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Affidavit from Obadiah Bowen, 20 June 1844

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Obadiah Bowen

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, Affidavit, before
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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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, 20 June 1844; handwriting of
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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; signature of
Obadiah Bowen

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; certified by
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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; docket in handwriting of John McEwan; one page; JS Office Papers, CHL.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
Affidavit from Obadiah Bowen, 20 June 1844
History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

June 20. 1844
State of Illinois)
Hancock County)
City of
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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)
Personally appeared before me <​
Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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——​> an acting Justice of the peace, in and for said
County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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,
Obadiah Bowen

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of
Morley Settlement

Also called Yelrome and Morley Town. Area in southwest corner of county, on the Hancock-Adams county line. Settled by refugee Saints from Missouri, spring 1839. Formally laid out by county surveyor on forty-nine acres, 26–28 Mar. 1844. At least seventy Latter...

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in said
County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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, and being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith that on Saturday the 15th. instant John Clark rode up to where I was at work in
Morley Settlement

Also called Yelrome and Morley Town. Area in southwest corner of county, on the Hancock-Adams county line. Settled by refugee Saints from Missouri, spring 1839. Formally laid out by county surveyor on forty-nine acres, 26–28 Mar. 1844. At least seventy Latter...

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and said he was afraid the Mormons would come and destroy their property and said he “if I have any destroyed by any person, I shall make my resort upon the nearest Mormons, and take their property in place of that which shall be taken away, wherever he could find it, so long as it was a Mormon’s”— and that on Tuesday the 18th. instt. as I was coming from my house to the road leading to
Lima

Area settled, 1828. Platted 1833. Post office established, 1836. Many Latter-day Saints settled in area, 1839, after expulsion from Missouri. Considered important settlement by Latter-day Saint leaders. Lima stake organized, 22 Oct. 1840. Stake reduced to...

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, a Mob was at the Forks of the Road, standing still, and consulting together, I came on the Road about twenty Rods a head of them, in a few moments Colonel
<​Levi​> Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

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, John Clark and five others rode along the same Road after me— I heard them talking about shooting the Mormons, when Clark said “it is not disgrace to shoot a Mormon any how,” when they all laughed, they overtook me, and
Colonel Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

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asked me where I lived, I replied in
Morley’s Settlement

Also called Yelrome and Morley Town. Area in southwest corner of county, on the Hancock-Adams county line. Settled by refugee Saints from Missouri, spring 1839. Formally laid out by county surveyor on forty-nine acres, 26–28 Mar. 1844. At least seventy Latter...

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, he asked me if I was a Mormon, when Clark said it was no odds, he is on their part—
Colonel Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

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then threatened me and said I must be sure and be at his house by nine oclock in the morning, if not, I must either get out of
Morley Settlement

Also called Yelrome and Morley Town. Area in southwest corner of county, on the Hancock-Adams county line. Settled by refugee Saints from Missouri, spring 1839. Formally laid out by county surveyor on forty-nine acres, 26–28 Mar. 1844. At least seventy Latter...

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or be served the same sauce as the Mormons, he gave me to understand they were going to make a total destruction of
Morley Settlement

Also called Yelrome and Morley Town. Area in southwest corner of county, on the Hancock-Adams county line. Settled by refugee Saints from Missouri, spring 1839. Formally laid out by county surveyor on forty-nine acres, 26–28 Mar. 1844. At least seventy Latter...

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tomorrow, and I had better get out of it— he then talked about Joseph Smith, when I replied I understood Joseph Smith had a fair trial, and was bound over to the Supreme Court, he said if he is, or is not, we do not care, it is illegally done, and he should go ahead— he should gather the troops, and there would be 2,000 men landed tomorrow from
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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, he said they were Volunteers, they should meet next day at
Carthage

Located eighteen miles southeast of Nauvoo. Settled 1831. Designated Hancock Co. seat, Mar. 1833. Incorporated as town, 27 Feb. 1837. Population in 1839 about 300. Population in 1844 about 400. Site of acute opposition to Latter-day Saints, early 1840s. Site...

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, and then go against Joseph Smith and demolish the City of
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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, for <​have​> him at any rate they would, he was in a very great passion, and let out a great many <​oaths and​> other things that I have not mentioned. in consequence of their threats, and to save our lives, we were obliged to leave our homes in a very stormy night, and had to cross a dangerous stream that was swollen by the rain, and was unable to protect myself from great sufferings and hardships, and came to the City of
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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for protection.

Signature of Obadiah Bowen.


Obadiah Bowen

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Subscribed and sworn to this 20th. day of June 1844 [blank] before me

Signature of Aaron Johnson.


Aaron Johnson

22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut...

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Sea[l])
Justice of the Peace [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Affidavit from Obadiah Bowen, 20 June 1844
ID #
7729
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Thomas Bullock
  • Obadiah Bowen
  • Aaron Johnson

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Signature of Obadiah Bowen.

  2. new scribe logo

    Signature of Aaron Johnson.

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