Introduction to Baptist Clergyman v. JS

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Introduction to Baptist Clergyman v. JS
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Baptist Clergyman v. JS

Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., Ohio, ca. 1836

Historical Introduction

Around 1836 a Baptist clergyman visited JS in
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio. JS put him up for the night, only to be insulted and called a liar and impostor after breakfast the following morning. According to a later account,
1
Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS].
JS boxed his ears and threw him out of the house. The cleric filed a complaint before a magistrate, accusing JS of assault and battery.
2
In 1843 JS provided an account of the incident, describing his actions as self defense after the clergyman “raised his cane to strike [JS].” (JS, Journal, 1 Jan. 1843.)

Luke Johnson
3 Nov. 1807–8 Dec. 1861. Farmer, teacher, doctor. Born at Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs. Lived at Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, when baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by JS, 10 May 1831. Ordained...
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, who witnessed the events and alleged that the clergyman had provoked the assault, obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest.
3
Ohio law provided that if a person “shall provoke, or attempt to provoke, another to commit a breach of the peace; every such person shall be deemed guilty of an offence, and on conviction thereof before any justice of the peace, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding ten dollars, nor less than one dollar.” (An Act Defining the Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace and Constables, in Criminal Cases [11 Mar. 1831], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 3, chap. 837, p. 1760, sec. 6.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress: Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Edited by Salmon P. Chase. Cincinnati: Corey and Fairbank, 1833–1835.
Johnson claimed that this caused the cleric to hurriedly leave the
county
Located in northeastern Ohio, south of Lake Erie. Rivers in area include Grand, Chagrin, and Cuyahoga. Settled mostly by New Englanders, beginning 1798. Formed from Trumbull Co., 1 Mar. 1806. Chardon established as county seat, 1808. Population in 1830 about...
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, at which point Johnson overtook him and said, “Sir, you are lucky to have got over the line, and out of my jurisdiction or I should have arrested you.”
4
Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]; see also Luke Johnson, “History of Luke Johnson,” Millennial Star, 7 Jan. 1865, 27:5. Johnson’s remark suggests that he had legal authority to arrest. He served two different times as a constable in Kirtland Township. In April 1834, he was elected for a term. In December 1837, he replaced Burton Phelps, who resigned the position. As JS left Kirtland in January 1838 due to hostilities, the likely date of the encounter with the cleric was between April 1834 and April 1835. (Kirtland Township Trustees’ Minutes and Poll Book, 123, 160–161; “Joseph Smith Documents from October 1835 through January 1838.”)
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
Kirtland Township Trustees’ Minutes and Poll Book, 1817–1838. Lake County Historical Society, Painesville, OH.

The account of this legal encounter is recorded in an 1850s autobiography of
Luke Johnson
3 Nov. 1807–8 Dec. 1861. Farmer, teacher, doctor. Born at Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of John Johnson and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs. Lived at Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, when baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by JS, 10 May 1831. Ordained...
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;
5
the legal documents are not extant. Though Johnson failed to identify the cleric, he stated that he was a “Baptist clergyman from the State of
New York
Located in northeast region of U.S. Area settled by Dutch traders, 1620s; later governed by Britain, 1664–1776. Admitted to U.S. as state, 1788. Population in 1810 about 1,000,000; in 1820 about 1,400,000; in 1830 about 1,900,000; and in 1840 about 2,400,...
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, who had been acquainted with the Prophet Joseph in his early life.”
6
Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]. The book History of Wayne County, New York identified several men who served as pastors for the Baptist Church for the communities of Palmyra and Macedon. This church was situated “on the main road between the two villages of Palmyra and Macedon” and served both communities for 32 years (1803–1835). During this time the following served as pastors for the church: Jeremiah Irons served for seventeen years beginning in 1804; Eliphalet Spencer served for 10 months beginning January 1822; James C. Barrett served from March 1823 to August 1825; and E. Blakesley served from August 1825 to May 1828. (History of Wayne County, New York, 119, 148.)
History of Wayne County, New York, With Illustrations Descriptive of its Scenery, Palatial Residences, Public Buildings, Fine Blocks, and Importnat Manufacotires, From Original Sketches by Artists of the Highest Ability. Philadelphia: Everts, Ensign & Everts, 1877.

Calendar of Documents

This calendar lists all known documents created by or for the court, whether extant or not. It does not include versions of documents created for other purposes, though those versions may be listed in footnotes. In certain cases, especially in cases concerning unpaid debts, the originating document (promissory note, invoice, etc.) is listed here. Note that documents in the calendar are grouped with their originating court. Where a version of a document was subsequently filed with another court, that version is listed under both courts.

1836 (2)
December (2)
Ca. 1836
Clergyman, Complaint, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH
Ca. 1836. Not extant.
1
See Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]; and Luke Johnson, “History of Luke Johnson,” Millennial Star, 7 Jan. 1865, 27:5.

Ca. 1836
Luke Johnson, Complaint, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH
Ca. 1836. Not extant.
1
See Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]; and Luke Johnson, “History of Luke Johnson,” Millennial Star, 7 Jan. 1865, 27:5.

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Footnotes
[1]
[2]
In 1843 JS provided an account of the incident, describing his actions as self defense after the clergyman “raised his cane to strike [JS].” (JS, Journal, 1 Jan. 1843.)
[3]
Ohio law provided that if a person “shall provoke, or attempt to provoke, another to commit a breach of the peace; every such person shall be deemed guilty of an offence, and on conviction thereof before any justice of the peace, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding ten dollars, nor less than one dollar.” (An Act Defining the Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace and Constables, in Criminal Cases [11 Mar. 1831], Statutes of Ohio, vol. 3, chap. 837, p. 1760, sec. 6.)
The Statutes of Ohio and of the Northwestern Territory, Adopted or Enacted from 1788 to 1833 Inclusive: Together with the Ordinance of 1787; the Constitutions of Ohio and of the United States, and Various Public Instruments and Acts of Congress: Illustrated by a Preliminary Sketch of the History of Ohio; Numerous References and Notes, and Copious Indexes. 3 vols. Edited by Salmon P. Chase. Cincinnati: Corey and Fairbank, 1833–1835.
[4]
Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]; see also Luke Johnson, “History of Luke Johnson,” Millennial Star, 7 Jan. 1865, 27:5. Johnson’s remark suggests that he had legal authority to arrest. He served two different times as a constable in Kirtland Township. In April 1834, he was elected for a term. In December 1837, he replaced Burton Phelps, who resigned the position. As JS left Kirtland in January 1838 due to hostilities, the likely date of the encounter with the cleric was between April 1834 and April 1835. (Kirtland Township Trustees’ Minutes and Poll Book, 123, 160–161; “Joseph Smith Documents from October 1835 through January 1838.”)
Kirtland Township Trustees’ Minutes and Poll Book, 1817–1838. Lake County Historical Society, Painesville, OH.
[5]
[6]
Reminiscence, 1857–1858 [Baptist Clergyman v. JS]. The book History of Wayne County, New York identified several men who served as pastors for the Baptist Church for the communities of Palmyra and Macedon. This church was situated “on the main road between the two villages of Palmyra and Macedon” and served both communities for 32 years (1803–1835). During this time the following served as pastors for the church: Jeremiah Irons served for seventeen years beginning in 1804; Eliphalet Spencer served for 10 months beginning January 1822; James C. Barrett served from March 1823 to August 1825; and E. Blakesley served from August 1825 to May 1828. (History of Wayne County, New York, 119, 148.)
History of Wayne County, New York, With Illustrations Descriptive of its Scenery, Palatial Residences, Public Buildings, Fine Blocks, and Importnat Manufacotires, From Original Sketches by Artists of the Highest Ability. Philadelphia: Everts, Ensign & Everts, 1877.