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.
administrators and executors, do warrant and forever defend the title of the lot or piece of land against every person or persons claiming by, through, or under him in any manner or any other persons whatever, In Testimony Whereof He has hereunto set his name and affixed his seal this 29 day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Three Ethan Kimball seal by his Attorney . State of County of I, an acting Justice of the peace of said do certify that whose signature appears to the foregoing deed and who is personally known to me to be the identicle person who executed the same and acknowledged the same to be his own free act and Deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and expressed. Given under my hand and seal this 30th. day of May A. D. 1843—
J. P. seal Recorded June 1st. 1843.
No. 154
Deed
to for Pt. of L 9 in B 3 of s add to
This Indenture, made and entered into this First day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Three Between and Letice [Lettice Palmer Bent] his wife, of , and State of of the first part, and of the County of and State of of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, to them in hand paid, by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have given, granted bargained, and sold and by these presents, do give, grant, bargain, sell, convey, and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land, situate, lying, and being in the county of and State of and described as follows, to wit: commencing at the North East corner of Lot No. 9 in Block No. 3 of s first addition to running West 10 Rods Thence South 17 Rods 13 links thence East 10 Rods thence North 17 Rods 13 links to the place of begining. To Have and to Hold, the aforesaid premises, together with all and singular the improvements, rights, privileges, and appurtenances thereunto [p. 164]