Declaration, circa 7 May 1844 [JS et al. v. C. B. Street and M. B. Street]
Source Note
Bachman & Skinner on behalf of JS, , , , and the estate of , Declaration, , IL, ca. [7] May 1844, JS et al. v. C. B. Street and M. B. Street (Hancock Co., IL, Circuit Court 1846); handwriting of ; docket by , [, IL, ca. 7 May 1844]; notation by , [, Hancock Co., IL], 8 May 1844; ten pages; photocopy in Historical Department, Materials Received from Mark W. Hofmann, CHL.
In 1982, the Church Historical Department (now CHL) acquired this document from Mark Hofmann. As was later discovered, Hofmann forged many early church history and Americana manuscripts and altered authentic documents to increase their market value; he also dealt in authentic manuscripts. In 1986, church representatives offered documents received from Hofmann to the courthouses or local government agencies where they may have originated, and this document was returned to the circuit court. A collection was created in 1995 to collate forged and suspect documents acquired from Hofmann directly or indirectly through other donors and included both manuscripts and photocopies of documents that were returned to government institutions in 1986. Since there is no provenance information definitively dating this document prior to its possession by Hofmann and there is no indication the document underwent forensic testing, it cannot be conclusively authenticated.
Joseph Smith, and and and Complain of Charles B. Street and Marvin B. Street and Robert F. Smith in a plea of for thus whereas, heretofore, to wit, on the seventeenth day of February AD 1841, at the County of the said Charles B. Street and Marvin B. Street were partners in trade under the style of “C. B. & M. B. Street” and the said Charles B. Street and Marvin B. Street, so being partners, and the said Robert F. Smith on the said seventeenth day of February AD 1841. at <the City of> , to wit, at the said County of made a certain promissory note, in writing, and delivered the same to the said Joseph Smith, , , and one (and the said Joseph Smith, , , and aver that after the making and delivering of said note and before the commencement of this suit, to wit on the <seventeenth> day of <June—> AD 184<2> <the said > departed this life) and thereby <then and there> under the style of said firm of “C. B. & M. B. Street” and the said Robert F. Smith by his proper name of Robert F. Smith jointly and severally promised to pay the said Joseph Smith, , , and the said since deceased, or to thus order, on the first day of June thereafter, to wit, on the first day of June A D 1841, three thousand one hundred and thirty three dollars and sixty-two cents at <Hancock County Illinois>, to wit, at in the said County of , in manner and form follo [p. [1]]