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.
W[esley] D Mc.Cann to Isaac R. Leyon for Pt. of L 1 in B 1 of s addition to
This Indenture, made this Twenty Sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty three Witnesseth, that Wesley D. Mc.Cann and Priscila Jane Mc.Cann his wife of the County of and State of partys of the first part, in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars paid by Isaac R. Leyons of the county of and State of party of the second part: the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have Granted, Bargained, and sold, and by these presents, do Grant, bargain, sell, convey, & confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, a certain tract of Land, known and described as follows viz: a lot of land described as follows commencing forty nine feet West from the North East corner of Lot one in Block one of s addition to the city of in Ills thence runing west forty nine feet thence South one hundred feet thence East forty nine feet thence North one hundred feet to the place of begining To Have and to Hold the said premises, with all the appurtences thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said party of the first part covenant with the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns; That they are lawfully seized in fee of the said premises & have a good right to convey the same; that they are free from all incombrance; and that, for the consideration above named, the title thereof, to the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns, against all lawful claims whatsoever, will forever Warrant and defend.
In Witness Whereof, the said grantors have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Wesley D. MCann L. S Priscilla Jane MCcann L. S. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of James A. Bell. State of , &ct. Be it Remembered, that on this Twenty sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Three Wesley D. MCann and Priscilla Jane his wife are personally known to the undersigned, Justice of the Peace in and for said to be the identical persons who executed, and whose name are subscribed to the foregoing Deed of conveyance, as having executed the same, came before me and acknowledged the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the [p. 160]