Refined by
- Home
- The Papers
- Reference
- 1of20Show Results
- The Papers
- DocumentsInterim Content
53992078
Affidavit, 5 September 1838
Image and Text
Image Only
Text Only
 Elias Higbee handwriting begins. | ss |
| Caldwell County Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ... More Info |
Before me Elias Higbee,
one of the Justices of the County Court, within and for the County of Caldwell aforesaid.
Personally came Joseph Smith Junr who
being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith, that on the 7th day of August 1838,
being informed that an affray had taken place in Davies[s] County in at the Election, in
the town of Gallatin,
in the which some two persons were killed, and one person
badly wounded, and fled to the woods to save his life, all of which
were <said to be> persons belonging to the Society of Mormons
so Called <the Church of Latter day Saints> And further, said— informant stated “that those persons who committed the
outrage, would not suffer said the bodies of those who had been killed, to be taken of[f] the ground and
buried— These
reports with others, concerning the affair one of which was,
that the Mormons <saints> so called had not
the privilige of voting at the polls, as other citizens. Another
was, that those opposed to the Mormons <saints> were
determined to drive them from Daviees County, and Also that they were
Arming & strengthening their forces, and preparing for a battle;
& that the Mormons <saints> were preparing
& making ready to stand in self defence. These reports, having
excited, the feelings of the citizens of “Far West” and vicinity, I was invited
with others, by Dr [Sampson] Avard
& some others, to go out to Davies County, to the scene of these Outrages;
they having previously having determined to go
out, and learn the facts concer ning said reports. Accordingly as [s]ome
of the citizens,— myself among the number, went out, two; three,
and four in companys, Also they
got ready.
The reports and exitement con tinued untill several of those small companys,
through the day, were induced to follow the first, who were all eager
to learn the facts concerning this matter: we arived in the evening,
at the house of Lyman Wight,
about 3 miles from Gallatan, the scene of the reported outrages;
here we learned the truth concerning the said affray, which had been
consider ably exageated [exaggerated], yet, there had been a serious Outrage committed. We
there learned that the mob were was collected at [p. [1]]
23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...
View Full BioLocated in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...
More InfoArea in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...
More InfoFounded and laid out, 1837. Unofficial county seat, beginning 1837. Officially named county seat, 1841. Several Latter-day Saints attempted to vote at Gallatin, 6 Aug. 1838, but were attacked by local residents. After Mormon-Missouri conflict erupted, Saints...
More InfoThe Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
View GlossaryArea in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...
More InfoOriginally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
More Info23 Oct. 1800–15 Apr. 1869. Physician. Born at St. Peter, Isle of Guernsey, Channel Islands, Great Britain. Migrated to U.S., by 1830. Married Eliza, a native of Virginia. Located at North Carolina, 1830. Moved to Virginia, by 1831. Moved to Freedom, Beaver...
View Full BioArea in northwest Missouri settled by European Americans, 1830. Sparsely inhabited until 1838. Created from Ray Co., Dec. 1836, in attempt to resolve conflicts related to Mormon settlement in that region. County is transected diagonally from northwest to ...
More Info9 May 1796–31 Mar. 1858. Farmer. Born at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of Levi Wight Jr. and Sarah Corbin. Served in War of 1812. Married Harriet Benton, 5 Jan. 1823, at Henrietta, Monroe Co., New York. Moved to Warrensville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full BioFounded and laid out, 1837. Unofficial county seat, beginning 1837. Officially named county seat, 1841. Several Latter-day Saints attempted to vote at Gallatin, 6 Aug. 1838, but were attacked by local residents. After Mormon-Missouri conflict erupted, Saints...
More Info
JS, affidavit, Far West, MO, 5 Sept. 1838; handwriting of Elias Higbee and George W. Robinson with signatures of JS and Elias Higbee; in petition, [ca. 1840], 104 pages; JS Collection, CHL.
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
More Info23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...
View Full Bio14 May 1814–10 Feb. 1878. Clerk, postmaster, merchant, clothier, banker. Born at Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont. Baptized into LDS church and moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1836. Clerk and recorder for Kirtland high council, beginning Jan. 1836. Married...
View Full Bio23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...
View Full Bio