Minutes, 13 November 1841, Copy

Source Note

Nauvoo City Council, Minutes,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, 13 Nov. 1841. Featured version copied [ca. 13 Nov. 1841] in Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 29–32; handwriting of
James Sloan
28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845.
Historical Introduction
On the evening of 13 November 1841 in
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Illinois, JS attended and participated in a meeting of the Nauvoo City Council, which met at
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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’s office to conduct a variety of business matters.
1
The Nauvoo City Council had been meeting at Hyrum Smith’s office in Nauvoo since 23 October 1841. (See Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 16 and 23 Oct. 1841, 23–24.)
For example, JS, one of the city councilors, presented three new city ordinances that were then passed by the council: one regarding financial liabilities assumed by those appealing cases from the mayor’s court, one regarding the salaries of city officers, and one concerning vagrants and disorderly people.

Recorder
James Sloan
28 Oct. 1792–24 Oct. 1886. City recorder, notary public, attorney, judge, farmer. Born in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Son of Alexander Sloan and Anne. Married Mary Magill. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, ...
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took rough minutes during the meeting in a notebook and then used those original minutes to record the official minutes in the city council’s ledger book; that is the version featured here.
2
See Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 13 Nov. 1841, 39–40. It is possible that this official ledger book is one of the “books of record” that Sloan in an earlier meeting had requested the city council purchase. At the 13 November meeting, described in the minutes featured here, the council agreed to provide record books and other clerical supplies to Sloan. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 6 Nov. 1841, 28–29; Hyrum Smith and John P. Greene, Committee Report, Nauvoo, IL, [between 6 and 13 Nov. 1841], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

Footnotes
1. 1
  The Nauvoo City Council had been meeting at Hyrum Smith’s office in Nauvoo since 23 October 1841. (See Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 16 and 23 Oct. 1841, 23–24.)
2. 2
  See Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 13 Nov. 1841, 39–40. It is possible that this official ledger book is one of the “books of record” that Sloan in an earlier meeting had requested the city council purchase. At the 13 November meeting, described in the minutes featured here, the council agreed to provide record books and other clerical supplies to Sloan. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 6 Nov. 1841, 28–29; Hyrum Smith and John P. Greene, Committee Report, Nauvoo, IL, [between 6 and 13 Nov. 1841], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

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The gave an explination of the Rights, & powers, given by the City Charter, & the right of the City Council to Tax the Citizens.

Colr. J. Smith spoke to considerable length, on the Subject of the right of Taxation, & the Taxation laid on by the , & so forth. Upon which the Motion was withdrawn.

moved that all Dogs in the , be assessed Five Dollars per Head.

Colr. J. Smith proposed an amendment, that it be 12½ Cents each. After considerable discussions, the amendment was lost by vote.— Origl. Motion, also Lost.

Adjourned to Saturday next, at 6 OClock, to same place

Novr. 13th. 1841.

, Mayor.

, Recorder. [p. 32]