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.
to Hudson E. Bridge & Samuel S Rayburn & Titus Hall For 1/2 of S 1/2 of L 1 in B 126 of
This Indenture made and entered into this twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two between of the county of and State of of the one part, and Hudson E. Bridge, Samuel S. Rayburn and Titus Hall, composing the firm of Bridge Rayburn & Co. of the city of and state of of the other part Witnesseth, that the said for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred and fifty nine Dollars to him paid by the said Bridges, Rayburn and Co. the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell, alien and confirm, unto the said Bridge, Rayburn & Co. their heirs and assigns forever. all that tract or parcel of Land situate in the county of and State of , and known as the equal and undivided half of the south half of Lot No. one in Block No. one hundred and twenty six in said county and reconed on the plat of the Town of To have and to hold the premises aforesaid with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, unto the said party of the second part, their heirs and assigns forever. Provided, always, that these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said , his heirs executors or administrators, shall pay or cause, to be paid to the said Bridge, Rayburn & Co. their heirs executors administrators, or assigns, the sum of six hundred and fifty Nine Dollars, on or before six months from the date of this mortgage, which sum is specified in Three different notes as follows, to wit: First— A note for Four hundred and Fifty Dollars— Dated Oct. 28th., 1841— Due six months from date— Signed by and — on which there is an endorsement of one hundred and Forty-five Dollars, dated, May 2, 1842.
Second— A. note for Three hundred Dollars— Dated April 1st., 1842.— Due Four months from date— signed by and . Third— A note for Fifty four Dollars— Dated March 29, 1842.— Due six months from date, signed by .
Now, if the said , his heirs, executors or assigns shall pay or cause to be paid, the aforesaid six hundred and fifty-Nine on or before six months from the date of this instrument, with all interest that may acrue thereon, then and from thenceforth these presents, and every thing herein contained, shall cease and be void, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
In witness whereof the said has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written.
L. S.
Charity Stoddard L. S.
State of Illinois)
SS.
)
I, , a Justice of the Peace, within and for the aforesaid, do certify that and Charity his wife, whose signatures appear to the foregoing mortgage, and who are personally known to me to be the persons described in and who executed the same, and who acknowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and Deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. And the said Charity Stoddard having been made acquainted with the contents of the said Mortgage, and examined separate and apart from her said acknowledged that she had executed the same, and relinquished her dower to the premises therein conveyed voluntairly, freely, and without any undue influance of her said . Given under my hand and seal this Twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two.