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Military Exemption from Robert D. Foster for John D. Murdock, 7 September 1843

Source Note

, Military Exemption for , , Hancock Co., IL, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 7 Sept. 1843; handwriting of ; certified by JS; two pages; document in private possession; photocopy in Murdock Family Papers, CHL. Includes seal, docket, and notation. Transcription from photocopy.
Original is apparently a single leaf, measurements unknown. The document was written on the recto and certified and docketed on the verso. It was folded in half twice lengthwise and then in half widthwise and filed. There is considerable wear and complete separation along the top fold line.
This document was passed down within ’s family. In 2009 a Murdock descendant donated photocopies of this and other Murdock family papers to the Church History Library.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Murdock Family Papers, 1831–1869, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 7 September 1843, , the surgeon general of the , wrote a military exemption for , Illinois, citizen that was then submitted to JS, the lieutenant general of the legion. The exemption indicates that Murdock was afflicted since his youth with an unspecified physical disability that precluded military service.
One Nauvoo Legion ordinance stipulated that no male between the ages of eighteen and forty-five who resided in more than fifteen days was exempt from military duty unless by a special act of court-martial or decreed by a “certificate of inability, under oath, signed by the Lieutenant General” and “countersigned by the Surgeon General.” was nineteen years old in 1843. According to the featured document, Murdock applied for a service exemption on 7 September, when took his sworn deposition of disability.
After deposing , wrote the certification on 7 September 1843 and delivered it to JS, who signed and certified it the next day. The exemption was then apparently returned to Murdock, who kept it in his possession.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    John Dean (or sometimes Deans) Murdock was the son of Joseph and Sally Stacy Murdock. (Murdock, Murdock Genealogy, 59; Carter, Our Pioneer Heritage, 16:423.)

    Murdock, Joseph B. Murdock Genealogy: Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants. Boston: C.E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925.

    Carter, Kate B., comp. Our Pioneer Heritage. 20 vols. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1937–1977.

  2. [2]

    Foster was appointed surgeon general of the Nauvoo Legion in early 1841. (John C. Bennett, “Officers of the Nauvoo Legion,” [1], Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL.)

    Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

  3. [3]

    “Court Martial of the Nauvoo Legion,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1842, 3:734.

  4. [4]

    Murdock, Murdock Genealogy, 59.

    Murdock, Joseph B. Murdock Genealogy: Robert Murdock of Roxbury, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants. Boston: C.E. Goodspeed & Co., 1925.

Page [1]

To Joseph Smith— Lieutenant General of Nauvoo Legion & all whom it may concern— This certifies that , has Citizen of , has this day applied for a Certificate to exempt him from Military duty & having been by me sworn according to Laws deposeth & saith that he is unable to perform Military service in consequence of general debility from his youth up to the present time— and the said having been examined by me according to the duties of my profession, I find him incompetent to perform service in the Militia of the State of — These are therefore to fully exonerate the said from such service henceforth, as his complaint is of a permanent character, according to my judgment
In Witness whereof I have hereunto fixed my hand & seal this 7th. day of Sept. A. D. 1843—
M. D. Seal
Surgeon General
[p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Military Exemption from Robert D. Foster for John D. Murdock, 7 September 1843
ID #
6479
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:101–103
Handwriting on This Page
  • Robert D. Foster

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: “Seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

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