Joseph H. Jackson (Nauvoo Legion)

Joseph H. Jackson was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois in the 1840s. He played role in Mormon founder Joseph Smith's arrest, which ultimately lead to his killing at the hands of a lynch mob.[1][2]: 58 [3]

Jackson arrived in Nauvoo on October 10, 1842.[4][3] He spent the winter of 1842–1843 in Carthage, returning to Nauvoo in the Spring.[3] On January 5, 1844, Jackson was appointed aide-de-camp to Joseph Smith in his capacity as leader of the Nauvoo Legion.[3] In May 23 1844, Jackson provided testimony before a grand jury that led to Smith's indictment for perjury.[3][5] On May 27, Joseph Smith entered Carthage, where Charles Foster reportedly told Joseph Smith that Joseph Jackson planned to kill him.[6]

On June 1, Jackson authored a letter to the editor of the Warsaw Signal which was published. In it he alleged that Joseph Smith had sent Porter Rockwell to assassinate Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs, offered Jackson $3000 to kill Boggs. He further accused Smith of counterfeiting.[7]

On June 21, he swore two affidavits about recent events in Nauvoo.[8][9] In August 1844, Jackson published a pamphlet about his experiences in Nauvoo.[4] In that document, Jackson alleged that Smith has issued revelations to marry three members of his own family: his brother William's wife Caroline, his sister Lucy, and his niece Lavina..[10]

References

  1. ^ Brodie, Fawn M. (1995-08-01). No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-679-73054-5.
  2. ^ Bushman, Richard Lyman (2005). Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 1-4000-4270-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/joseph-h-jackson
  4. ^ a b "Smith History Vault: 1844 Joseph H. Jackson booklet". www.olivercowdery.com.
  5. ^ https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/indictment-circa-23-may-1844-state-of-illinois-v-js-for-perjury/4#full-transcript
  6. ^ Bushman p. 538
  7. ^ "Uncle Dale's Old Mormon Articles: Warsaw Signal (1844: Jan.-June)". www.sidneyrigdon.com.
  8. ^ https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/affidavit-from-joseph-h-jackson-21-june-1844-a/1
  9. ^ https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/affidavit-from-joseph-h-jackson-21-june-1844-b/1
  10. ^ Brodie, p.305

See also

  • John C. Bennett, an earlier leader of the Nauvoo Legion who broke with Smith
  • Nauvoo Expositor, the press that exposed Smith's polygamy, was destroyed on Smith's order, and led to his killing at the hands of a lynch mob