Sampson Avard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sampson Avard
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Sampson Avard was one of the founders and leaders of the secret militia force known as the Mormon Danites in the Missouri Mormon War of 1838
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| Born | October 23, 1800 or 1803 St Peter's, Guernsey, UK
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| Died | April 15, 1869 (age 69-72) |
| Citizenship | British, American |
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| Employer | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, self-employed |
| Known for | Being one of the founders and leaders of the Mormon Danites in 1838 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints |
| Service/ |
Mormon militia |
| Years of service | 1838 |
| Unit | Mormon Danites |
| Commands held | Mormon Danites commander |
| Battles/wars | Missouri Mormon War
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Sampson Avard (born October 23, 1800 – died April 15, 1869) was a key figure in a group called the Danites. This group was active in Missouri during a conflict known as the Missouri Mormon War in 1838. He helped start and lead the Danites.
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Early Life and Career
Sampson Avard was born in St. Peter, Guernsey, which is part of the Channel Islands near the UK. He later moved to the United States. In the U.S., he worked as a physician, which is a type of doctor. He also became a minister in Pennsylvania.
Becoming a Mormon
In 1835, Sampson Avard joined the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He was baptized in Freedom, Pennsylvania, by a church leader named Orson Pratt.
Church Leadership Roles
After joining the church, Orson Pratt made Avard an Elder. This meant he was a leader of the local church group, called a branch. He also served a mission, which is like a religious trip, near his home. In 1836, he moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where many church members lived. He was made a High Priest in 1837, which is another important church position. However, he lost this position later that same year for reasons that are not fully clear.
The Danites Group
In 1838, Sampson Avard was living in Far West, Missouri. He was part of the church's High Council there. At this time, there was a lot of tension between the growing Mormon community and other people living in Missouri.
Avard helped create and lead the Danites. This was a secret group that acted like a private army. They took oaths and aimed to get back at people for harm or losses suffered by Mormons. It's not fully known how much Joseph Smith, the church's founder, knew about or supported Avard's actions. Smith did say the Danites should follow the law. The Danites' actions made the 1838 Mormon War worse. This conflict caught the attention of the state government and its army.
Arrest and Leaving the Church
After Mormons were told to leave Missouri, Joseph Smith was arrested. Sampson Avard was a main witness against Smith. He said that Smith was the one who planned the Danites' activities. Smith later said the Danites were "frauds" and "secret abominations." In March 1839, Avard was removed from the church, a process called excommunication. Sampson Avard never tried to rejoin the Latter Day Saints.
Later Life
By 1850, Sampson Avard was working as a doctor in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Death
Sampson Avard passed away in 1869 in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois.
