The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 
Interim Content

Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841

3 February 1841 • Wednesday Page 1 8 February 1841 • Monday Page 2 15 February 1841 • Monday Page 4 22 February 1841 • Monday Page 6 1 March 1841 • Monday Page 8 8 March 1841 • Monday Page 10 15 March 1841 • Monday Page 12 29 March 1841 • Monday Page 15 12 April 1841 • Monday Page 18 26 April 1841 • Monday Page 18 1 May 1841 • Saturday Page 19 21 May 1841 • Friday Page 20 12 July 1841 • Monday Page 21 4 September 1841 • Saturday Page 22 16 October 1841 • Saturday Page 23 23 October 1841 • Saturday Page 25 30 October 1841 • Saturday Page 28 1 November 1841 • Monday Page 30 6 November 1841 • Saturday Page 34 13 November 1841 • Saturday Page 39 20 November 1841 • Saturday Page 41 27 November 1841 • Saturday Page 43 4 December 1841 • Saturday Page 44 18 December 1841 • Saturday Page 49

Source Note

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
City Council, Rough Minute Book, 3 Feb.–18 Dec. 1841; 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, ...

View Full Bio
; fifty pages; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.
Nauvoo City Council, Rough Minute Books, 3 Feb. 1841–8 Mar. 1845; 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, ...

View Full Bio
,
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
,
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
, and John McEwan; 211 pages; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL. Includes use marks.
The Nauvoo City Council rough minutes are contained in five bound gatherings and three loose bifolia. The rough minutes for 3 February through 18 December 1841 consist of two loose bifolia and one bound gathering of pages. The first bifolium measures 12¼ × 7⅝ inches (31 × 19 cm), and each page is ruled with thirty-seven printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. The second bifolium measures 12 × 7⅝ inches (30 × 19 cm), and each page is ruled with thirty-eight printed lines, now faded, with no header space. Each page of the bound gathering measures 12¼ × 8 inches (31 × 20 cm) and is ruled with thirty-seven printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. The gathering was bound with string and contained twenty-eight leaves (fifty-six pages), twenty-two of which are extant. Six leaves were apparently removed from the bound gathering; stubs of these pages are visible in the binding after the final inscribed page. Together, the bifolium and gathering contain fifty-two extant pages, fifty of which are inscribed.
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, ...

View Full Bio
inscribed the minutes in blue and brown ink; use marks were later made in graphite. Sloan numbered the two loose bifolia pages 1–4 and 5–8, respectively, and he numbered pages in the bound gathering 9–48, indicating that the records collectively composed the first city council rough minute book. The final two inscribed pages of the gathering are not paginated, and the last leaf is blank. The right bottom corner of the first page of the first bifolium is missing due to a significant tear resulting in some loss of text. All three documents have undergone conservation for separation or tears along folds, edges, and binding.
The next set of rough minutes consists of a bound gathering with minutes dated from 1 January to 26 November 1842. This gathering measures 12¼ × 7¾ inches (31 × 20 cm); each page is ruled with thirty-seven printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. The gathering was bound with string and contains twenty-four leaves (forty-eight pages). Unlike the other rough minute books, this book contains a cover page of thicker, unlined tan paper titled “City Council Rough Book, | Commencing | January 1st.1842. | Nauvoo City, Illinois.” It is probable that the other bound gatherings included similar cover pages that are no longer extant.
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, ...

View Full Bio
paginated and inscribed all forty-eight pages in blue and black ink. Use marks were later made in graphite. Titles and numbers appear in the margins of the minutes and were apparently written contemporaneously in Sloan’s handwriting.
The third rough minute book consists of a bound gathering with minutes dated from 26 November 1842 to 16 January 1844. The first page is titled “1842.— Continued from last Book.— November 26th.”, notifying the reader that this minute book begins with a continuation of the 26 November 1842 minutes that conclude the second rough minute book. The gathering measures 12½ × 8 inches (32 × 20 cm), and each page is ruled with thirty-five printed lines, now faded, and header space. The upper left corner of the first page features an embossed rectangle enclosing a five-point star surrounded by lines representing rays of light. Text above the star reads “D & J. AMES”; below the star is “SPRINGFIELD”. The gathering was bound with string and contains twenty-four leaves, or forty-eight pages, forty-six of which are inscribed. Pages 1–19 were paginated by
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, ...

View Full Bio
; pages 20–46 were paginated by a later scribe in the Church Historian’s Office. The minutes were inscribed in brown and black ink, with later use marks made in graphite. Sloan was the initial scribe;
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
replaced him as recorder beginning with minutes dated 12 August 1843. An ink spill on the last page—perhaps from an inkwell being knocked over—resulted in significant staining.
The next set contains rough minutes dated from 10 February 1844 to 13 January 1845 and consists of a gathering with an inserted leaf and an inserted bifolium. The bound gathering measures 12¾ × 8 inches (32 × 20 cm), and each page is ruled with thirty-seven printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. The gathering was bound with string and contains twenty-eight leaves, or fifty-six pages, fifty-five of which are inscribed. The first page is titled “City council Rough book, commencing Feb 10— 1844.”
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
recorded minutes from February through June 1844. A single loose leaf containing minutes apparently taken during the 10 June 1844 meeting and measuring 10¾ × 7½ inches (27 × 19 cm) was interfiled with Richards’s copy of the 10 June minutes between pages [22] and [23]. John McEwan, Richards, and
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
then alternately recorded minutes until Bullock took over as recorder in October 1844. The minutes from 11 and 13 January 1845 are almost completely contained in a bifolium measuring 12½ × 7⅝ inches (32 × 19 cm) that was inserted after page [54] of the gathering. Each page of the bifolium is ruled with thirty-five printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. All four pages of the bifolium are inscribed in black and blue ink. The minutes from 13 January 1845 end on page [55], the final inscribed page of the gathering. The first nineteen pages were paginated contemporaneously in ink; pages [20]–[55] were later paginated in graphite. The minutes were inscribed in ink, with later use marks made in graphite.
The final gathering contains minutes dated from 8 February to 8 March 1845. The gathering measures 12⅝ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm); each page is ruled with thirty-five printed lines, now faded, and includes header space. The minutes were inscribed with the gathering upside down, so the header space is at the bottom of each page, and the lower right corner of the last page is embossed with a decorative rectangle enclosing a ring of leaves surrounding the word “AMES”. The gathering contains six leaves, or twelve pages, six of which are inscribed. The center fold of the gathering contains small holes that suggest it was bound with string at some point. This gathering was not paginated. The rough minutes were kept by Bullock, who inscribed them in black ink; later use marks were made in graphite. The gathering is titled “City Council Rough Book commencing February 8, 1845.”
Between 1841 and 1845,
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, ...

View Full Bio
,
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
, and
Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
successively served as city recorder and inscribed minutes into the rough minute books. Sloan appears to have kept minutes on loose leaves—some of which are still extant—and then copied them into the rough minute books. He then inscribed a fair copy of the minutes into the Nauvoo City Council Minute Book. By 1842 the more detailed city council minutes were entered in the rough minute book; proceedings such as council decisions and ordinances were recorded primarily in the official minute book. Richards and Bullock appear to have followed Sloan’s practice, taking their initial minutes on loose paper before transferring their record to the minute book.
The warping of the spines of the rough minute books suggests they were stacked together. They were presumably kept among
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
city records. In 1845 the city of Nauvoo was disincorporated. The city council rough minute books were listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) in 1846, when they were packed up with church records that were transported to the Salt Lake Valley. The listing of the books in subsequent inventories of church records in Salt Lake City indicates continuous institutional custody.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Resolution, 22 February 1841–B Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 City Charter: Laws, Ordinances, and Acts, July 1842 City Charter: Laws, Ordinances, and Acts, July 1842 Minutes, 20 November 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 Minutes, 6 November 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 Motion from John P. Greene, 6 November 1841–A Motion from Wilson Law, 27 November 1841–A Motion from Charles C. Rich, 6 November 1841 Motion from John P. Greene, 6 November 1841–B Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Motion from John Barnett, 6 November 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Minutes, 16 October 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 Minutes, 12 April 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 Motion from Wilson Law, 27 November 1841–B Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Minutes, 4 September 1841 Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841 Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845 Minutes, 8 March 1841
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845

Page 10

8 March 1841 • Monday
Monday 8th. March 1841.—
City Col. met purst to adjournment— Meeting opened by Pray[er]
Minutes of last meeting Read.—
Colr. J. Smith moved that <​the​> general
City

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
ordinances now before the Committee be brought forward seperately, for the Convenience of discussion.
Seconded & Carried.—
Colr J. Smith moved that
Alanson Ripley

8 Jan. 1798–before 1860. Surveyor, lawyer. Born at New York. Son of Asa Ripley and Polly Deforest. Married Sarah Finkle. Resided in Massachusetts, 1827. Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition...

View Full Bio
be appointed City Surveryor,— Seconded, & carried.—
Colr J. Smith moved that
Theodore Turley

10 Apr. 1801–12 Aug. 1871. Mechanic, gunsmith, brewer, farmer, blacksmith, gristmill operator. Born at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Son of William Turley and Elizabeth Yates. Associated with Methodism, by 1818. Married Frances Amelia Kimberley, 26 Nov...

View Full Bio
be appointed Weigher & Sealer for the
City

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
, seconded, & Carried.—
Alderman [Daniel H.] Wells

27 Oct. 1814–24 Mar. 1891. Farmer, teacher, ferry operator, lumber merchant, manager of nail factory, politician. Born in Trenton, Oneida Co., New York. Son of Daniel Wells and Catherine Chapin. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, ca. 1832. Moved to ...

View Full Bio
moved, and it was seconded, & Carried that the appointment of Collector for of taxes in the
City

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
<​
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
be to​>
James Robinson [Robison]

11 Sept. 1810–ca. 20–21 Apr. 1841. Caretaker, assessor. Born in Springfield, Champaign Co., Ohio. Son of Charles Robison and Jerusha Rebecca Kellogg. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by Nov. 1835. Married Charlotte A. Golden, 24 Nov...

View Full Bio
, Collector <​the Assessor,​> seconded, & carried accordingly.
Moved, seconded, & Carried, that——
Stephen Markham

9 Feb. 1800–10 Mar. 1878. Carpenter, farmer, stock raiser. Born at Rush (later Avon), Ontario Co., New York. Son of David Markham and Dinah Merry. Moved to Mentor, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1809. Moved to Unionville, Geauga Co., 1810. Married Hannah Hogaboom, before...

View Full Bio
<​be appointed​> Market Master for the
City

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
.
James Al[l]red

22 Jan. 1784–10 Jan. 1876. Farmer. Born in Randolph Co., North Carolina. Son of William Allred and Elizabeth Thrasher. Married Elizabeth Warren. Moved to Missouri, before Sept. 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George M. Hinkle...

View Full Bio
,
Demick [Dimick B.] Huntington

26 May 1808–1 Feb. 1879. Farmer, blacksmith, shoemaker, constable, coroner, deputy sheriff, Indian interpreter. Born at Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of William Huntington and Zina Baker. Married Fannie Maria Allen, 28 Apr. 1830. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
, &
Geo. Morey

30 Nov. 1803–15 Dec. 1875. Farmer. Born at Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., New York. Son of William Morey and Anda Martin. Moved to Collinsville, Butler Co., Ohio, 1814. Married Sylvia Butterfield, 29 Oct. 1825, at Butler Co. Moved to Vermillion Co., Illinois,...

View Full Bio
, were sworn in High Constables for the
City

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
.—
James Alred

22 Jan. 1784–10 Jan. 1876. Farmer. Born in Randolph Co., North Carolina. Son of William Allred and Elizabeth Thrasher. Married Elizabeth Warren. Moved to Missouri, before Sept. 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by George M. Hinkle...

View Full Bio
was sworn in Supervisor of Streets of the
City

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
Colr J. Smith moved, & it was seconded, & Carried, [that]
Mr. [John] Annis

17 Nov. 1784–June 1849. Carpenter. Born at Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of John Annis and Sabra Closson. Married Hannah Marie Crawford, 16 Jan. 1806, at Thetford. Moved to Caledonia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1810; to Mason Co., Virginia (later in West...

View Full Bio
be at liberty to address the Council respecting Nuisances, & he spoke accordingly.—
Colr. J. Smith stated that <​the​> Mill partly stands on the Street, & that no Logs can be put up to the Mill without being on the Street, & spoke at length.
Colr. [Wilson] Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
moved that
Mr Annis

17 Nov. 1784–June 1849. Carpenter. Born at Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of John Annis and Sabra Closson. Married Hannah Marie Crawford, 16 Jan. 1806, at Thetford. Moved to Caledonia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1810; to Mason Co., Virginia (later in West...

View Full Bio
explain, how he came [to] have Title to <​the​> Premises upon which Mill Stands, and
Mr Annis

17 Nov. 1784–June 1849. Carpenter. Born at Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of John Annis and Sabra Closson. Married Hannah Marie Crawford, 16 Jan. 1806, at Thetford. Moved to Caledonia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1810; to Mason Co., Virginia (later in West...

View Full Bio
explained.
Colr. Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
[p. 10]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 10

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, February–December 1841
ID #
11620
Total Pages
52
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Sloan

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06