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.
This Indenture, made and entered into this Twenty third day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty Two between Ethan Kimball of and State of of the first part, and of the county of and State of of, the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party, of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollers dollars, to them him 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: being Lot No Eleven in Block No Three of s addition to the city of . as will be more fully described by refference to the records at and State of
To Have and to Hold, the aforesaid premises, together with all and singular the improvements, rights, privileges, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, free from the claim or claims of himself his heirs, or assigns and from the claims of any and every other person or persons claiming the same by, through, or under him. and the said party of the first part, for himself his heirs, executors and administrators, covenant with the said party of the Second part, his heirs and assigns, that he is lawfully seized of the above described premises, that he has good right, full power, and lawful authority, to sell and convey the same, and that the above described premises are clear and free, of all encumbrances: And that he will Warrant and forever defend the title thereto, and hereby conveyed, against the lawful claim or claims of all and every person or persons claiming the same whomsoever.
In Testimony Whereof, the said party of the first part, have hereunto subscribed his name, and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written
Ethan Kimball L. S.
by his Attorney L. S.
Signed, Sealed and delivered)
Thomas Clayton
in Presence of)
State of Illinois)
SS.
)
I, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid do certify that Ethan Kimball by his attorney in fact is personally known to me to be the person described in and who executed the same did acknowledge that he had executed the said conveyance for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. Given under my hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of May A. D. 1842.
J. P. L. S
Recorded May 25th. 1842.
25
Samuel Miles To Thomas Clayton For the south end of L 11 in B 3
This Deed, made this twenty fifth day of May eighteen hundred and forty two Witnesseth: that I Samuel Miles & his wife of the Town of county of State of in consideration of one hundred and Twenty dollars to me paid by Thomas Clayton of the county of State of the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged do by these presents grant, bargain, sell, convey and [p. 22]