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Vault MSS 791 – Joseph Young Affidavit of Haun's Mill Massacre
Number of Pages: 7

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The following, is a short history of my travels to
the state of Missouri, and of a bloody tragedy acted
at Haunns Mills, on Shoal creek Oct 30th 1838.
On the sixth day of July last, I started with my
family from Kirtland Ohio, for the State of Missouri
the county of Caldwell in the upper part of the
states being the place of my destination
On the 13th of Oct, I crossed the Mississippi, at
Louisiana, at which place I heard vague reports
of the disturbances in the upper country, but no
=thing that could be relied upon.— I continued my
course west ward till I crossed Grand River, at a
place called Comptons ferry, at which place I heard
for the first time, that if I proceeded any further
on my journey, I would be in danger of being
stopped, by a body of armed men. I was not will
=ing however while treading my native soil and
breathing republican air, to abandon my object;
which was to Locate myself, and family in a fine
healthy country, where we could enjoy the society
of our friends and connections. Consequently I
prosecuted my journey, till I came to Whitneys
mills, seituated on Shoal creek, in the eastern
part of Caldwell county. After crossing the creek
and going about three miles, we met a party of the
mob, about 40 in number, armed with rifles and
mounted on horses who informed us that we could
go no farther, west, threatening us with instant
death if we proceeded any farther. I asked them
the reason of this prohibition, to which they
replied, that we were Mormons, and that every
one who adhered to our religious faith would
have have to leave the State in ten days or re-
=nounce their religion. Accordingly they drove
us back to the mills above mentioned.
Here we tarried three days and on Friday the
26th we recrossed the creek, and following up
its banks, we succeeded in eluding the mob for the

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time being, and gained the residence of a friend in
Myers Settlement. – On Sunday 28th Oct we arrived
about 12 Oclock at Haunns Mills, where we found
a number of our friends, collected together, who
were holding a council, and deliberating on the best
course for them to pursue, to defend themselves against
the mob who were collecting in the neighborhood
under the command of Col Jennings of Livingston
and threatning them with house burning, and kill
=ing. – The decision of the council was that our
friends there should place themselves in an attitude
of self defence. Accordingly about 28 of our men
armed themselves and were in constant readiness
for an attack of any small body of men that might
come upon them. The same evening for some
cause, best known to themselves, the mob sent one
of their number to enter into a treaty with
our friends, which was accepted of on the condi
=tion of mutual forbearance, on both sides, and
that each party as far as their influence ex
=tended should exert themselves to prevent any
further hostilities, upon either party
At this time however there was another mob collec
ting on Grand river, at William Manns who
were threatening us, consequently we remained under
arms on monday the 29th, which passed away without
molestation from any quarter. On Tuesday the 30th
that bloody tragedy was acted, the scenes of
which I shall never forget! More than three
fourths of the day had passed in tranquility as s[-]
ling as the preceeding one. I think there was no
individual of our company that was apprized of
the sudden and awful fate that hung over our heads
like an overwhelming torrent, which was to change
the prospects the feelings and circumstances of
about 30 families. -- The banks of shoal creek on
either side teem'd with children, sporting and
playing, while their mothers were engaged in domes
=tick employments; and their fathers employed in

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guarding the mills and other property, while others
were engaged in gathering in their crops for their win
ter consumption.  The weather was very pleasant,
the sun shone clear; all was tranquil, and
no one expressed any apprehensions of the awful crisis
that was near us even at our doors.
It was about 4 oclock, while sitting in my cabbin with
my babe in my arms, and my wife standing by my side
the door being open, I cast my eyes on the opposite bank
of Shoal creek, and saw a large company of armed
men on horses directing their course towards the mills
with all possible speed. -- As they advanced through
the scattering trees that stood on the edge of the p[---]
they seemed to form themselves into a three square
position forming a vanguard in front.
At this moment David Evans seeing the superiority
of their numbers, (there being 240 of them accor
=ding to their own account) swung his hat and
cried for peace.  This not being heeded they con
=tinued to advance, and their leader Mr Com
=stock fired a gun, which was followed by a solemn
pause of ten or twelve seconds.  When all at once
they discharged about 100 rifles aiming at a
blacksmiths shop into which our friends had
fled for safety, and charging up to the shop
the cracks of which he [--]eck the logs were
sufficiently large, to enable them to aim directly
at the bodies of those who had there fled for
refuge from the fire of their murderers.
There were several families tented in rear of
the shop whose lives were exposed and amidst
a shower of bullets fled to the woods in different
directions. -- After standing and gazing on this
bloody scene for a few minutes, and finding myself
in the utmost danger, the bullets having reached
the house where I was living, I commited my
family to the protection of Heaven, and leaving the
house on the opposite side, I took a path which
led up the hill following in the trail of three

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of my brethren that had fled from the shop.
While ascending the hill we were discovered
by the mob, who immediately fired at us and
continued so to do, till we reached the summit.
In descending the hill I secreted myself in
a thicket of bushes where I lay till eight oclock
in the evening, at which time I heard a female
voice calling my name in an under tone, telling
me that the mob had gone, and there was no
danger. I immediately left the thicket and
went to the house of Benjamin Lewis, where I
found my family, (who had fled there) in safety
and two of my friends mortally wounded, one
of whom died before morning.
Here we passed the painful night in deepp and
awful reflections, on the scenes of the proceeding
evening. After day light appeared, some four
or five men, with myself, who had escaped with
our lives from the horrid massacre, repaired as
soon as possible, to the mills, to learn the con
=dition of our friends, whose fate, we had but too
truly anticipated.
When we arrived at the house of Mr Haunn we
found Mr Merric[-]s body lying in rear of the house.
Mr. McBrides in front, bitterly mangled from
head to foot. We were informed by Miss Rebecca
Judd, who was an eye witness, that he was shot
with his own gun, after he had given it up and
then was cut to pieces with a corn cutter by a Mr
Rogers of Daviess County, who keeps a ferry on
Grand river, and who has since repeatedly boos
=ted of this act of savage barbarity. Mr York's
body we found in the house, and after viewing
these corpses, we immediately went to the black-
smiths shop, where we found nine of our friends
8 of whom were already dead, the other M Co[-]
of Indiana strugling in the agonies of death who
expired.  We immediately prepared and carried
them to the place of internment, this last office of kind

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=ness due to the relicts of departed friends, was not
attended with the customary ceremonies, nor decency for
we were in jeopardy every moment, expecting to be
fired <up> on by the mob, who we supposed were lying
in ambush, waiting for the first opportunity to dispatch
the remaining few who were providentially pres-
=served from the slaughter of the preceeding day
However we accomplished with out molesta
=tion this painful task. - - The place of burying
was a vault in the ground formerly intended for
a well, into which we threw the bodies of
our friends promiscuously.
Among those slain I will mention Sardius
Smith, son of Warren Smith, about 9 years old
who through fear had crawled under the bel-
=lowses in the shop where he remained till the
massacre was over when he was discovered
by a Wm. Glaze of Carroll county who presented
his rifle near the boys head and litter ly blow'd
off the upper part of it.  Mr Stanley of Carrol told
me after wards that Glaze boasted of this fiendlike
murder, and heroick deed all over the country
The number killed and mortally wounded in
this wanton slaughter was 18 or 19 whose names
as far as I recollect were as follows, Thomas M Boide
Levi Merrick,, Elias Benner,, Josiah Fuller,,
Benjamin Lewis,, Alexander Campbell, Warren
Smith,, Sardius Smith, George Richards,, 
Mr Napier,, Mr Hamer,, Mr Cox,, Mr. Abbott,,
Mr York,, William Merrick (a boy 8 or 9 years
old, and three or four others, whose names I do
not recollect as they were strangers to me
Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney
Nathan S E. Knight,, Mr Yokeman,, two brothers by the
name of  and Myers,, Tarlton Lewis,, Mr Harmon and
several others.  Miss Mary Stedwell while
fleeing was shot through the hand, and fainting
fell over a log into which they shot up wards
of twently bills

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To finish their work of of destruction this band of
murderers composed of men from Daviess, Livingston
Ray, Carroll and chariton led by some of the 
principal men of that section of the upper
country (among whome I am informed were Mr
Ashby from Chariton member of the State
Legislation, Col Jennings of Livingston,, Thomas
O. Bryon clerk of Livingston county Mr Whitney
Sr. Randall and many others) proceeded to rob the 
houses, wagons and, tents, of bedding and clothing
drove off horses, and wagons, leaving widows and
orpahns destitute of the necessaries of life, and
even stripped the clothing from the bodies of
the slain!
According to their own account they fired seven
rounds in this awful butchery, making upwards
of sixteen hundred shots at a little company
of men about thirty in number
Thereby certify the above to be a true statements
of facts according to the best of my knowledge
						Joseph Young
State of Illinois
County of Adams	Sep
				I hereby certify that Joseph Young
this day came before me and made oath in due form of
law that the statements contained in the foregoing
Sheets are true according to the best of his know-
ledge and belief
		In testimony whereof I have here and
		Set my hand and affixed the
		Seal of the Circuit Court at Quincy
		this fourth day of June in the year of
		our Lord One thousand and Eight hundred
		and thirty Nine
				Br Wood Clark
[-] Wood		Circuit Court Adams 6<0>
				Illinois

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