Transcript of Proceedings, , Sangamon Co., IL, ca. 17 July 1852, U.S. v. Joseph Smith III et al. (United States Circuit Court for the District of IL 1852); U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois, Complete Records, 1837–1856, vol. 4, pp. 486–697; handwriting of ; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21, National Archives at Chicago, Chicago.
And also the answer of the said for herself, and jointly with her said husband Lewis C. Bidaman [Bidamon].
Also the answer of the said Lewis C. Bidaman to the complainants’ said Bill of complaint filed herein.
And also of said and Elisha Dixon to the same.
And the said defendants above named in the several capacities above named come and for answer to the said complainants said Bill of complaint or to so much thereof as they are respectively advised is necessary and proper for them to answer, always saving and reserving all and all manner of exception and objection to the many insufficiencies, informalities and uncertainties in said bill, say—
That they admit that the said Joseph Smith deceased at the time of his death and for a long time before, had been and was indebted together with divers other persons to the complainants to a large amount;
And that a judgement was recovered against said deceased and others therefor, but at what time, in what Court or for what amount, they are not informed and cannot state.
That they have no knowledge whether execution ever issued on said Judgement or not, or whether said Judgement has ever been paid or satisfied or not and cannot confess or deny the same, but require strict proof thereof.
That they are not informed and cannot state who, beside said Joseph Smith deceased, said judgement was recovered against or whether they are insolvent or not, but require strict proof,
These defendants admit that the said Joseph Smith deceased died intestate on the 27th. of June A. D. 1844 leaving this defendant his widow, and the said , , and his children and heirs at law and that after his death said was born and that said , , and are the only children and heirs at law of said Joseph Smith deceased as stated in said Bill.
And that they are all infants and that the said was soon after the death of the said deceased appointed their General Guardian by the Probate Court of Illinois and still remains such guardian as in said bill stated.
That defendants admit that in December 1847 the said Defendant intermarried with the said defendant Lewis C. Bidaman, and are now man and wife as charged in [p. 510]