The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 
Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. F. M. Higbee, F. M. Higbee v. JS–A, F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus, and F. M. Higbee v. JS–B Praecipe, 1 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Affidavit, 1 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844, Copy [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Docket Entry, Dismissal, 23 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Docket Entry, Fee Bill, between 16 August and circa 14 November 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Docket Entry, Fieri Facias, between 11 September and circa 9 December 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Docket Entry, between 23 May 1844 and circa 15 April 1845 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Certificate, 23 February 1846 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Certificate, 23 February 1846, as Recorded in Old Certificates of Purchase, Levy, and Redemption–A [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Certificate, 23 February 1846, as Recorded in Old Certificates of Purchase, Levy, and Redemption–B [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Certificate, 2 April 1846 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A] Petition to Nauvoo Municipal Court, 6 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Habeas Corpus, 6 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Habeas Corpus, 6 May 1844, Copy [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Notice, 6 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Summons, 6 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Minutes, 6–8 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Subpoena, 8 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Account of Hearing, 8 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Account of Hearing, 8 May 1844, Copy [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Docket Entry, 12 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Trial Report Draft, 12 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Trial Report, 12–15 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Trial Report, 12–15 May 1844, as Published in Times and Seasons [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus] Execution, 4 June 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus]

Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844, Copy [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A]

Source Note

David E. Head

27 Apr. 1818–1 May 1877. Clerk, merchant. Born in Washington Co., Kentucky. Moved to Macomb, McDonough Co., Illinois, ca. 1834. Deputy clerk of McDonough Co. Deputy clerk of Hancock Co., Illinois, circuit court, by 16 May 1843. Clerk of Hancock Co. Circuit...

View Full Bio
on behalf of
Jacob B. Backenstos

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert...

View Full Bio
, Capias ad Respondendum, to
Hancock Co.

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 ...

More Info
Sheriff [
William Backenstos

29 Aug. 1813–11 July 1875. Sheriff, merchant, painter. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Baptized into Lutheran Reformed Church, 31 Oct. 1813, in Lower Paxton. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, by...

View Full Bio
], for JS,
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...

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 1 May 1844, F. M. Higbee v. JS–A (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844). Featured version copied between 6 and 8 May 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...

View Full Bio
; docket and notations by
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...

View Full Bio
, [
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
], Hancock Co., IL, [1] May 1844; notation by
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
, 8 May 1844; two pages; JS Collection (Supplement), CHL. Includes seal, docket, and notations.
Single leaf measuring 9¾ × 7⅞ inches (25 × 20 cm). The paper is ruled with twenty-nine horizontal lines printed in blue ink. The document was trifolded and docketed for filing.
The document was filed by
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
, who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854.
1

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

The Church Historical Department (now CHL) published a register of the JS Collection in 1973. However, the department’s staff continued to locate documents authored by or directed to JS in uncataloged church financial records and in name and subject files. The department also acquired additional JS documents from donors, collectors, and dealers. These newly located and acquired documents were kept together in a supplement to the JS Collection that was closed to further acquisitions in 1984 and was named the JS Collection (Supplement), 1833–1844.
2

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection (Supplement), 1833–1844, in the CHL catalog. A preliminary inventory of the supplement was created in 1992 and its cataloging was finalized in 2017.


The document’s notation and later inclusion in the JS Collection Supplement suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection (Supplement), 1833–1844, in the CHL catalog. A preliminary inventory of the supplement was created in 1992 and its cataloging was finalized in 2017.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Petition to Nauvoo Municipal Court, 6 May 1844 [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus]; and Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. F. M. Higbee, F. M. Higbee v. JS–A, F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus, and F. M. Higbee v. JS–B.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844] “History of Joseph Smith” Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844 [ F. M. Higbee v. JS–A ]
Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844, Copy [ F. M. Higbee v. JS–A ]
Trial Report, 12–15 May 1844 [ F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus ] Trial Report, 12–15 May 1844, as Published in Times and Seasons [ F. M. Higbee v. JS–A on Habeas Corpus ] Plea, 20 May 1844 [ F. M. Higbee v. JS–B ]

Page [1]

State of Illinois) ss
1

“Ss” is an abbreviation for the Latin scilicet, meaning “namely” or “to wit.” (“Scilicet,” in Bouvier, Law Dictionary, 2:379.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Bouvier, John. A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America, and of the Several States of the American Union; With References to the Civil and Other Systems of Foreign Law. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Philadelphia: T. and J. W. Johnson, 1843.

Hancock 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 ...

More Info
)
To the people of the State of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
To the
Sheriff

29 Aug. 1813–11 July 1875. Sheriff, merchant, painter. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Baptized into Lutheran Reformed Church, 31 Oct. 1813, in Lower Paxton. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, by...

View Full Bio
of 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 ...

More Info
:
2

William Backenstos was elected sheriff of Hancock County in 1842. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 283, 449.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

Greeting:
We command you that you take Joseph Smith if to be found in your
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 ...

More Info
and him safely keep, so that you have his body before the Circuit Court of said County of
Hancock

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 ...

More Info
on the first day of the next term thereof, to be holden at the Court House in
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...

More Info
on the third monday in the month of May inst:
3

That is, 20 May 1844.


to answer
Francis M. Higbee

1820–after 1850. Attorney, merchant. Born in Tate, Clermont Co., Ohio. Son of Elias Higbee and Sarah Elizabeth Ward. Moved to Fulton, Hamilton Co., Ohio, by 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri...

View Full Bio
of a plea of the case damage the sum of five thousand dollars as he says. And you have then there this Writ and make return thereon in what manner you execute the same—
Seal
4

TEXT: “Seal” is surrounded by a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


Witness
J[acob] B. Backenstos

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert...

View Full Bio
Clerk of said Circuit Court 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...

More Info
this First day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four
J. B. Backenstos

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert...

View Full Bio
Clerk
5

Jacob B. Backenstos was appointed clerk of the Hancock County Circuit Court in 1843. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 240.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

By
D[avid] E. Head

27 Apr. 1818–1 May 1877. Clerk, merchant. Born in Washington Co., Kentucky. Moved to Macomb, McDonough Co., Illinois, ca. 1834. Deputy clerk of McDonough Co. Deputy clerk of Hancock Co., Illinois, circuit court, by 16 May 1843. Clerk of Hancock Co. Circuit...

View Full Bio
Depy [1/2 page blank] [p. [1]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [1]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Capias ad Respondendum, 1 May 1844, Copy [F. M. Higbee v. JS–A]
ID #
2002
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Thomas Bullock

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Ss” is an abbreviation for the Latin scilicet, meaning “namely” or “to wit.” (“Scilicet,” in Bouvier, Law Dictionary, 2:379.)

    Bouvier, John. A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America, and of the Several States of the American Union; With References to the Civil and Other Systems of Foreign Law. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Philadelphia: T. and J. W. Johnson, 1843.

  2. [2]

    William Backenstos was elected sheriff of Hancock County in 1842. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 283, 449.)

    Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

  3. [3]

    That is, 20 May 1844.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “Seal” is surrounded by a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  5. [5]

    Jacob B. Backenstos was appointed clerk of the Hancock County Circuit Court in 1843. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 240.)

    Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06