20031837

Petition to George Thompkins, 15 March 1839

 
Petitions.
To the honorable Judge [George] Thompkins, or either of the Judges of the  Supreme Court for the State of Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

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Your petitioners, Alansen [Alanson] Ripley

8 Jan. 1798–before 1860. Surveyor, lawyer. Born at New York. Son of Asa Ripley and Polly Deforest. Married Sarah Finkle. Resided in Massachusetts, 1827. Member of LDS church in Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Landholder ...

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  Heber C. Kimble [Kimball]

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

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, Joseph B. Noble

14 Jan. 1810–17 Aug. 1900. Farmer, miller, stock raiser. Born in Egremont, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ezekiel Noble and Theodotia Bates. Moved to Penfield, Monroe Co., New York, 1815. Moved to Bloomfield, Ontario Co., New York, ca. 1828. Baptized...

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 William Huntington, and Joseph Smith Jr  beg leave respectfully to represent to your honor that Joseph Smith Jr is now  in Liberty Jail, Clay County (Mo) that he has been restrained of his liberty near  five months. Your petitioners claim that the whole transaction which has  been the cause of his confinement, is unlawful from the first to the last, he was  taken from his home by a fraud practiced upon him by a man named by the  name of George M. Hinkle

13 Nov. 1801–Nov. 1861. Merchant, physician, publisher, minister, farmer. Born in Jefferson Co., Kentucky. Son of Michael Hinkle and Nancy Higgins. Married first Sarah Ann Starkey. Baptized into LDS church, 1832. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri....

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 and one or two others thereby your petitioner respectfully  shows that he was forced contrary to his wishes and without knowing the cause  into the Camp which was commanded by General [Samuel D.] Lucas

19 July 1799–23 Feb. 1868. Store owner, recorder of deeds. Born at Washington Co., Kentucky. Son of Samuel Lucas Sr. Married Theresa Bartlett Allen, 10 Nov. 1823, in Harrison Co., Kentucky. Member of Presbyterian church. Lived at Independence, Jackson Co....

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 of Jackson County

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

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  and from thence to Ray County

Located in northwestern Missouri. Area settled, 1815. Created from Howard Co., 1820. Initially included all state land north of Missouri River and west of Grand River. Population in 1830 about 2,700; in 1836 about 6,600; and in 1840 about 6,600. Latter-day...

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 sleeping on the ground and suffering many  insults and injuries and deprivations which were calculated in their nature  to break down the spirits and constitution of the most robust and hardy of man kind, he was put in Chains immediately on his being landed in Richmond

Area settled, ca. 1814. Officially platted as Ray Co. seat, 1827. Population in 1840 about 500. Seat of Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri; also location of courthouse and jails. JS and about sixty other Mormon men were incarcerated here while awaiting...

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  and there underwent a long and tedious expartie examination. Not only was  it expartie, but your petitioners solemnly declare that it was a mock examination  that there was not the least shadow of honor or justice or law administered toward  him, on account of his religion but sheer prejudice and the spirit of persecution  and malice and prepossession against him on account of his religion— that  the whole examinations show that the said Joseph Smith Jr was deprived  of the privilege of being examined before the court as the law directs— that the  witnesses on the part of the State

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

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 were taken by force of arms and threatened with exter mination, immediate death, and were brought without Subpoena or warrant  under this awful and glaring anticipation of being exterminated if they did not  swear something against him to please the Mob, or his persecutors, and those  witnesses were compelled to swear at the muzzle of the Gun and that some of  them have acknowledged since which your petitioners do testify and are able to  prove; that they did swear false and that they did it in order to save their lives  and your petitioners testify that all the testimony that had any tendency or  bearing of criminality against Said Joseph Smith Jr is false.
We are personally acquainted with the circumstances and being  with him most of the time, and being present at the times spoken of by them  therefore we know that their testimony was false and if he could have had a fair and  impartial and lawful examination before the court, and could have been [p. 21]

Facts

Editorial Title
Petition to George Thompkins, 15 March 1839
ID #
428