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.
grant, bargain, sell, release, convey, and confirm unto the said Dustin Amy and his heirs and assigns forever. A part of Lot four (4) in Block nineteen (19) in addition to , commencing seventy five feet three inches from the south east corner of said Lot on the East line running thence North thirty feet, thence west seventy five feet three inches thence south thirty feet, thence East seventy five feet three inches to the place of beginning be the same more or less, And all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand, both at law and in equity of them the said & wife 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 Dustin Amy and his heirs and assigns forever. And the said for himself and for his heirs, executors, and administrators does promise, covenant and agree, to and with the said Dustin Amy and his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, that before the ensealing and delivery hereof he was the true and lawful owner of the premises hereby granted, and has good right, full power, and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid: And further, that he the said and his heirs, executors and administrators will Warrant and forever defend, the aforesaid premises, with their appurtenances, and every part and parcel thereof, unto the said Dustin Amy and his heirs and assigns forever, against all persons claiming or to claim, by, from or under him, them, or any of them, or by, from or under any other person or persons whomsoever. In Witness whereof, the said together with Sarah [Phinney] Foster wife of the said who hereby forever relinquishes all right of dower in the said premises, have hereunto set their [p. 231]