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Introduction to State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication Indictment, circa 22 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Indictment, 23 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Discharge, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Indictment, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Indictment, 24 May 1844–A [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Indictment, 24 May 1844–B [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Subpoena, 27 May 1844–A [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Subpoena, 27 May 1844–B [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Recognizance, 27 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Case File Wrapper, circa May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Capias, 22 June 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication] Docket Entry, Abatement, 21 October 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication]

Indictment, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication]

Source Note

Indictment, [
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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], Hancock Co., IL, [24] May 1844, State of IL v. JS for Adultery and Fornication (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844); handwriting of E. A. Thompson; docket and notations by E. A. Thompson, [
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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, Hancock Co., IL, 24 May 1844]; notation by
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...

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, 24 May 1844; three pages; CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication.

Page [2]

3
And the Gr[a]nd Jur[o]rs aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that the said Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet, late 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 ...

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in said State of
Illinis

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...

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, on the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty three and on divers other days and times previous to the time of finding this indictment, at and within the 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 ...

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, and state of
Illins

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...

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unlawfully then & there did live together in an open state of fornication and adultery with one
Maria Lawrence

18 Dec. 1823–1847. Born in Pickering, York Co. (later in Ontario), Upper Canada. Daughter of Edward Lawrence and Margaret. Moved with family to Lima, Adams Co., Illinois, 1838. Father died, between 5 Nov. and 23 Dec. 1839. Resided in Quincy, Adams Co., 1840...

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, then 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 ...

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, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same 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...

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4
And the Grand Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid do further present, that afterwar on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundred a[n]d forty three and on divers other days and times previous to the day of finding this indictment, the said Joseph Smith Senior usually called the Mormon Prophet late of said County of
Hancok

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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, in said 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...

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, <​at and within the sd Conty 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 ...

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​> with certain women to the jurors unknown, then 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 ...

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in said State of
Illiois

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...

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, unlawfully did then & there live together, in an open state of adultery and fornication contrary to the form of this Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the same 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
.
5
Ad the Grand Juros aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do furthr present, that on the tenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousnd eight hundred and forty three, and on divers other days and times within eighteen months from the day of finding this indictmt, at the said county [p. [2]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Indictment, 24 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication]
ID #
4068
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • E. A. Thompson

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