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.
The State of Illinois SS. Before me, a Justice of the peace within and for said County, personally came & Parmelia the above named grantors and acknowledged the signing and sealing of the above Deed to be their voluntary act for the use and purposes therein expressed. And the said Parmelia Dayton being examined by me separate and apart from her said , and the contents of the said Deed being fully made known to her upon such separate examination declared, that she did voluntarily sign, seal and acknowledge the same, and that she is still satisfied therewith. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three J. P. L. S.. Recorded April 21st. 1843
No. 121
Deed
Charlotte Ann [Golden] Robison to Asa Barton for Fractional Lots No 1 & 2 in B 13 in the add to belonging to the heirs of Deceased
This Indenture made this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty three, between Charlotte Ann Robison, Guardian of Emma C. and Chauncey G. Robison, infant children of deceased, late of , in the state of of the one part, and Asa Barton of the and aforesaid, of the other part Witnesseth, that, whereas heretofore, to wit, at the May Term of the circuit court of the and aforesaid, A. D. 1842, on a certain petition then and there pending in said court, it was by the said court ordered and decreed that certain premises described in said petition, be sold for the support and education of said wards except one third of the same premises which shall be reserved to the widow of said decd. for her dower”— and “the said Charlotte Ann” Robison, Guardian aforesaid, “shall sell the said premises herein directed to be sold, at public vendue to the highest and best bidder, on a credit of six months”, “in Town lots or Blocks or such other division as the interest of said wards shall require”— and whereas afterwards, to wit, on the eighth day of August between the hours of ten o’ clock in the forenoon, and five in the afternoon of said [p. 125]