for assistance, and his reply to us was, “If you have got into a scrape with the mob, you must fight it out yourselves, for I cannot help you.” The mob still increased, until I was obliged to remove my family to Far West, and there remained, surrounded with mobs of murderers, until General Clark arrived with his army, with the governor’s exterminating order. Then we were all taken prisoners; our arms taken away; they then treated us with all the cruelty they were masters of, and took possession of whatever they pleased, burnt timber, and laid waste town and country.

I heard General Clark say, that he would execute the Governor’s order; “but [said he] [2] notwithstanding, I will vary so much as to give some lenity for the removal of this people, and you must leave the state immediately, for you need not expect to raise another crop here.” Those who were not taken to prison, were permitted to return to their homes to make preparations to leave the state. Finding I had no safety for myself and family in Missouri, I fled to Illinois for safety.

T. ALVORD.

[Sworn to before D. W. Kilbourn, J.P., Lee Co., IA.]

State of misouri debter to Elijah Averett fourteen hundred 65 dollas

A list of propperty stolen by the mob of misouri

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouria [Dr.] To Albert Clements

[Not sworn.]

Barnet Cole-Against the State of Missour in a bill of Damage

[Not sworn.]

damiges done by the State of [Misouri] September

taken by aparty of Ruffins on the Hiway while travling to the far west and Compeld to Ride the thare God which I Call Canon for the Space of 5 days damiges 200

to 1 gunn 25 dollars & to 1 sword 20

to lost time 7 months at 20 dolars

2010 dito to family 100 dolares

James Dunn

[Not sworn.]

Ashort S[k]etch Conserning my dificulty and loses in missuri i lost at lest fife hundred dollars besides being shot i was at the murders sene at hons mill in Colvell County the reasen that ve was thare is this thare was a mob of about twenty or twenty fife men came thare stolde horses and catel and took guns and thretend to burn our gritmill as i was informd ve then concludid to gether at the said mill to prevent them from robing us ve like vice getherd thare about thirty six armd men on our one [own] land and in our one [own] county tht then came apone us with uperts of too hundred men armd and [unexpecit] ve pled for q[a]ters but thare was none grantit tha commenceit the bludycein of sum of our men runavy and wen the others vare kild and vaundid tha came round a blacksmith shop that ve had got in i then saw that the idea was to cil us all for tha run thare guns in thru the cracks and shot the voundid i being Shot in the thi could not git a vay i laid on my fais and pertenit to be ded that came in and i heird sum pleiding for thare lives a mung us a litil boy pled also tha replide that he must dy tht he woold be a mormn after awile i heird the guns craking i had to doo as the ded don in part one of them came and put his arm under me hunting for pistels and one swor it was too bad to take ded mens buts but i must have them and after tha had us all kild as tha supposd and then wente to pludering the ded and houses and robd the pure wi[d]ows of thare horses and wagons beding and Clothing after kiling thare husbands there was severel newcomer tha took thare wagons and temes and put on the stolen prperty and hollerd hurraw boys lets git out of this plase tha then left in an our or too the poor vides and childron came [and the] veping for the los of thare husband and fath thers thare was none left to bery the ded only wimen and a few sick and crpelt men tha put the ded in a vell that was part dug the mob came back in a fue dys and took persestion of the mill staid 8 or ten days during this time tha and thare horses lived on our grain and meit and drove of ou catel and vente frum hous to hous with thare guns and thare faises blackend thretning if ve did not leve tha kild men and boys after ve vare priseners and boastit of it in public and remaind unpon ishit

Jacob Foutz

[Not sworn.]

State of Mo. to Hervey Green Dr To losses Sustained in Jackson County Mo. by being driven from Said place, with loss of Houses, lands & grain to the amount of one thousand dollars; also by being driven from Caldwell County Mo. to the amount of twenty five hundred dollars

Harvey Green

[Not sworn.]

Account of property lost and Damage sustaind by Jonathan Hale the subscriber in consequence of Governor Boggs Exterminat[ing] law in the state of Missouri in AD 1838

J. H. Hale

[Not sworn.]

Memorandum of Property Destroyed in Missouri

Dimick B Huntington Complainant

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouri Dr. to Levi Jackman

The above is a low etemate of my damage and loss of property-

As it respects my knowlede of the abuse inflicted on us from the time we went to Jackson County untill this presant season would be enough to fill a volume, But sufise it to Say that I have Seen houses torn down which was don in the nite by the hands of the mob while wmen and children fled into the woods to save thar lives, I have seen the distruction of the Printing Office, I have seen them discharge the guns at our people by which means some ware kiled and many wounded. I have sean women and children who had ben driven by the mob, fleaing befor[e] them into the woods to prserve thar lives whose husbands had ben driven from there imbraces, I have sean inesant men draged off to prisen without eaven telling them what charge they had a gainst them, and many such things I have ben eye witness to, and I have a number of times I have ben under the necesity of leving my house in the night and takeing shelte in the woods to save my life and that too when I was sick and sood in nead of a bed. a man by the name Samuel Hill threned to kill me without the least provocation, and in short our Sufferings were grate in the extreem, and I bair this testemonie against the people of the upper countyes of Missouri, with the exceptions of a fue individeles they boath by word and actions bid a bolde defiance to the Constitution of the united states and all order of government excepin a mob law which they make from time to time to suit there own condition

Levi Jackman

[Not sworn.]

the State of mos Dr to Samuel A. P. Kelsey for losis in Said State in the year 1839 Feb the 15

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouri D. To John D. Lee.

[Not sworn.]

This is to Certify that I Peter Lemmon have lost in Consequen[ce] of Governour Boggs Exterminating Law in Missouri and a ruthless Mob under the protection of the Law special, contrary to the Laws of then U. States the following Property &c

The within named is a true statement of my losses while in Missouri to the best of my knowledge with the exception of my value of the loss of Citizenship as an american of there Money never can repay for the loss of my right as an American Citizen however the value placed here in this Memorial is for the purpose of recove[ring] Damage from there Mobocrats as money is the only damage within the reach of the arm of the Law a let any one of your Honourable body say what you would value your Citizenship at or what would you give in exchange for your Citizenship and I will abide the decision

Peter Lemmon

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouri To Lyman Leonard Dr.

[Not sworn.]

Bill of an accounts against the state of Missouri for the years of 1838 and 1839

[Not sworn.]

State of Missoura Dr. To Sarah Mackley widow of Jeramiah Mc

[Not sworn.]

A bil showing the los of property money damages I recieved by a lawles mob in the state of Missouri

I sertify the a bove to be a trew account

Andrew Moore

[Not sworn.]

Mis Soury losses of missoury

Abraham Nelson

[Not sworn.]

Edmund Nelsons loses in Messoury

land and crop $4000

horsees Cattle and sheep and hogs $1000

loss of liberty five hundred thousand Dollars

EDmund Nelson

[Not sworn.]

the Acts of James Newbury in far West Mo. At the time of the S[t]ate distress at the time of the Expulsion of the Mormons from that State

James Newbury

[Not sworn.]

damage for los of timber that is timber Cut off by the militia in misouri Caldwell Co 40 Acres hogs kild bees destroid also Compeld to leve my house and land to gather with a large frame Smith Shop of two forges the loss of which to me is astamated low at fifteen thousand dollars

John Pea

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouri Dr to David Pettegrew for Damages and loss of property by being driven from Jackson County to Clay County and from Clay to Caldwell and from Caldwell out of the state in to Illianois

The History of my sufferings I have handed over to sidney previous to his leaveing this place

David pettegrew

I certify the above a count to be true a cording to the Best of m[y] knowledg

David Pettegrew

[Sworn to before C. M. Woods, C.C.C., Adams Co., IL.]

I David Pettegrew moved to Jackson in the fall of 1832 and purchaced a Quarter sec. of land and settled my family and made an improvement of a house and 12 or fifteen acres under good fence and rased a good crop and was in a comfortabl[e] sittuation to live some time in the spring or summer of 1833 the sittisons began to thretton us with mobs and some time about the last of June or first July thare was a petition paper got up for signers to drive the mormons from Jackson County they be came more and more enraged till I think the 22nd of July when the printing Office was torn down some tard and feathered &c they still continued their depredations till in Oct. when a mob came to my house in the night of between 50 and a hundred men headed by brazill Moses willson Luis franklyn and burst Open my door and cried how many mormans have you got here I told him them we ware sick to come in and light a candle and see which was done by brazill he then came to the bed and felt the potts of my self and wife and pronoinced us sick the cry was made to tare down the house which was forbidden to be done that night by brazill but threttoned us with amediate destruction if we did leave the county forthwith they still continued there violence untill the fore part of Nov. when a mob of forty or fifty armed men full of violence and fury headed by Thomas Willson drove us men wimen and Children out of our houses saying if we ware found thare that night our noses should smell hell we being sick was forsed to leave all and, put out on foot with 7 or 8 men and 60 or 70 wimen and childred in to the wide spread prarie to face the cold winds having the Earth for our bed and the canapies of heaven for our covring not knowing whare to go with six of my childr[en] bare footed with their feet bleeding by occasion of the stubs on the burnt praries we steared our course south towards vanburin County the third night we came to a ledge of rocks whare we had shelter and staid two or three days till we had Eaten up our scanty allowance of provisons while we lay in this situation thare came two men to us and advised us to go with them to big crick 12 or 15 miles which we complied with as we had a few waggons in company I got my children or the sickest of them in to the waggons not expecting they would live till night but we made our way through whare we found provisions and shelter for a few weeks in which time Solomon Hancock Gipson Gates David Jones and my self made our way back to our places and found our houses plundered of our beds and beding and Cloathing and many other things among the rest was about ten Dollars worth of leather I had perchaced for my childrens shoes we succeded geting a way a few loads of corn but ware forbidden taking any more under the penalties of death we succeded in geting three of my Cows but thare bags ware spoiled and in a few weeks after this I had to leve my family and make my Escape to clay County being forced out by John Cornet and others but I sucseeded in giting my family a way in a few weeks after which my house and many others ware burned we livd in clay County a bout three years but ware often times threatned by mobs untill some time the last of June or first of July in 1836 the excitement run so high that we had to leave clay and settle in an attached part of Ray County after words struck of in to Calwell County whare we I purchaced 64 1/2 acres of land built me a house and stable and made an improvement of 30 acres whare I lived in peace till some time in august 1838 when we began to be thretned with mobs I among the rest stood in my own defence untill Farwest was given up which was on the last of Oct I after being forced to give up my arms was taken prisner with about 60 others and marched to Richmond in Ray County whare we ware kept in close confinement and under a strong guard whare we I was kept for 34 or 35 days being chargeed with arson burglary and larsonry all the proof they had was that I was seen in Davis County I was bailed out under five hundred Dollars bondse then returned to my family whare I laid about a month when they found their procedings ware illegal and I found my bail was retieecd and that we ware likely to be taken again I left my family and made my Escape for Quincy Illianois whare my family are yet left behind and are not able to move without a grait sacrifice

David Pettegrew

NB. the mob in Jackson said if we ware permited to settle in the county we would soon become more numerous than them selves and would soon put in their officers

[Not sworn.]

Inaddtion to what I have written thare has a few things occurd to my mind which I shall [re]late when; I was in vanburin County d[esti]tute of [provissions] in a thinly inhabited place and being sick and not able to work we suffered much for the want of provissions and had it not ben for Brother Gipson Gates we must have perished he brought us provissions and administered to our wants while he was at my house thare came a mob at my house the snow being werry Deep called me to the door John Cornet who appeared to be the head of the mob told us they had suffered much on the account of you mormans and we believe you are a grand set of tories connected with the british and you must leave immediately or your blood shall run my wife standing in the door said will you drive us out now in this deep snow with all these bare footed Children when you have plundered our hous and even the leather that was provided for these childrens shoes he then replied not to day but dont let many warm days pass over your heads I then askd him whare we should go he said out of the state broth Gates replied that it was rather a hard case he (Cornet) then replied oald man if you Open your head I will mark it as flat as a flounder he went with his abuses awhile and left but advised me to sell my lands in Jackson and said I never should possess it I left my family in a suffering condition and went to Clay whare I had to make [toils] to procure provissions for my family

whare we had not the privilige of voting we livd in som[e] degree of peace till the time the camp [ro]se up and now will relate a conversation [th]at took place between Judge Elisha Camron and myself as I met him in the road he said its terrible time oald man the Mail Carrier Eat breckfast at my house this morning and said he came by an army of mormans this side of richmond and they are twleve hundred strong in Jackson and they have four cannon and recruits are coming in from other counties continually for Gods sake dont take your family over thare to be cut all to peices I replied that we had ben Driven from our homes without a cause and robd of our property and we had as lives Di now as any other time unless we can have our rights and I calculate to go over and he said he did not dis pute all this but you cant git your rights in any of these upper counties

David Pettegrew

[Not sworn.]

A List of property lost by Albert Pettey in Caldwell County State of Missouri 1838 by mob Violence

Albert Pettey

[Not sworn.]

State of Mo to Jane Pickard Dr To losses Sustained in Jackson County Mo by being driven from Said place with loss of lands, houses & grain to the amount of one thousand Dollars, also to losses Sustained in Caldwell County Mo. in lands, houses & grain to the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars

Jane Pickard

[Not sworn.]

To the Honorble the Senate & House of of Representatives of the United States In Congres Assembleed

Your Petitioners Honrbly Complaning Wants Respectfully Represent that your under signd Petitioners ware Those unfortunate People Caled Mormons, that your Petitioners attempted to settle in Mo. that your Petitioners was taught to be leave that in a free & In Depen ant Government All People had a Right to Worship Acording to the Dictates of their Own Conshensh-But to the great surprise of your Petitioners-The gentle men of Mo. objected to this course of conduct & be came considerablely Refraclentory And Through the a gency of Executive patronage & fisical force Suseded in making the State of Mo So In con venient that your Petitioners had to leave the State of Mo. At a great Sacrifise & whilst in the State a fore said Some of your Petitions Property was taken from them & Some of their men & Connections Kild & wounded Wharefour for the Reasons that the your Pettitioners have been So Shamefully treate your Pettioners Would Respectfully Pray that your Honorable Body Would take the Subject under consederation & We plege our Selvs to prove all we allege & more if requ[este]d & your Petitioners as in duty bound Will ever pray &c

Harlow Redfield

John Pack

John Lawson

Lodowick H Ferre

Noah Rogers

Curtis Hodges Sen

Henry Stevenson

William Marks

Jonathan Hoopes

[Not sworn.]

A sketch that I was an eye witness to in the State of Missourie Charles C. Rich on the 24th of october 1838 Messengers Come into Farwest stating that the mob was on Log creek burning houses and Loaded waggons and threatening the lives of the people those was a few men Sent out to ascertain the movements of the mob these men returned a bout eleven O Clock at night Stateing that thare had been considerable Damage Done and also that they had taken three of the Brethren prisoners and intended to kill them that night the trumpet was Sounded and men com together and prepard for to march in haste in persuit of the mob that we might Deliver our Brethren out of their hands we raised all the men we Could till we got to Braggs on Logg Creek where we organised them in to three divisions The first Division in a Company and found we had a bout Seventy five men David W Patten was first in Command and Charles C Rich Second and James Durfee third we proceeded on towards Crooked River and when we Came in a bout one mile of Fields we Dismounted and Hiched our Horses to a fence leaveing four or five men to watch them D W Patten took the first Division of the Company and kept on the road Charles C Rich took the Second Division and went Round on the east side of Fields Farm James Durfee to the third Division and went through the field we expected to find the mob Quartered at his Field house but found they were not thare we then formed our Company and marched towards the Crossing of Crooked river. we had not gone but a few rods when on top of the Hill near one Quarter of a mile from the Camp of the mob we was hailed and fired upon by one of the mob guard who Shot young Obanion wh[o] reeled out of the Compay and fell mortally Wounded Patten ordered a Charge and we marched Down the Hill on a fast trot when we got within a bout fifty yards of the camp we formed a line the mob had formed under a bank Behind the Camps which was west of us and as Day was just makeing its appearance it was Still Dark to look to the west so that we Could not see them Very plain this was the morning of the 25th the mob fired a broad side at us three or four of our men fell D. W. Patten ordered our men to fire which they Did we recieved an other fire from the mob we fired a gain and Commenced Crying the watch word (which was (God and Liberty) D. W. Patten ordered a Charge which was immediately obeyed and we routed what had not fled and we Came in Collision with our Swords one of the men that fled from behind a tree who was persued by D W Patten whirled and Shot him he Instantly fell mortally wound haveing received a large Ball in his Bowels in a few moments the ground was Cleared and and on finding D W Patten mortally Wounded Charles C Rich Took Command and gatherd up the Wounded Patten and made them as Comfortable as posible took the horses of the mob about seventy in Number Camps and baggage and returned to our horses here we ministered what we Could to the wounded Sent a messenger to Far west, took our horses and Continued our journey towards Farwest near Log Creek we was met By sister Patten, President Joseph and Hyrum Smith and Lyman Wight and [—] we left Br Patten at Log Creek he was moved to Goose Creek and Died that evening also Br Obanion Br Gideon Carter was Left Dead on the Ground Supposeing him to be one of the enemy but was after brought a way

I will also relate on other circumstance that occured in Far west after the troops or mob militia arrived two of them was taken prisioner they was kept at my house it was though Best to release them I was sent with a white flag to communicate with Said Militia on the 31 of october 1838. I was met by Capt Bogard the prisoners went with me to join the militia after a little Conersation and his threating the city with Destruction he told these men to pass on after which I wheeled my horse to ride off I was fired upon by Cap Bogard when only about twenty feet Distant I attempt to return the fire but he flid

Charles C. Rich

after Joseph and others was given up to the mob I was warned by the Spirit of God to flee into the willderness north or my life would be taken before the Sitting of the next sun I Started to Se Br Hyrum Smith to get Council Met Br Brigham Young he asked me whare I was going I told him the perticulars he told me he had been to see Br Hyrum and said Br Hyrum said I must flee north into the willderness and take all that I Could find of the Brethren that was in the Crooked river Battle accordingly about that 12 oclock th night gave 12 O clock that night we left Farwest and next morning a bout sunrise we crossd Grand river a bout 2 miles above Diomman being the first Day of November we sent some to Diommon to get some provisions the rest of us went up Hicky Creek a bout ten miles and camped there we organised ourselves into a Company thare was about 26 after we all collected and I was appointed Captain of Said Company 2 Day we traveled and Camped on Big Creek Send men Back to get news and provisions 3 Day we moved and camped on Sugar Creek and learned that Diomman was taken and that the forces was in persuit of us 4 Day we Set out for Iowa thrugh the willderness Snowed that night and turned Cold and Snowy it was eleven Days and a half before we reached the white Settlements on the Desmoine River During our Journey we had but little to eat and [our] horses nothing only what they Could gather from under the Snow we crossed the missippi at Quincy where we found friends and was kindly recieved

Charles C. Rich

[Not sworn.]

RIGDON, Sidney

SMITH, Joseph Jr.

Therefore The undersignd who are chosen by the Church of Latter day Saints to represent to the President and Congress of the United States of America the Cruel Outrages and injustice inflicted upon the said Church by the Citizens of the State of Missouri and also their Suffering Condition in Consequence thereof Do hereby for and in behalf of the said Church Petition his Excellency the President and also the Honorable the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled that they cause to be made a full and complete restoration of all the rights and priveleges which we have been and now are deprived of that we may enjoy all the rights and privileges guarranted to us (in common with other Citizens of the United States of America) by the Constitution thereof And not only do we Ask to be reinstated to enjoy and be protected in the peaceable possession of our Lands purchased of the United States in the State of Missouri but we also Ask for a Just remuneration of damages which we have Sustained by being deprived of the right of Citizenship Contrary to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America And your Petitioners in behalf of the said Church as in duty bound will every pray

Sidney Rigdon

Joseph Smith Jr

Elias Higbee

[Not sworn.]

I Certify that I was expelled from the State of missori by Order of the exe[ci]tive, and that My individual damages I estimate at one thousand dollars

A Ripley

[Not sworn.]

This is to certify that I was Driven from Missouri and was Robed of my Goods and my Wife went to Davis County and found some of my Goods in the Possession of Henry Auberry Rob My Bill of Damage for loss of Property loss of liberty and being Driven out of the State in the winter ten thousand Dollars

Nichols Robertson

[Not sworn.]

Quincey Ill

State of Missouri to AP Rockwood Dr

[Not sworn.]

this is to certify that I was Driven out of Jackson Co. Missouri in 1833 and lossed all of my Provision and Improvements and was Driven in the winter and also ordered to Leave Ray Co and then Driven from Caldwell Co had to leave my home and property and flee to Illinois for Safety while liveing in ray Co I my life was threatened by a Mr. Johnson and Drake a bill of Damage for being Drove from my home and property life in Danger loss of liberty &c.

ten thousand Dollars

Elijah Shaw

[Not sworn.]

James Sloan made affidavit at Quincy, that the officers of the militia under the exterminating order of Governor Boggs in Missouri in 1838, took possession, carried off and destroyed a store of goods, of several hundred dollars’ value, belonging to the people called “Mormons,” in Daviess county; that his life was threatened, his property taken, and he was obliged to flee the state with his family, greatly to his disadvantage.

[Not sworn.]

I left Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1838, having the charge of a family of ten individuals; the weather was very unfavorable, and the roads worse than I had ever seen, which materially increased my expenses, on account of such long delays upon the road. However, after suffering many privations, I reached my destination in safety, and intended to make my permanent residence in the state of Missouri. I sent on by water all my household furniture and a number of farming implements, amounting to several hundred dollars, having made purchases of lands of several hundreds of acres, upon which I intended to settle.

In the meantime, I took a house in Far West, until I could make further arrangements. I had not been there but a few weeks, before the report of mobs, whose intention was to drive us from our homes, was heard from every quarter. I thought that the reports were false, inasmuch as I know that as a people we had done nothing to merit any such treatment as was threatened. However, at length, from false and wicked reports, circulated for the worst of purposes, the inhabitants of the upper counties of Missouri commenced hostilities, threatened to burn our dwellings, and even menaced the lives of our people, if we did not move away; and afterwards, horrid to relate, they put their threats into execution.

Our people endeavored to calm the fury of our enemies, but in vain; for they carried on their depredations to a greater extent than ever, until most of our people who lived in places at a distance from the towns had collected together, so that they might be the better able to escape from the fury of our enemies, and be in better condition to defend their lives and the little property they had been able to save. It is probable that our persecutors might have been deterred from their purposes, had not wicked and shameful reports been sent to the Governor of the state, who ordered out a very large force to exterminate us. When they arrived at Far West, we were told what were their orders. However, they did not fall upon us, but took several of my friends and made them prisoners; and the day after, a company of the militia came to my house and ordered me to go with them into the camp. My family at that time particularly needed my assistance, being much afflicted. I told them my situation, but remonstrance was in vain, and I was hurried into the camp, and was subject to the most cruel treatment.

Along with the rest of the prisoners, I was ordered to be shot; but it was providentially overruled. We were then ordered to Jackson county, where our bitterest persecutors resided. Before we started, after much entreaty, I was privileged to visit my family, accompanied with a strong guard. I had only time to get a change of linen, &c., and was hurried to where the teams were waiting to convey us to the city of Independence, in Jackson county. While there I was subjected to continued insult from the people who visited us. I had likewise to lie on the floor, and had to cover myself with my mantle; after remaining there for some time we were ordered to Richmond, in Ray county, where our enemies expected to shoot us; but finding no law to support them in carrying into effect so strange an act, we were delivered up to the civil law. As soon as we were so, we were thrust into a dungeon, and our legs were chained together. In this situation we remained until called before the court, who ordered us to be sent to Liberty in Clay county, where I was confined for more than four months, and endured almost everything but death, from the nauseous cell, and the wretched food we were obliged to eat.

In the meantime, my family were suffering every privation. Our enemies carried off nearly everything of value, until my family were left almost destitute. My wife had been but recently confined and had to suffer more than tongue can describe; and then in common with the rest of the people, had to move, in the month of February, a distance of two hundred miles, in order to escape further persecutions and injury.

Since I have obtained my liberty, I feel my body broken down and my health very much impaired, from the fatigue and afflictions which I have undergone, so that I have not been able to perform any labor since I have escaped from my oppressors. The loss of property which I sustained in the state of Missouri would amount to several thousand dollars; and one hundred thousand dollars would be no consideration for what I have suffered from privations-from my life being continually sought-and all the accumulated sufferings I have been subjected to.

HYRUM SMITH

[Not sworn.]

Lee County, Iowa Territory.

This day personally appeared before me, D. W. Kilbourn, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, John Smith, and after having been duly sworn, desposeth and saith, “That in the months of October and November, 1838, I resided in the town of Adam-ondi-Ahman. Daviess county, Missouri, and whilst being peaceably engaged in the ordinary vocations of life, that in the early part of November my house was entered by a body of armed men painted after the manner or customs of the Indians of North America, and proceeded to search my house for fire arms, stating that they understood the Mormons knew how to hide their guns, and in their search of a bed in which lay an aged, sick female, they threw [her] [7] to and fro in a very rough manner, without regard to humanity or decency. Finding no arms, they went off without further violence.

“Shortly after this above described outrage, there was a number of armed men, say about twenty, rode into my yard and inquired for horses which they said they had lost, and stated, under confirmation of an oath, that they would have the heads of twenty ‘Mormons,’ if they did not find their horses. These last were painted in like manner as the first. These transactions took place when the citizens of the village and its vicinity were engaged in a peaceable manner in the ordinary pursuits of life.”

This deponent further saith, “That the mob took possession of a store of dry goods belonging to the Church of Latter-day Saints, over which they placed a guard. I went into the store to get some articles to distribute to the suffering poor, and the officer who had the charge of the store ordered me out peremptorily, stating it was too cold to wait on me, that I must come the next morning; and returning the next morning, I found the store almost entirely stripped of its contents. Thereupon we as a Church were ordered to depart the county and state, under the pains and penalty of death or a total extermination of our society. Having no alternative, (having my wagon stolen), I was compelled to abandon my property, except a few movables which I got off with in the best way that I could, and on receiving a permit or pass which is hereto appended. I then proceeded to depart the state.

“‘I permit John Smith to remove from Daviess to Caldwell county, there remain during the winter, or remove out of the state unmolested.

“‘Daviess county, November 9th, 1838.

“‘R. Wilson, Brigadier-General. By F. G. Cochnu.’

“I accordingly left the state in the month of February following in a destitute condition.”

JOHN SMITH.

[Sworn to before D. W. Kilbourn, J. P., Lee Co., IA]

I landed in Caldwell County the first of Jany 1836 (soon after the church was driven from Clay) as we lived there and been an eye witness to the most of the scenes that have transpired relative to the mormon people (so called) untill the last of Jan. 1839. During this period I shall give a short detail of facts relative to this affair some of which might contribute to raise the excitement of the people and if considered of any servise they are at your disposal. and first there appeared an existing principle riceted in the mind of the sitizens of those upper counties of Mo that the mormons should not have the privilege of settling unmolested in any other county but Caldwell for as early as the next July & August 1837 severel of the Mormons had bought preemption rights in the county of Davis and many settled there which caused great excitement and the sitizens of Davis may if not all united in the disapproving the measure & entered into a negotiation to drive the mormons from the county among the principle leading characters of this gang was Mr Adam Black Wm. Peniston & Mr Boman who visited many of the mormon peoples dwelling ordering them to leave the county some came to caldwell for fear of their threats others determined thy would not obey their mandates. By some means however the cloud passed over and the mormon people continued to emigrate to both Davis and Caldwell to some considerable extent untill about the first of August 1838 at the election in Davis where hostilities were again recommenced upon the Mormons some of which were knocked down with clubs and others dirked and the rest left the town and returned home at the same time news were received at farwest that severel of the mormons lay dead on the field in galerton who were not permitted to be buried therefore several sitizens of Caldwell fourthwith repaired to Adammondiahman a small town upon grand river settled principly by the mormons and there in counsel with severel of the principle men of that place agreed to visit the principle officers of galiten Davis county to know whether thy were disposed to join a mob or whether thy were disposed to enforse the sivil law according to their oath of office among these were Adam Black one of the Justises of the county who Stated for the satisfaction of the mormon people by a written document of his own composition that he had not nor would not Join himself to any mob but would administer the sivil law according to his oath of offise also the Sherif Mr Morgan with severel other of the most sivil men in the county met a committy on the part of the mormons and mutually agreed to endeavour to suppress all mobing and live by the law of the land but the spirit of mobing could not easily be suppressed longer Adam Blacks testimony soon appeared in the Richmond paper stating that he under the threat of death had been compelled by an armed forse of the mormons to sign an article that now free man ought to sign Wm. Penderston Weldon and others faned the flame and sounded the alarm of mob Ray county assembled and appointed a committee to investigate the subject and Soon about three hundred had collected at galerton and mill port to drive the mormons out of the county when they the called on mormons Major generel Acherson and Donaphan who marched in to davis with about 600 troops and so far affected a settlement as to disprse the most of the mob others stoped their hostility for the present and once more it would seem that they might live in the county whill all this was transpiring a settlement was commenced at Dewitt in Carrol County where the Sitizens of that place collected and passed resolutions to drive them from that county they were ordered out of the place several times but did not go till a number arrived from Canada to seek them a location when the mob arose called on Jackson Ray and Davis and drove them from that place burning buildings and destroying property they also took their Cannon and marched back to Davis and the day following something near one hundred mounted men traveled throu Farwest going to Davis commanded by Wm A Dunn to suppres insurrection information was also received that the mob were determined to drive the mormons from Davis these men were went as far as Raglins and [—] returned the mormons now collected in Adammondiahma[n] determined to defend them selves against mobs who soon commenced to burn and destroy property they were however routed their cannon taken by D W Patten and dispersed without the shedding of blood the people at Ray county soon collected a gang and commenced taking prisoners and ordering off the sitizens of Caldwell when Capt Patten volunteered to disperse them which he done but lost his life in an engagement on th banks of Crooked river with two or three others one week from this an army appeared at Farwest of five thousand or nearly that under the command of General Lucas and others from Jackson county to still the Mormons and here for the first time it was made known that the governor had ordered the Mormons to be removed fourthwith from the state and even to be exterminated if nescessisary for the publick peace they took Farwest and th[e] sitizens of Caldwell as prisoners of war took their guns from them and at the point of the sword and bayonnet compelled to sign an article or deed of trust in which all their propirty both personal and real was to be given up to be disposed of by certinan sitizens of caldwell ray or Davis other than the mormons and after secureing the prisoners and sending Joseph Smith Jr and others to Jackson marched on to Davis gave the mormons ten days to lave the county men women and children, took their arms and returned to Caldwell took about fifty selected prisoners and marched them to Richmond to be tried for crimes of great magnitude¶

In the mean time general Clark had arrived with another dettchment who also took part in the affair by sanctioning all that had been done and added more than S D Lucas had done the terms of general Lucas and his army were that the mormons to avoid extermination should give up their arms sign away their property and fourthwith be guarded by the militia out of the State when Clark came he done away what they called the treaty by refusing to guard them out of the State but ordered them to leave or be exterminated his last official orders given publickly in Farwest I will coppy a few items. After ordering them the mormons all out upon the Square guarded by his own troops he thus addressed them gentlemen you whose names are attached to this list of names when they are called over march in front and after about sixty or seventy were named over they were marched into the house & a strong guard set over them And now the rest of you gentlemen it only remains with you to fulfil on your part the stipulations all ready entered into with ginerel Lucas who is equal in authority with myself evry article contained in the treaty you will be required to fulfil a part of which has already been complied with (such as delivering up your leaders laying down your arms giving yourselves up as prisoners) but a very important part yet remains to be fulfilled which is for you to leave the state the governor has left his order discretionary with me either to remove you fourthwith from the state or exterminate you and I have pledged my honour to the Executive of State to see his order faithfully fulfilled and I am determined to carry it through. had I am glad you have thus far complied with the order had you not have done so you must and would have been exterminated now this is the grounds on which the treaty was made it now only remains to fill en the time of your removal. The power is invested in me to forse you out at this inclement season but as you have thus complied with the requirements offered & your Savility toward me I do not feel disposed now to compel you to go till spring but gentlemen you must not think of planting or putting in another crop in this state if you do the sitizens will be upon you neither of embodying yourselves in your metings for if this comes to my ears I shall consider it a violation of the treaty and shall be under the painful necessity of returning with these same troops & if So there will be no other alternative but extermination for if you violate any article in the stipulation there will be no confidence on which to rest another treaty. I have not time now neither do I intend to investigate this matter to know who is right or who is rong suffise it to say I have my orders from the Executive of State and the power is in our own hands and we will put it in execution what ever your feelings have been and still are it all matters nothing to me And concerning your being guarded out of the State by the militia of the state there can be no necesity of that only not go in a body or large bodies together for if you do you cannot get out of five much more out of the state before you will meet with trouble let each one go as fast as he can get ready one here and another there and from this time form characters for themselves only let them not take any arms or weapons of any kind and no one will trouble them the sitizens will not molest them they never have molested you They never will molest you untill you first [————] you have always been first the aggressors and it has been proven in many instances that we cannot live with you the State cannot enjoy peace while you remain in it. And your new form of government gentlemen the laws of this land must be supported they shall be supported you must not think of becoming free and independant of this goverment; oh that I could invoke the Spirit of the unknown god upon you (who appear to be inteligent men) that you might be delivered from this awful delusion into which you have been lead that you may never cause any other people such trouble as you have caused us. you are now permitted to go to your homes and provide for the wants and necessities of your families all except these whome I have taken out of your number and such others as may be hereafter arested whome I intend to take to Richmond and there make a publick example of them. And concerning Smith and Rigdon & others your leaders whome we have got do not flatter yourselves that they will ever be given up again do not let it once enter your heart for their die is cast their doom fixed and their fate is sealed. This short address be it remembered was delivered to a people who have been mobed out of Jackson forsed to leave Clay driven from Carrol rooted out of Davis and last of all commanded to give up their pleasant possessions in Caldwell and leave the State or be exterminated by its authority their property has been plundered their cattle killed their provisions distroyed and their dwellings burned down and yet it would appear from the above addres that they had always been the aggressors nor is this all while six or eight thousand troops lay in caldwell & the sitizens of Farwes guarded as prisoners in these circumstances they suffered another mob of near three hundred to collect from Livingston and Davis and paint themselves and on the east part of caldwell and murder (within sixteen miles of Farwes) seventeen of the mormon people shooting the wounded men over again after they had fallen cutting them down with old swords or scythes swearing they should have no quarters but would only halve them not even spearing women & children out of about thirty seventeen were draged and thrown into an old well togither few only escaped to tell the news some of which were shot through the body no les than four times and yet the government we are told must be supported and its law Shall be put in execution.

Willard Snow

[Not sworn.]

State of Missouri Dr. To Levi Stewart

[Not sworn.]

Adams County State of Illinois Sept. 3rd [ Roman

Bill of damages Against the State of Missouri For the unlawful proceedings of the inhabitants and the unconstitutional decree of the Governor of Sd. State. During the past winter & fall And up to the present time

The above Mentioned Losses were Sustained in the State of Missouri by Me

Lewis Thompson

[Not sworn.]

Account of property lost and damage sustained by Benjamin S. Wilber the subcriber in consequence of being driven from the state of Missouri by governor Boggs Exterminating law

The above is a just and honest estimate of my losses according to the best of my Judgment and Knowledg

B. S. Wilber

[Not sworn.]

A Bill of Damages and Loss of property by William W Willis in the State of Missouri in consequence of the Orders of the govornar Orders to Expell from the State all People Comanley Called Mormons

for the Loss on the Sale of 80 Acres of Land Four hundred Dollars

for the Loss of other Property fifty Dollars

for the Expences of Mooveing fom the State and Sufferng Two hundred Dollars

W. W. Willis

[Sworn to before Thomas Crawford, J.P., Hancock Co., IL.]

The following is a short history of my travels to the state of Missouri and of a bloody tragedy acted at Haunn’s mills on Shoal creek Oct 30th 1838 On the sixth day of July last I started with my family from Kirtland Ohio for the State of Missouri The county of Caldwell in the upper part of the state being the place of my destination

On the thirteenth of Oct I crossed the Mississippi at Louisianna at which place I heard vaguereports of the disturbances in the upper country but nothing that could be relied upon I continued my course westward till I cross’d Grand River at a place called Comptons ferry, at which place I heard for the first time that if I proceeded any further on my journey I would be in danger of being stopped by a body of armed men. I was not willing however, while treading my native soil, and breathing republican air to abandon my object, which was to locate myself and family in a fine healthy country, where we could enjoy the society of our friends and connections.

Consequently I prosecuted my journey, till I came to Whitneys mills situated on Shoal creek in the eastern part of Caldwell county. After crossing the creek, and going about three miles, we met a party of the mob, about forty in number, armed with rifles and mounted on horses back who informed us that we could go no farther west, threatning us with instant death if we proceeded any further I asked them the reason of this prohibition to which they replied that we were mormons, and that every one who adhered to our religious faith would have to leave the State in ten days or renounce their religion. Accordingly they drove us back to the mills above mentioned. Here we tarried three days, and on Fryday the twenty sixth we recrossed the creek and following up its banks, we succeeded in eluding the mob, for the time being and gained the residence of a friend in Myer’s settlement. On Sunday 28th of Oct. we arriv[ed] about twelve oclock at noon at Haunns Mills; where we found a number of our friends, collected together who were holding a council; and deliberating on the best course for them to pursue. to defend themselves against the mob who were collecting in the neighbor hood under the command of Col. Jennings of Livingston and Mr. Ashby of Co a member of the State Legislature, and threatning them with house burning and killing. The decision of the council was that our friends there should place themselves in an attitude of self defence. Accordingly about twenty eight of our men armed themselves and were in constant readiness for an attack of any small body of men that should might come upon them The same evening for some cause best known to themselves, they mob sent one of their number to enter into a treaty with our friends, which was accepted of on the condition of mutual forbearence on both sides and that each party as far as their influence extended should exert themselves to prevent any further hostilities upon either party. At this time however there was another mob collecting on Grand River, at William Manns who were threatning us. consequently we remained under arms on monday the twenty ninth which passed away without any molestation from any quarter. On tuesday the thirtieth of Oct that bloody tragedy was acted the scenes of which I shall never forget. More than three fourths of the day had passed in tranquillity, as smiling as the preceeding one I think there was no individual of our company that was apprised of the sudden, and awful fate that hung over our heads, like an overwhelming torrent, which was to change the prospects, the feelings and circumstances of about thirty families. The banks of Shoal creek on either side teemed with children sporting and playing, while their mothers were engaged in domestick imployments and their fathers employed in guarding the mills and other property while others were engaged in gathering in their crops for their winters consumption. The weather was very pleasant; the sun shone clear; all was tranquil and no one espressed any apprehensions of the awful crisis that was near us even at our doors

It was about four o clock; while sitting in my cabbin with my babe in my arms, and my wife standing by my side The door being open I cast my eyes on the opposite bank of Shoal creek, and saw a large company of armed men on horses directing their course towards the mills with all possible speed As they advanced through the scattering trees that stood on the edge of the prairie, they seemed to form themselves into a three square position forming a vanguard in front. At this moment David Evans seeing the superiority of their numbers (there being two hundred and forty of them according to their own account) swung his hat and cried for peace. This not being heeded they continued to advance and their leader Mr Comstock fired a gun, which was followed, by a solemn pause of ten or twelve seconds, when all at once they dis charged about one hundred refiles aiming at a blacksmiths shop into which our friends had fled for safety. and charging up to the shop the cracks of which between the logs were sufficiently large to enable them to aim directly at the bodies of those who had there fled for refuge from the fire of their murderers

There were several families tented in the rear of the shop. whos lives were exposed, and amidst a shower of bullets fled to the woods in different directions After standing and gazing on this bloody scene for a few minutes and finding myself in the utmost danger. the bullets having reached the house where I was living I committed my family to the protection of Heaven & leaving the house on the opposite side I took a path which led up the hill folloing in the trail of three of my brethren that had fled from the shop[.] While ascending the hill we were discovered by the mob who immediatly fired at us and continued so to do till we reached the summit of the hill[.] In desending the hill I secreted myself in a thicket of bushes where I lay till eight oclock in the evening at which time I heard a female voice calling my name in an under tone, telling me that the mob had gone and there was no danger. I immediately left the thicket and went to the house of Benjamin Lewis where I found my family (who had fled there) in safety and two of my brethren friends mortally wounded one of whom died before morning

Here we passed that painful night in deep and awful reflections on the scenes of the preceeding evening. After day light appeared some four or five men with myself who had escaped with our lives from the horrid massacre, repaired as soon as possible to the mills to learn the condition of our friends whose fate, we had but too truly anticipated

When we arrived at the house of Mr Haunn we found Mr. Merricks body lying in rear of the house. Mr. McBride’s in front litterally mangled from head to foot. We were informed by Miss Rebecca Judd who was an eye witness that he was shot with his own gun after he had given it up, and then was cut to pieces with an old corn cutter by a Mr Rogers of Daviess county, who keeps a ferry on Grand river and who has since repeatedly boasted of this act of savage barbarity. Mr Yorks body we found in the house and after viewing these corpses we immediately went to the blacksmiths shop where we found nine of our friends, eight of whom were already dead the other Mr Cox of Indiana struggling in the agonies of death and soon expired.-We immediately prepared and carried them to a place of interment This last office of kindness due to the relicts of departed friends was not attended, with the customary ceremonies [nor] decency, for we were in jeopardy every moment expecting to be fired on by the mob who we supposed were lying in ambush waiting for the first opportunity to dispatch the remaining few who were providentially preserved from the slaughter the preceeding day. However we accomplished without molestation this painful task. The place of burying was a vault in the ground formerly intended for a well, into which we threw the bodies of our friends promisocously Among those slain I will mention Sardius Smith son of Warren Smith about nine years old who through fear had crawled under the bellowses in the shop where he remained till the massacre was over. when he was discovered by a Mr Glaze of Carroll county, who presented his rifle near the boys head and litterly blowed off the upper part of it. Mr. Stanley of Carroll, told me afterwards that Glaze boasted of this deed all over the country. The number killed and mortally wounded in this wanton slaughter was eighteen or nineteen whose names, as far as I recollect were as follows Thomas McBride, Levi Merrick, Elias Benner Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, Warren Smith, Sardius Smith, George Richards, Mr. Napier, Mr. Harmer, Mr Cox, Mr Abbot, Mr York, William Merrick [9] a boy 8 or 9 years old, and three or four more whose names I do not recollect as they were strangers to me. Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, who had six balls shot through him two through his body one through each arm and the other two through his hips. Nathan K. Knight shot through the body; Mr Yokum who was severly wounded besides being shot through the head. Jacob Myers.-Myers, Tarlton Liwis, Mr Haunn and several others. Miss Mary Stedwell while fleeing was shot through her hand and fainting fell over a log into which they shot upwards of twenty balls

To finish their work of destruction this band of murderers composed of men from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Caldwell, and Carroll Counties led by some of the principal men of that section of the upper country proceeded to rob the houses wagons and tents of bedding and clothing, drove off horses and wagons, leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of life and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain

According to their own account they fired seven round in this awful massacre making upwards of fifteen hundred shots at a little Company of men of about thirty in number

I certify the above to be a true statement of facts relative to the above mentioned massacre according to my best recollections

Joseph Young

Jane A Young

[Not sworn.]

Notes

[1] 4:57; also found in JH 6 Jan 1840. Although this petition is undated, History of the Church indicates it was prepared as part of the first appeal (HC 4:49).

[2] The editorial brackets from History of the Church have been maintained.

[3] Even thought this letter is not sworn or dated, it was probably written in 1839 and sent with Joseph Smith to Washington, D.C., as part of the first appeal.

[4] 4:69. Although this petition is undated, History of the Church indicated that it was prepared as part of the first appeal (HC 4:49).

[5] 3:373–74; also found in JH 4 Jun 1839. Although this petition is undated, History of the Church indicated that it was prepared as part of the first appeal (HC 3:368).

[6] 4:59; also found in JH 7 Jan 1840. Although this petition is undated, History of the Church indicated that it was prepared as part of the first appeal (HC 4:49).

[7] The editorial brackets from History of the Church have been maintained.

[8] Also found in HC 3:183–86. The account found in History of the Church differs slightly from the one above. Besides a few differences in the wording, Jane Young did not sign the petition, and it was sworn to before C. M. Woods, C.C.C., Adams CO., IL, 4 Jun 1839.

[9] The boy Young refers to here is Charles Merrick according to other accounts of the Haun’s Mill massacre.