Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 28 November 1843, Willard Richards Copy
Source Note
[JS] and others, Memorial, , Hancock Co., IL, to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, , 28 Nov. 1843; handwriting of ; signatures of and 44 others; docket in handwriting of ; seven pages; JS Office Papers, CHL.
and sale sell their lands there, for which they have never been paid, they had finally settled in where they had purchased and paid for nearly all the government land within its limits, in order to secure homes where they could live and worship in peace, but even here they were soon followed by the Mob. The Society remained in from 1836, until the fall of 1838, and during that time had acquired by purchase from the Government, the settlers and prem<p>tioners, almost all the lands in the county of , and a portion of those in and Carrol counties. Those counties, when our people first commenced their settlements were for the most part wild and uncultivated, and they had converted them into large and well improved farms, well stocked. Lands had risen in value from 20 to 25 dollars per acre, and those counties were rapidly advancing in cultivation and wealth. In August 1838 a riot commenced, growing out of the attempt of a member of the Society to vote, which resulted in creating great excitement and many scenes of lawless outrage: A large mob under the conduct of , came into the vicinity of , drove off our Stock and abused our people, and there a party came into , took away our horses and cattle, burt our houses and ordered the inhabitants to leave their homes immediately. By orders of and , a company of about 60 men went to disperse this Mob under the command of Capt . A conflict ensued in which and two of his men were killed, and others wounded. A Mob party from two to three hundred in number, many of whom are supposed to have come from , fell on our people, and notwithstanding they begged for quarters shot down and killed eighteen as they would so many wild beasts. [p. 4]