Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 28 November 1843, Thomas Bullock Second Copy
Source Note
JS and 3,418 others, Memorial, , Hancock Co., IL, to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, [], 28 Nov. 1843. Version copied [ca. 29 Nov. 1843]; handwriting of and ; four pages; Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA. Transcription from a digital color image obtained from the Massachusetts Historical Society in 2025.
Our people had been driven by force from ; they had been compelled to leave and sell their lands there, for which they have never been paid, they had finally settled in where they had purchased and paid for nearly all the Government land within its limits, in order to secure homes where they could live and worship in peace but even here they were soon followed by the Mob. The Society remained in from 1836 until the fall of 1838, and during that time had acquired by purchase from the Government, the settlers and pre-emptions, almost all the lands in the County of and a portion of those in and Carrol Counties. Those Counties when our people first commenced their settlements were for the most part wild and uncultivated, and they had converted them into large and well improved farms, well stocked. Lands had risen in value from ten to twenty five dollars per acre, and those Counties were rapidly advancing in cultivation and wealth. In August 1838 a riot commenced growing out of the attempt of a Member of the Society to vote, which resulted in creating great excitement and many scenes of lawless outrage. A large Mob under the conduct of came into the vicinity of , drove off our Stock and abused our people, another party came into , took away our horses and cattle, burnt our houses and ordered the Inhabitants to leave their homes immediately. By orders of and a company of about 60 men went to disperse this mob under the command of . A conflict ensued in which and two of his men were killed and others wounded. A Mob party of from two to three hundred in number, many of whom are supposed to have come from fell on our people, and notwithstanding they begged for quarters, shot down and killed Eighteen, as they would so many wild beasts.
They were finally compelled to fly from those Counties, and on the 11th. October 1838, they sought safety by that means, with their families, leaving many of their effects behind; that they had previously applied to the—— Constituted Authorities of for protection but in vain. The Society were pursued by the Mob, conflicts ensued, deaths occurred on each side, and finally a force was organized under the authority of the of the State of , with orders to drive us from the , orexterminateus. Abandoned and attacked by those to whom we had looked for protection. we determined to make no further resistance, but submit to the— authorities of the , and yield to our fate however hard it might be. Several Members of the Society were arrested and imprisoned on a charge of treason against the ; and the rest amounting to above 14,000 Souls fled into the other states, principally into , where they now reside.
Your memorialists would further state, that they have heretofore petitioned your Honorable Body, praying redress for the injuries set forth in this Memorial, but the Committee to whom our Petition was referred, [p. [3]]