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.
A Harper his heirs and assigns forever all that tract or parcel of Land, situate and being in the county of in the state of , viz: Lot numbered 2 two in block No 6 six in s second addition to the city of together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining
To Have and To Hold the above described premises unto the said Charles A. Harper his heirs and assigns forever. And the said and Sarah his wife, their heirs and assigns <the aforesaid premises, unto the said Charles A Harper his heirs and assigns> against the claim or claims of all and every person whomsoever, do and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
In Testimony Whereof, the said and Sarah his wife of the first part, have hereunto set heir hands and seals, the day and year above written.
L. S.
Sarah Hibard L. S.
Signed, sealed and delivered)
in presence of)
State of Illinois,)
SS.
,)
I. a Justice of the Peace, of said , do certify that and Sarah Hibard his wife, whose signatures appear to the foregoing deed, and who are personally known to me to be the persons described in, and who executed the same, did severally acknowledge that they had executed the said conveyance, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. And the said Sarah Hibard having been by me made acquainted with the contents of the said Deed, and examined separate and apart from her <said> , acknowledged that she had executed the same, and relinquished her dower to the premises therein conveyed, voluntarily, freely, and without compulsion of her said . Given under my hand and seal, this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty Two
J. P. L. S.
Recorded June 10th. 1842.
31
Bond
to City of For pt of E 1/2 of N. E 1/4 of sec 7 Township 6 Range 8 W
Know all Men By These Presents, I of the city of , in the county of and state of , am held and firmly bound unto City of , in the County of and State of in the sum of one thousand dollars, for the payment of which, well and Truly to be made I bind myself my heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents.
Now The Condition of The Above Obligation is such, That whereas, the said hath this day sold unto the said City of a certain Lot of ground, situated, lying and being in the county of Hancock and State of , and described as begin<n>ing at a stake fifteen Rods South of North East corner of a certain tract of Land owned by , and North West corner of Land owned by and is in the East half of the North East quarter of section (7) Seven Township six (6) Range Eight (8) west, thence South twenty five (25) Rods, thence East twenty seven (27) thence North Twenty five (25) Rods, thence West twenty seven (27) Rods, to the place of begin<n>ing containing Four (4) acres and thirty five Rods and recieved in payment for said Lot, one Note of Hand bearing even date herewith, for the sum of one hundred and twenty six Dollars, & fifty six & one fourth cents, payable upon the first day of April next. [p. 28]