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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, circa 22 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, ca. [22] May 1844, State of IL v. JS for Adultery and Fornication (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1844); handwriting of E. A. Thompson; docket and notation 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, ca. 22 May 1844]; notations by unidentified scribe, [ca. 22 May 1844]; notation by
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...

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, 23 May 1844; two pages; CHL.

Historical Introduction

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

Page [1]

Of the May term of the Hancock Circuit Court in the year of our Lord A D 1844
State of Illinois) ss [scilicet]
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 ...

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)
The Grand Jurors chosen selected and sworn in and for the 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 the name and by the authority of the people of th[e] 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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upon their oaths present, that Joseph Smith senior late 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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and
State

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 fifteenth <​twelfth​> day of December <​October​> in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three <​and on divers other days & times between that day & the day of finding this indictmet​> at and within 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
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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unlawfully and corruptly then and there did live <​together​> 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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​>
in an open state of 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 & provided and agai[n]st the peace & 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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<​2​> And the Grand Jurors aforsaid upon thir oaths aforesaid do further present that afterwards, to wit, on the day and year last aforesaid at and within the 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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aforsaid and 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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aforesaid, the said Joseph Smith senior 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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as aforesaid and certain women to the jurors unknown unlawfully then & there did cohabit together and unlawfully then & there did live together in an open state of adultery and fornication contra[r]y to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace & 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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.
<​3​> And the Grand Jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that afterwards to wit, on the <​first​> day of January in the year of [p. [1]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Indictment, circa 22 May 1844 [State of Illinois v. JS for Adultery and Fornication]
ID #
5629
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • E. A. Thompson

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