Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Mayor’s Court, 1 September 1842
Historical Introduction
Around 1 September 1842, Joseph Harwood filed a complaint before JS in the , Illinois, mayor’s court, claiming that had failed to pay him $44.06 “for Work and labour.” JS issued an order summoning Brown to answer the complaint by appearing in the mayor’s court on 5 September. Constable served the summons on Brown. However, on the appointed trial date JS was in hiding to evade arrest for his alleged complicity in the attempted assassination of former governor . The docket entry simply noted JS’s absence and stated that “the Cause could not be proceeded upon.”
Calendar of Documents
This calendar lists all known documents created by or for the court, whether extant or not. It does not include versions of documents created for other purposes, though those versions may be listed in footnotes. In certain cases, especially in cases concerning unpaid debts, the originating document (promissory note, invoice, etc.) is listed here. Note that documents in the calendar are grouped with their originating court. Where a version of a document was subsequently filed with another court, that version is listed under both courts.
1842 (3)
September (3)
Ca. 31 August 1842
Joseph Harwood, Affidavit, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
Ca. 31 Aug. 1842. Not extant.
1 September 1842
JS as Mayor and Justice of the Peace, Summons, to Nauvoo City Marshal, for Albert Brown, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
1 Sept. 1842; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; handwriting of James Sloan; notation and docket in handwriting of James Sloan; notation in handwriting of Dimick B. Huntington.
Ca. 1 September 1842
Docket Entry, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
Ca. 1 Sept. 1842; Nauvoo Mayor’s Court Docket Book, 36; handwriting of James Sloan; notation in handwriting of James Sloan.
Also around 1 September 1842, Asa Copeland filed a complaint against Brown for failing to pay $44.37½ for labor. Illinois law gave justices of the peace jurisdiction over claims “for work or labor done, or services rendered, where the amount claimed shall not exceed one hundred dollars.” (See Introduction to Copeland v. A. Brown; An Act concerning Justices of the Peace and Constables [1 June 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 402, sec. 1.)
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.