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.
purposes therein mentioned and the said Sarah D. Rich having been by me made acquainted with the contents of the said Deed and examined seperate and a part from her said acknowledged that she had executed the same and relinquished her dower to the premises therein conveyed voluntarily and without compulsion of her said Given under my hand this fifth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three . J. P. seal
Recorded August 8th. 1843.
No. 197
Mortgage Deed
J[ames] H. Haven to D. G. Whitney and others for F. L 4 in B 17 in addition to .
Know all men by these presents That James Henderson Heven Haven & Elizabeth his wife of the County of & state of for and in consideration of the sum of seven hundred and fifty nine Dollars and thirty nine cents Lawful Money of the , to them in hand, well and truly paid by D. G. Whitney Holmes & Wood & John R. Randolph of the City of the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, ali<e>ned, released, conveyed and confirmed, and by these Presents, doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, convey and confirm unto the said D. G. Whitney Holmes & Wood & John R. Randolph their heirs and assigns forever. All That certain Lot or parcel of Land described as follows (To wit) a fractional part of Lot No. four (4) Block No Seventeen (17) commenceing Twenty (20) feet west from the South East corner of said Lot thence running North Fifty six (56) feet thence West twenty one and a half (21½) feet thence south Fifty six (56) feet thence East twenty one & a half (21½) feet to the place of beginning in addition to the City of together with all and singular the buildings on said Lot namely a brick store House 16 feet by 14 a brick dwelling house 16 feet by 22 and Hay scales situated on said Lot. And all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand, both in law and equity of him the said James Henderson Haven 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 premises hereby bargained and sold, or meant [p. 214]