In early 1841, church agents indicated in a report that by that time land sales in the “Hotchkiss purchase” amounted to about $83,000 and that those in the “White’s purchase” amounted to about $15,000. Most of the land sales enumerated in the report, however, would have come from the land purchased by church leaders on 12 August 1839 from Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet and the land purchased from Hugh White on 30 April 1839, rather than the land parcels purchased from Hotchkiss and William White described in this letter. The majority of land sales were purchased on credit rather than with cash. (Report of Agents, ca. 30 Jan. 1841.)

Aside from the unusual nature of JS concluding White’s rent transaction with Hotchkiss, JS was likely concerned that Hotchkiss would disapprove of the Saints’ receiving immediate title to the land from White. The deed would not normally have been transferred to them by White but would instead have been given to the church by Hotchkiss upon receipt of full payment ten years after the original purchase date. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B; Receipt from William White, 23 Apr. 1840.)

It is unclear when White moved from the Nauvoo area or what specific property he had rented from Hotchkiss.