JS, Complaint, before , [], Hancock Co., IL, 18 Feb. 1842, JS v. Shearer (Hancock Co., IL, Justice of the Peace Court 1842); in Docket Entry, Robinson and Johnson, Docket Book, 109; handwriting of ; Collection of Manuscripts about Mormons, 1832–1954, Chicago History Museum.
To , a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of .
The complaint of Joseph Smith, who being duly sworn respectfully represents that he, the said Joseph Smith is the legal owner of a certain tract of land containing one Hundred acres, being a part of the South West Quarter of Section Five of Township Six North of Range Eight West, in the tract appropriated for Millitary Bounties and Pattented to John Johnson, laying and being in the County of and State of , and that Thomas J. Shearer hath entered upon the above mentioned tract of land and that he, the said Thomas J. Shearer, did and still does by force and strong hand hold the possession of the aforesaid premises wrongfully and unjustly, and to the injury of the said Joseph Smith
Your complainant therefore prays that you will exorcise the authority vested in you by law for restoring to him the possession of said Premises.
Joseph Smith
Sworn and subscribed this 18th day of Feb. A. D. 1842. before me J. P. [p. 109]