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.
therein conveyed, voluntarily, freely, and without compulsion of her said . Given under my hand and seal, this eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three. J. P. L. S. Recorded July 18th. 1843.
No 185
Deed
Joseph Smith to & others For sundry Lots &c of Land in the city of . namely, L 3. B 93. L 4. B 94. L 1. 2 & 3. B 95. B 96. B 97. B 98. L 1 & 2 B 99. L 4. B 194. L 2 & 3. B 109. B 110. L 3. B 11. L 3 B 112. L 3 & 4 B 113. L 1. 2 & 3 in B 116. B 128. B 129. L 1. 2. 4. B 131. L 1. 2 & 4 B 136. B 137. L 4 B 142. L 3 B 143. B 144. L 1 B 145. L 3 B 147. B 155 L 2 B 159 & L 1. B 160.
This Indenture made and entered into this twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three between Joseph Smith, sole Trustee in trust for the , of the county of and State of of the first part and , , , , and all of the County of and State of of the second part Witnesseth that the said Joseph Smith party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Ten thousand dollars, to him in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged Doth hereby grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto the said , , , , and their heirs and assigns for ever All those tracts or parcels of land, situate and being in the County of and State of and described on the plot of the City of as being Lot number three in Block number ninety three Also Lot number four in Block number ninety four Also Lots number one, two and three in Block number ninety five Also Block number ninety six Also Block number ninety seven Also Block number ninety eight Also Lots number one and two in Block number ninety nine Also Lot number four in Block number one hundred and four also Lots number two and three in Block number one hundred and nine Also Block number one hundred and ten. Also Lot number three in Block number one hundred and eleven. Also Lot number three in Block number one hundred and twelve Also Lots number three and four in Block number one hundred and thirteen Also Lots number one, two and three in Block number one hundred and sixteen. Also Block number one hundred and twenty eight Also Block number one hundred and twenty nine Also Lots number one two and four in Block number one hundred and thirty one Also Lots number one, two, and four in Block number one hundred and thirty five Also Lots number two, three and four in Block number one hundred and thirty six Also Block number one hundred and thirty seven. Also Lot number four in Block number one hundred and forty two. Also Lot number three [p. 200]