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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
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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and
James Whitehead

12 Apr. 1813–27 July 1898. Clerk, farmer. Born in Roughhay, Fulwood, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Whitehead and Mary. Married first Jane Marshall Hindle, 25 Jan. 1837, in Preston, Lancashire, England. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

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; 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
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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or
James Whitehead

12 Apr. 1813–27 July 1898. Clerk, farmer. Born in Roughhay, Fulwood, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Whitehead and Mary. Married first Jane Marshall Hindle, 25 Jan. 1837, in Preston, Lancashire, England. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

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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
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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, authorizing him to record and certify official deeds for land transactions. JS appointed
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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as recorder for the Nauvoo registrar, and by mid-April 1842 Clayton began recording deeds into this record book.
James Whitehead

12 Apr. 1813–27 July 1898. Clerk, farmer. Born in Roughhay, Fulwood, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Whitehead and Mary. Married first Jane Marshall Hindle, 25 Jan. 1837, in Preston, Lancashire, England. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...

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was doing general clerical work for the church beginning in April 1842 and was appointed a private secretary to JS on 11 June 1842.
1

“Elder James Whitehead,” Saints Herald, 3 Aug. 1898, 485.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.

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.
2

Because Whitehead’s handwriting is difficult to distinguish from Clayton’s, no scribal handshifts are noted in the transcript below.


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.
3

“Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

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.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Elder James Whitehead,” Saints Herald, 3 Aug. 1898, 485.

    Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.

  2. [2]

    Because Whitehead’s handwriting is difficult to distinguish from Clayton’s, no scribal handshifts are noted in the transcript below.

  3. [3]

    “Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to Nauvoo City Register of Deeds Records.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 7 April 1843 *Deed to Martha McBride Knight, 2 February 1842 *Deed to Emma Smith and Others, 12 July 1843 *Deed to Emma Smith, 13 June 1842 *Deed from Orson and Marinda Nancy Johnson Hyde, 10 February 1843 *Deed from Daniel H. and Eliza Robison Wells, 4 February 1843

Page 42

In Testimony Whereof, the said
William Marks

15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...

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and Rosana his wife, party of the First part, have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written.
Williams Marks

15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...

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seal
168

TEXT: “seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


Rosannah Marks seal
169

TEXT: “seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


Signed sealed and delivered)
George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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in presence of)
State of Illinois,) ss.
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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,)
I,
George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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a Justice of the Peace, in and for the City of
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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, in said
county

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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, do certify that
William Marks

15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...

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and Rosana 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 Rosana Marks haveing been by me made acquainted with the contents of the said Deed, and examined separate and apart from her said
husband

15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...

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, acknowledged that she had executed the same, and relinquished her dower to the premises therein conveyed, voluntarily, freely, and without compulsion of her said
husband

15 Nov. 1792–22 May 1872. Farmer, printer, publisher, postmaster. Born at Rutland, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of Cornell (Cornwall) Marks and Sarah Goodrich. Married first Rosannah R. Robinson, 2 May 1813. Lived at Portage, Allegany Co., New York, where he...

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.
Given under my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Forty two
George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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J. P. L. S.
170

TEXT: “L. S.” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


Recorded July 28th. 1842
 
48
Squire Bozorth [Bozarth]

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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s to
Levi Stewart

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and Urbin D Stewert and William Stewart For 1 acre in L 25 and in B 6 in
Kimball

31 May 1806–27 Apr. 1863. Merchant, iron foundry operator, mail carrier. Born in West Fairlee, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Phineas Kimball and Abigail. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1833, and established several stores. Married ...

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s addition to
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....

More Info
171

TEXT: The recorder added this notation in the left margin when copying the deed into the deed book.


Know all men by these presents that I
Squire Bozorth

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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of
Lee county

First permanent settlement established, 1820. Organized 1837. Population in 1838 about 2,800; in 1840 about 6,100; in 1844 about 9,800; and in 1846 about 13,000. Following expulsion from Missouri, 1838–1839, many Saints found refuge in eastern Iowa Territory...

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Iowa Terretory

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...

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am held and firmley Bound unto
Levi Stewart

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and Urbin D Stewart William G Stewart of the County of
Hancock

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
State of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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in the penal sum of one hundred dollars to the payment which well and truly to be maid I bind myself my heirs Executors and administrators and to every one of them firmly by these presents sealed with my seal and dated the forth of August Eighteen hundred and forty one. the conditions of the above obligation is such that if the said
Squire Bozorth

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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or his legal Representative shall make or cause to be made to the above named persons a good and sufficient deed in fee simple in and to a certain lot or acre of Land situated in and being a part of Lot number twenty five and in Block six of
Kimball

31 May 1806–27 Apr. 1863. Merchant, iron foundry operator, mail carrier. Born in West Fairlee, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Phineas Kimball and Abigail. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1833, and established several stores. Married ...

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s addition to the Town of
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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lying on the East side of the first Street East of
Hibbard

20 Aug. 1788–11 Sept. 1854. Farmer. Born in Brookfield, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Roger Hibbard and Sarah Davidson. Married Sarah Tilton, 1816, in Maine. Lived at Morgan Co., Illinois, by 2 Aug. 1824. Commissioned captain in Twenty-First Regiment of Illinois...

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s land and ad joining
John D Lee

6 Sept. 1812–23 Mar. 1877. Farmer, courier, riverboat ferryman, policeman, merchant, colonizer. Born in Kaskaskia, Randolph Co., Illinois Territory. Son of Ralph Lee and Elizabeth Doyle. Served in Black Hawk War, 1831. Married Agatha Ann Woolsey, 23 July ...

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s Lot that he purchased of
S. Bozorth

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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now if the said
Bozorth

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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shall make or cause to be made a good and sufficient Deed within one year or sooner than the above obligation to be nul and void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue witness my hand this forth of August 1841
Squire Bozorth

11 Jan. 1792–16 Mar. 1853. Born at Nelson Co., Virginia (later in Kentucky). Son of John Bozarth and Sarah Shaw. Lived at Grayson Co., Kentucky, 1810. Married Mildred (Millie) Hoard Willis at Litchfield, Grayson Co., 11 July 1816. Moved near present-day La...

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Seal
172

TEXT: “Seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.


Recorded August 4th. 1842
 
49
Joseph Smiths Deed to
Ephriam [Ephraim] Potter

7 June 1817–after Sept. 1845. Born in Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Ephraim Potter and Hannah Woodmansee. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by July 1841. Member of Nauvoo Legion. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and left ...

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for Lot 4 in B 116 of the city of
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....

More Info
173

TEXT: The recorder added this notation in the left margin when copying the deed into the deed book.


This Indenture made, and entered into, this Thirtieth day of March— in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-Two between Joseph Smith and
Emma

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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his wife of the county of
Hancock

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
and state of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
, of the one part, and
Ephraim Potter

7 June 1817–after Sept. 1845. Born in Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Ephraim Potter and Hannah Woodmansee. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by July 1841. Member of Nauvoo Legion. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and left ...

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of the county of
Hancock

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
and
State

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
aforesaid, of the other part Witnesseth, that the said Joseph Smith and
Emma

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred dollars, to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant, bargain, sell, convey, and confirm unto the said
Ephraim Potter

7 June 1817–after Sept. 1845. Born in Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Ephraim Potter and Hannah Woodmansee. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by July 1841. Member of Nauvoo Legion. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and left ...

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his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of Land, situate and being in the county of
Hancock

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
in the State of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
, viz: Lot Four in Block one hundred Eighteen of the City of
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....

More Info
. together with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining. [p. 42]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 42

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Nauvoo Registry of Deeds, Deed Record Book A, 1840–1843
ID #
13081
Total Pages
246
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Whitehead
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [168]

    TEXT: “seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  2. [169]

    TEXT: “seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  3. [170]

    TEXT: “L. S.” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  4. [171]

    TEXT: The recorder added this notation in the left margin when copying the deed into the deed book.

  5. [172]

    TEXT: “Seal” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal.

  6. [173]

    TEXT: The recorder added this notation in the left margin when copying the deed into the deed book.

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