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.
part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release, convey and confirm unto the said Party of the second part, and her heirs and assigns forever. All that piece or parcel of Land lying in & aforesaid, being part of Lots Numbered forty six & forty seven (46) & (47) in Block numbered four (4) of s addition to the city of , described as follows, to wit, beginning at a stake at the centre of the road, running from to , & running thence North across Lot forty six, to the North bounds of said Lot Thence west along the said North bounds about six rods, thence South to the centre of said road, thence east along said road to the place of beginning, intended to contain one acre of land And all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand, boath at law and in equity of them the said party of the first part, of, in, and to the said premises, and every part thereof: Together with all and singular, the privileges and appurtenances, to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining; and the rents, issues, and profits thereof; To Have and to Hold, the said premises hereby bargained and sold, or meant or intended so to be, with the appurtenances, to the only proper use and behoof of the said party of the second part and her heirs and assigns forever. And the said party of the first part for themselves and for their heirs, executors, and administrators do promise, covenant and agree, to and with the said party of the second part and her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, that before the ensealing and delivery hereof they were the true and lawful owners of the premises hereby granted, and have good right, full power, and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid: And Further, that they the said party of the first part, and their heirs, executors and administrators will Warrant and forever defend, the aforesaid premises, with their appurtenances, and every part and parcel thereof, unto the said party of the second part and her heirs and assigns forever, against all persons claiming or to claim by, from or under them, or any of them, or by, from or under any other person [p. 156]