Footnotes
This serialized history drew on the journals herein beginning with the 4 July 1855 issue of the Deseret News and with the 3 January 1857 issue of the LDS Millennial Star.
The labels on the spines of the four volumes read respectively as follows: “Joseph Smith’s Journal—1842–3 by Willard Richards” (book 1); “Joseph Smith’s Journal by W. Richards 1843” (book 2); “Joseph Smith’s Journal by W. Richards 1843–4” (book 3); and “W. Richards’ Journal 1844 Vol. 4” (book 4). Richards kept JS’s journal in the front of book 4, and after JS’s death Richards kept his own journal in the back of the volume.
“Schedule of Church Records, Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
“Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [1]; “Contents of the Historian and Recorder’s Office G. S. L. City July 1858,” 2; “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [11]–[12], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 7.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
Johnson, Jeffery O. Register of the Joseph Smith Collection in the Church Archives, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973.
Footnotes
Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, Dec. 1841–Dec. 1842.
Source Note to JS, Journal, 1835–1836; Source Note to JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838.
See Appendix 3.
In a letter to the Warsaw Signal, Sympson claimed that JS had him arrested for the December 1843 robbery and non-fatal stabbing of Richard Badham. Sympson reported that JS “made affidavit” against him before Justice of the Peace Johnson, but that after Badham failed to identify Sympson as his assailant, JS denied at Sympson’s trial (which Johnson presided over) that he ever believed Sympson was guilty. According to Sympson, JS defended his actions by claiming that the affidavit “was couched in stronger language than he had intended to swear to” and that while he had signed the affidavit, he had not actually sworn to it. He also claimed that he had intended to befriend Sympson. The following month, shortly after learning that Foster was repeating Sympson’s accusation, JS publicly explained his interaction with Sympson and denied making an affidavit against him. No affidavit by JS accusing Sympson of the crime has been located. Sympson’s case against JS for false imprisonment was scheduled to be heard at the May 1844 session of the Hancock County Circuit Court but was reportedly “transferred by a change of venue” to Adams County. (“Dreadful Outrage and Attempt at Murder,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 Dec. 1843, [2]; Alexander Sympson, “To the Editor of the Warsaw Message,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 25 Apr. 1844, [3]; JS, Journal, 23 and 26 May 1844; “Sermon of Joseph the Proph[et],” 26 May 1844, JS Collection, CHL; “Circuit Court,” Nauvoo Expositor, 7 June 1844, [3].)
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.
On 10 April 1844, A. J. Higbee swore an affidavit before Justice of the Peace Foster accusing Colton of perjury. Colton was arrested by Joel S. Miles on a warrant issued by Foster, but, fearing that he would not obtain a fair trial, Colton refused to be tried by Foster. The case was transferred to Justice of the Peace Isaac Higbee, who ordered that Colton be confined in the Hancock County jail to await trial at the next term of the circuit court. After hearing testimony from Foster, the municipal court (over which JS presided) discharged Colton and ordered A. J. Higbee to pay the costs, “he being the original prosecutor.” (A. J. Higbee, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 10 Apr. 1844; Warrant for Andrew Colton, 10 Apr. 1844, State of Illinois v. Andrew Colton [Hancock Co. Mun. Ct. 1844]; State of Illinois, Mittimus, 11 Apr. 1844, State of Illinois v. Andrew Colton [Hancock Co. Mun. Ct. 1844], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Nauvoo Municipal Court Docket Book, 94; Minutes of Court Proceedings, 13 Apr. 1844, State of Illinois v. Colton [Nauvoo Mun. Ct. 1844], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)
Nauvoo Municipal Court Docket Book / Nauvoo, IL, Municipal Court. “Docket of the Municipal Court of the City of Nauvoo,” ca. 1843–1845. In Historian's Office, Historical Record Book, 1843–1874, pp. 51–150 and pp. 1–19 (second numbering). CHL. MS 3434.