and that the Trustees for the church be advised to bid it off.
A vote was taken and passed.
Coun. is opposed to giving up the charter. He believes the Legislature will repeal the charter on the same principle the[y] have repealed the other charters.
Coun. arose to speak on the idea of requesting the Sheriff to appoint twelve deputy Sheriffs in . Inasmuch as the question had been laid over to this council he wished it to be agitated, but if it is necessary he will wave it longer.
A question was asked as to the power of the Sheriff to appoint deputies, whether he is limited as to the number.
Coun. said the Sheriff is not limited to any number of deputies. [p. [262]]
At the 12 April 1845 estate sale organized by Joseph W. Coolidge, the trustees of the church purchased JS’s interest in the Nauvoo House Association for $6.50. (Bill of Sale, 12 Apr. 1845, microfilm, images 654–655, Illinois State Historical Society, Circuit Court Case Files, 1830–1900, CHL.)
Illinois State Historical Society. Circuit Court Case Files, 1830–1900. Microfilm. CHL. MS 16278.
Illinois state law authorized sheriffs to appoint deputies so long as a written appointment was “filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court” and deputies were administered “the several oaths required to be taken by the sheriff.” There was no legal limit to the number of deputies a sheriff could appoint. (Sheriffs and Coroners [3 Mar. 1845], Revised Statutes of the State of Illinois [1844–1845], p. 515, sec. 10.)
Revised Statutes of the State of Illinois, Adopted by the General Assembly of Said State, at Its Regular Session, Held in the Years, A. D., 1844–’5. Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1845.