Nauvoo Registry of Deeds, Deed Record Book A, 1840–1843
Source Note
Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, Recorder, Deed Record, Book A, 18 Apr. 1842–2 Sept. 1843; handwriting of and ; 235 pages; CHL. Includes notations.
Commercially produced bound volume measuring 18¼ × 12 × 1½ inches (46 × 30 × 4 cm). The volume contains 246 pages, including pastedowns and flyleaves, each measuring 18⅛ × 11½ inches (46 × 29 cm). The endpaper, including three flyleaves and a pastedown in the front and one flyleaf and pastedown at the back of the volume, are not lined. The interior pages consist of ledger paper ruled horizontally with thirty-four preprinted blue lines and two red double lines, demarcating a row at the top of the page, and ruled vertically with two red double lines, demarcating a column to the right of each page, now faded. The volume is composed of fifteen gatherings, each of which contains eight leaves, except for the fourth gathering, which has ten leaves, and the last, which has six leaves. The recto of the final leaf of the last gathering was glued to the flyleaf. The boards are covered in marbled paper, now faded. The cover has a calfskin spine and corners. The spine bears two labels, the first of which reads: “DEED RECORD | NAUVOO | A”. The title page of the volume has an inscription in graphite: “No 1 or Book of | Entry”.
The first inscribed page was paginated with the numeral 3, and there is consistent pagination in the handwriting of or running to the last page, numbered 237, resulting in 235 inscribed pages. The top of the first inscribed deed was labeled with “No. 1”, and each inscribed deed thereafter was assigned a number in like manner, except that there are two deeds labeled “190”. The volume contains 216 items, mostly deeds, dating from 20 April 1840 to 28 August 1843, recorded between 18 April 1842 and 2 September 1843. Inserted into the book between pages 2 and 3 is a slip of paper inscribed with what looks like material for JS’s multivolume manuscript history; this inserted slip is not included here. The title page and the flyleaves of the volume show significant discoloration and dirt buildup. The wear pattern indicates that a smaller booklet, an index for the volume, was stored in the book. The entire volume shows significant discoloration due to water damage and mold damage, the boards and cover are deteriorated, and several pages have a central vertical tear between 2 and 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) in length from the top of the page.
On 5 March 1842, the Nauvoo City Council appointed JS registrar for the city of , authorizing him to record and certify official deeds for land transactions. JS appointed as recorder for the Nauvoo registrar, and by mid-April 1842 Clayton began recording deeds into this record book. was doing general clerical work for the church beginning in April 1842 and was appointed a private secretary to JS on 11 June 1842. His handwriting also appears in this record book, though it is often difficult to distinguish which handwriting is Whitehead’s and which is Clayton’s. Along with other records, this record book was kept in JS’s Nauvoo office and transported to Utah Territory, where it was kept in the Church Historian’s Office. The spine bears a red-bordered label that reads “02473R | 9 Fo”, likely placed on the record by Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) staff in the 1950s or 1960s.
voluntarily sign, seal and acknowledge the same, and that she was still satisfied therewith. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and placed my seal, this Eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three.
J. P. L. S.
No 107
Deed
to for Pt. of L 1 in B 19 in addition to
This Indenture, Made this the twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and forty three Between of the County of and State of of the first part, and of the County of and State of . Witnesseth, That the said for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred & fifty two Dollars, lawful money of the , to him in hands, well and truly paid by the said the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, release, convey and confirm unto the said and his heirs and assigns forever. (viz) a part of lot one in block nineteen of , addition to lying and being in being a part of lot one in block nineteen of addition to aforesaid commencing on Back Street one hundred and thirty five feet from the North East corner of said lot and block above named running South along the east line of the lot & block precisely thirty feet six inches thence West seventy five feet three inches at parrallel lines with block nineteen and lot one as aforesaid and directly along the line of an alley thrown open by of twelve feet wide for public convenience forever for occupants of inhabitants and owners of Block nineteen, and thence North thirty feet six inches, thence East seventy five feet three inches to the place of beginning; bounded North by lot sold to Williams, East by Back Street, South by Alley, and West by Hartshorns lot; all deeded by to them. these are the bounds and the size of the lot is thirty feet six inches, by seventy five feet three inches, be the same more [p. 107]