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Affidavit from Erastus Derby, 21 May 1842

Source Note

Erastus Derby

14 Sept. 1810–3 Dec. 1890. Tailor, carpenter, farmer, joiner. Born in Hawley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Edward Darby and Ruth Phoebe Hitchcock. Moved to Ohio, by 1834. Married Ruhamah Burnham Knowlton, 10 Aug. 1834, in Carthage, Hamilton Co., Ohio...

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, Affidavit, before
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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and
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

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, Hancock Co., IL, 21 May 1842; handwriting of
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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; signatures of
Erastus Derby

14 Sept. 1810–3 Dec. 1890. Tailor, carpenter, farmer, joiner. Born in Hawley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Edward Darby and Ruth Phoebe Hitchcock. Moved to Ohio, by 1834. Married Ruhamah Burnham Knowlton, 10 Aug. 1834, in Carthage, Hamilton Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
,
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...

View Full Bio
, and
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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; docket in handwriting of
Hosea Stout

18 Sept. 1810–2 Mar. 1889. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, sawmill operator, lawyer. Born near Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith. Moved to Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, 1819; to Wilmington, Clinton Co., fall 1824; to...

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; two pages; Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL. Includes docket.

Page [1]

Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
May 21, 1842
Personally appeared before me
Erastus H. Darby [Derby]

14 Sept. 1810–3 Dec. 1890. Tailor, carpenter, farmer, joiner. Born in Hawley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Edward Darby and Ruth Phoebe Hitchcock. Moved to Ohio, by 1834. Married Ruhamah Burnham Knowlton, 10 Aug. 1834, in Carthage, Hamilton Co., Ohio...

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; Aide De Camp to Brigadier General, of the First Cohort, & made the following deposition.—
The order was given by the commanding officer for an attack for the purpose of a sham battle, the order was then communicated by the Commanding officer of the First Cohort so as to be perfectly understood by the officers in command; the attack was then made according to order; the order not being executed by the second regiment on the extreme left it was thrown into confusion; after being drawn into a line the order was again explained; which was that they were to advance by companies & wheel to the right & left by platoons when within forty or fifty feet of the infantry companies;— this was explained several times by
General [Wilson] Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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; the order not being executed we were thrown into confusion as before on the extreme left; when
General Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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,
Major [Hiram] Kimball

31 May 1806–27 Apr. 1863. Merchant, iron foundry operator, mail carrier. Born in West Fairlee, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Phineas Kimball and Abigail. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1833, and established several stores. Married ...

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, &
Lieuftenant [Josiah] Ells

4 Mar. 1806–15 Oct. 1885. Blacksmith, gunsmith, preacher. Born in Lewes, Sussex Co., England. Son of Thomas Ells and Hannah. Joined Methodist church, 1826. Married Eliza L. Campion, 25 Mar. 1828, in Leicester, Leicester Co., England. Immigrated to Philadelphia...

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, were in the act of giving the general command successively for a retreat, & left wheel,
Adjutant Bonny [Amasa Bonney]

ca. 1805–1864. Carpenter. Born in Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro Bonney and Laurana Webster. Married Adaline Works, likely in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Mar. 1836. Ordained an elder, 27 Mar. 1836. Moved to ...

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came riding up with a portion of the second regiment; giving contrary orders to that of the
General

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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commanding them to follow him; which he repeated three times destinctly in my hearing at the same time flourishing his sword; after he had passed
Gen Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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—
Gen Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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repeated the order to retreat several times & then he commanded
Adjutant Bonny

ca. 1805–1864. Carpenter. Born in Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro Bonney and Laurana Webster. Married Adaline Works, likely in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Mar. 1836. Ordained an elder, 27 Mar. 1836. Moved to ...

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to stop while he was yet within forty or fifty feet of the
General

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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. As Gen
Adjutant Bonny

ca. 1805–1864. Carpenter. Born in Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro Bonney and Laurana Webster. Married Adaline Works, likely in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Mar. 1836. Ordained an elder, 27 Mar. 1836. Moved to ...

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did not stop,
General Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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then rode after him & hit him with the flat of his sword on his back in a back-handed manner.
Gen Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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then asked him why he did not obey his orders; his reply was I did not hear, his face being from me;—
Gen Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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then replied if he disobeyed his orders again he would cut him down & that he deserved to be cut down;
Gen Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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then wheeled his horse; & again wheeled towards
Adjutant Bonny

ca. 1805–1864. Carpenter. Born in Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro Bonney and Laurana Webster. Married Adaline Works, likely in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Mar. 1836. Ordained an elder, 27 Mar. 1836. Moved to ...

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& said that if he disobeyed his orders again that he would have him punished severely.
The witness further states that he heard
Adjutant Bonny

ca. 1805–1864. Carpenter. Born in Essex Co., New York. Son of Jethro Bonney and Laurana Webster. Married Adaline Works, likely in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Mar. 1836. Ordained an elder, 27 Mar. 1836. Moved to ...

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Affidavit from Erastus Derby, 21 May 1842
ID #
13410
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • John Taylor

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