Alpheus Gifford in Missouri

I recently came across a document from 1839 that was written or dictated by Alpheus Gifford in 1839. Alpheus is my 3rd Great Grandfather. It appears to be signed by him as well so that would be the earliest primary document that I have for an ancestor, followed by the Bible of Sarah Jane Holder of which I have the original book.

The LDS church requested affidavits from families who had lived in Jackson, Clay and Caldwell Counties and had been driven from the state by Mobs. These are saved as the 'Mormon Redress Petitions' at the Church History Library. Pages 17 and 18 at that link are from Alpheus Gifford. --- additional record indicators: Call Number: MS 2703 Language: eng Containers: MS 2703/b0001/f0012 --- Caldwell County was specifically set up for Mormons so they could evacuate the other parts of the State. But they were driven from Caldwell in 1839 over to Quincy Illinois and from there to Nauvoo. --- I have stories from another ancestor who moved into Caldwell County IN 1839 and lived there for 10 years. --- Here is my transcription of the Redress Petition with punctuation added for clarity. [Feel free to suggest improvements and corrections] ---- May I take this opportunity to relate [a much] of my Sufferings in Missouri. I moved into jackson County march 1833. After laboring through the summer [I] was driven from the county into Clay to suffer with my sick family without a house, after living there three years and a half and laboring under many disadvantages and suffering much through sickness and other fatigues on the account of being driven. Then we was driven from there into Caldwell. After remaining there one year and a half we was driven from the State into the state of Illinois where we now dwell and are now destitute of bedding Clothing and provision and all most every comfort of life. All this on the account of being driven. A charge for actual losses by being driven from Jackson County two hundred dollars; from Clay two hundred and fifty dollars; for losses in Caldwell three hundred dollars; for the act of driving from the state I charge ten thousand dollars; for being deprived of liberty of living in the state of Missouri nothing will satisfy but being and protected Alpeus gifford I certify the with in to be just and true according to the best of my Knowledge Alpheus Gifford The within Sworn to, before me this 14th day of May AD. 1839 C. M. Wovels clerk (circuit court) State of Illinois