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Minutes, 21 December 1843

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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL], 21 Dec. 1843; Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, Nov. 1842–Jan. 1844, pp. 27–30; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, Feb.–Dec. 1841.

Historical Introduction

On 21 December 1843, the
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
, Illinois, city council met to conduct a variety of business, which included determining the potential location of the city jail, petitioning Congress for territorial status, and passing an ordinance to control legal process within the city. These measures grew out of the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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’s ongoing efforts to respond to the kidnapping of
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 ...

More Info
residents
Daniel

1 July 1797–16 Oct. 1851. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Oswego Co., New York. Son of Daniel Avery and Sarah. Moved to Franklin Co., Ohio, by 1821. Married Margaret Adams, 4 Jan. 1821, in Franklin Co. Moved to Worthington, Franklin Co., by Sept. 1825; to Perry...

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and
Philander Avery

13 June 1822 or 1823–9 May 1907. Farmer. Born in Franklin Co., Ohio. Son of Daniel Avery and Margaret Adams. Moved to Worthington, Franklin Co., by Sept. 1825; to Perry, Franklin Co., by June 1830; to Colwell, Schuyler Co., Illinois, 1832; to Rushville, Schuyler...

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in November and December 1843 and the desire to protect other Nauvoo citizens from such actions.
1

See Historical Introduction to Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844; and “Part 5: December 1843.”


The council met from noon to three o’clock in the afternoon. JS, the mayor, apparently arrived late, but he actively participated in most of the meeting’s business. During the discussions, JS even “suggested the propriety of making all coloured people free.” JS’s rhetoric and the city council’s actions indicate that
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
’s government was prepared to utilize radical measures—such as suspending legal process or emancipating slaves in the city—in order to defend its residents from what it viewed as unjust persecution from Missourians and opponents of the church.
City recorder
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

View Full Bio
took the minutes of the 21 December 1843 city council meeting in a notebook of rough minutes during or shortly after the meeting. The rough minutes are featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844; and “Part 5: December 1843.”

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Minutes, 21 December 1843
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, November 1842–January 1844 Minutes, 21 December 1843, Partial Draft Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845

Page 27

Thursday December 21— 1843. 12 o clock, Adjourned Council
Names of members called,
1

According to the meeting’s attendance record, those present were city councilors Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, Orson Pratt, William W. Phelps (acting on behalf of Sylvester Emmons), Heber C. Kimball, Daniel Spencer, and Brigham Young; aldermen Orson Spencer, Daniel H. Wells, George A. Smith, and Samuel Bennett; mayor JS; city recorder Willard Richards; and city marshal Henry G. Sherwood. (“The Attendance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Commencing August. 12th 1843,” Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

C[ouncilor]
B[righam] Young

1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...

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was chosen presidnt protem in mayors absence
2

JS apparently missed the beginning of the meeting. He first appears in the minutes during the discussion of where to build the city jail. Following the opening prayer, the review of the previous meeting’s minutes, a committee report regarding the site for a city jail, and a resolution for that committee to select a location, Brigham Young—who was selected at the meeting’s outset as its president pro tem—is referred to in the minutes as “Counsellor Young,” possibly indicating that JS had joined the council by this point. Other records confirm that JS was present at the meeting. (JS, Journal, 21 Dec. 1843; “The Attendance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Commencing August. 12th 1843,” Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

prayer by
A[lderman] [Orson] Spencer

14 Mar./13 May 1802–15 Oct. 1855. Teacher, minister, university professor and chancellor. Born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Daniel Spencer and Chloe Wilson. Moved to Lenox, Berkshire Co., 1817; to Schenectady, Schenectady Co.,...

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. Minutes of last council read and approved
3

The Nauvoo City Council last met on 16 December 1843. At that meeting, the council appointed William W. Phelps as substitute for absent councilor Sylvester Emmons. The council discussed the memorial to Congress that it had assigned a committee to write on 8 December. The council passed two ordinances: “An ordinance regulating Merchants’ and Grocer’s Licences” and “An Ordinance concerning the Landing of Steam Boats in Nauvoo.” It appointed Jonathan Dunham as wharfmaster and voted that Heber C. Kimball replace Charles Warner as city auctioneer. The council also appointed Kimball to obtain a block of land from Davidson Hibbard on which to build a jail—a subject that was addressed again in the 21 December meeting. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 16 Dec. 1843, 194–197; Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 16 Dec. 1843, 27; see also Historical Introduction to Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844.)


The committee appointed to visit
Mr. [Davidson] 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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concerning a site for a jail Reported that
Mr 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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would give 3/4[th] of a Lot on parly st or, or 1 Lot on Sidney & Back st for the purpose of building a jail.
4

Hibbard, a longtime resident of Hancock County and a convert to the church, owned a significant portion of land along the southeast edge of the plat of the city of Nauvoo. The referenced land was in Hibbard’s second addition to the city. (Hancock Co., IL, Plat Books, 1836–1938, vol. 1, p. 52, “Hibard’s Second Addition to Nauvoo,” 2 May 1842, microfilm 954,774, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also “Nauvoo Plats, Blocks, and Lots”.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Deeding the same to the [p. 27]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 27

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 21 December 1843
ID #
17121
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:415–421
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    According to the meeting’s attendance record, those present were city councilors Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, Orson Pratt, William W. Phelps (acting on behalf of Sylvester Emmons), Heber C. Kimball, Daniel Spencer, and Brigham Young; aldermen Orson Spencer, Daniel H. Wells, George A. Smith, and Samuel Bennett; mayor JS; city recorder Willard Richards; and city marshal Henry G. Sherwood. (“The Attendance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Commencing August. 12th 1843,” Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

    Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

  2. [2]

    JS apparently missed the beginning of the meeting. He first appears in the minutes during the discussion of where to build the city jail. Following the opening prayer, the review of the previous meeting’s minutes, a committee report regarding the site for a city jail, and a resolution for that committee to select a location, Brigham Young—who was selected at the meeting’s outset as its president pro tem—is referred to in the minutes as “Counsellor Young,” possibly indicating that JS had joined the council by this point. Other records confirm that JS was present at the meeting. (JS, Journal, 21 Dec. 1843; “The Attendance of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, Commencing August. 12th 1843,” Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)

    Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

  3. [3]

    The Nauvoo City Council last met on 16 December 1843. At that meeting, the council appointed William W. Phelps as substitute for absent councilor Sylvester Emmons. The council discussed the memorial to Congress that it had assigned a committee to write on 8 December. The council passed two ordinances: “An ordinance regulating Merchants’ and Grocer’s Licences” and “An Ordinance concerning the Landing of Steam Boats in Nauvoo.” It appointed Jonathan Dunham as wharfmaster and voted that Heber C. Kimball replace Charles Warner as city auctioneer. The council also appointed Kimball to obtain a block of land from Davidson Hibbard on which to build a jail—a subject that was addressed again in the 21 December meeting. (Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 16 Dec. 1843, 194–197; Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 16 Dec. 1843, 27; see also Historical Introduction to Memorial to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, ca. 16 Dec. 1843–12 Feb. 1844.)

  4. [4]

    Hibbard, a longtime resident of Hancock County and a convert to the church, owned a significant portion of land along the southeast edge of the plat of the city of Nauvoo. The referenced land was in Hibbard’s second addition to the city. (Hancock Co., IL, Plat Books, 1836–1938, vol. 1, p. 52, “Hibard’s Second Addition to Nauvoo,” 2 May 1842, microfilm 954,774, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also “Nauvoo Plats, Blocks, and Lots”.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

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