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Oath, 21 June 1842

Source Note

JS, Oath,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 21 June 1842; handwriting of
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

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; signature of JS; certified by
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
; one page; BYU. Includes archival marking.
Oversized leaf measuring 16 × 12¼ inches (41 × 31 cm). The oath was written and signed in the upper right quadrant of the verso of JS’s commission as justice of the peace. The commission was folded in half vertically and horizontally, possibly for transmission. Additional vertical folds were made, perhaps for filing.
Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
served as the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
city recorder from February 1841 to July 1843.
1

Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.


There is significant separation along folds. The document has undergone conservation, with strips of tape along the folds.
The custodial history for this document is unknown. At some point in time it was acquired by the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.

Historical Introduction

On 21 June 1842, JS signed the oath required by
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
law to serve as a justice of the peace in
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 ...

More Info
. The
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
charter gave the mayor “all the powers of Justices of the Peace,” which made JS eligible to serve in that role after his election as mayor on 19 May.
1

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Minutes, 19 May 1842.


The charter also stated that Nauvoo’s justices of the peace would be governed by the same laws as “other Justices of the Peace, and be commissioned . . . by the Governor.”
2

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.


On 21 May, two days after his election as mayor, JS swore an oath and signed a bond to perform his duties as mayor.
3

Oath, 21 May 1842.


These two actions were prerequisites to receiving the governor’s commission authorizing him to serve as a justice of the peace.
4

Bond to James Sloan, 21 May 1842; An Act to Amend the Acts concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 Mar. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 422–423, sec. 1; see also An Act to Amend an Act Entitled, “An Act to Incorporate the City of Quincy” [7 Jan. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 58, sec. 6.


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly, at Their Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Seventh of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841.

City recorder
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

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informed Governor
Thomas Carlin

18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...

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, as required by state law, and asked Carlin to forward JS’s commission as a justice of the peace.
5

James Sloan, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Carlin, [Springfield, IL], 21 May 1842, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; An Act to Amend the Acts concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 Mar. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], p. 423, sec. 4.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

Carlin issued JS’s commission on 13 June, just over a week before JS swore his oath to serve in that position.
6

Thomas Carlin, Commission as Justice of the Peace, Springfield, IL, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 13 June 1842, BYU.


The oath featured here was issued in accordance with the city charter’s requirement that all appointed officers “take an oath for the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices.”
7

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.


The language of the oath echoed wording used in the charter, which specified that a certificate of the oath should be deposited with the city recorder.
8

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.


Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
prepared the oath on the verso of JS’s commission as justice of the peace. JS signed the oath, and Sloan, as clerk of the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
Municipal Court, certified it. As city recorder, Sloan presumably preserved the oath by filing it with other municipal records.
9

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840. Section 20 of the Nauvoo charter stipulated that the city recorder “shall serve as Clerk of the Municipal Court.” Sloan was appointed city recorder in February 1841. (Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.)


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Minutes, 19 May 1842.

  2. [2]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.

  3. [3]

    Oath, 21 May 1842.

  4. [4]

    Bond to James Sloan, 21 May 1842; An Act to Amend the Acts concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 Mar. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 422–423, sec. 1; see also An Act to Amend an Act Entitled, “An Act to Incorporate the City of Quincy” [7 Jan. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 58, sec. 6.

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

    Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly, at Their Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Seventh of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841.

  5. [5]

    James Sloan, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Carlin, [Springfield, IL], 21 May 1842, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; An Act to Amend the Acts concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 Mar. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], p. 423, sec. 4.

    Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

  6. [6]

    Thomas Carlin, Commission as Justice of the Peace, Springfield, IL, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 13 June 1842, BYU.

  7. [7]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.

  8. [8]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.

  9. [9]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840. Section 20 of the Nauvoo charter stipulated that the city recorder “shall serve as Clerk of the Municipal Court.” Sloan was appointed city recorder in February 1841. (Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.)

Page [1]

State of Illinois)
City of
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
)
Hancock County)
I Joseph Smith do Solemnly “Swear by the ever living God” that I will Support the Constitution of the
United States

North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...

More Info
, and the Constitution of this
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...

More Info
, and that I will well and truly perform all and every Act and duty enjoined on me by the Laws of this
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...

More Info
, as a Justice of the Peace within and for said
City

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, to the best of my Skill and Abilities.
1

In Illinois and elsewhere in the United States, justices of the peace were charged with keeping the peace by enforcing local laws through standard legal procedures. (See, for example, An Act to Regulate the Apprehension of Offenders, and for Other Purposes [6 Jan. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 237–241; and An Act to Amend “An Act concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables” [23 Jan. 1829], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 419–422.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

Signature of JS.


Joseph Smith
State of Illinois)
City of
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
)
Hancock County)
I
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
Clerk of the Municipal Court of said
City

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, do hereby Certify that Joseph Smith Esquire took and subscribed the foregoing Oaths of Office, before me this Day.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, at
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, this twentyfirst day of June AD. 1842.
James Sloan

28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...

View Full Bio
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Source Note

Document Transcript

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Oath, 21 June 1842
ID #
3044
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D10:170–172
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Sloan
  • Joseph Smith Jr.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    In Illinois and elsewhere in the United States, justices of the peace were charged with keeping the peace by enforcing local laws through standard legal procedures. (See, for example, An Act to Regulate the Apprehension of Offenders, and for Other Purposes [6 Jan. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 237–241; and An Act to Amend “An Act concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables” [23 Jan. 1829], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1837], pp. 419–422.)

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

  2. new scribe logo

    Signature of JS.

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