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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....

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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, ...

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; 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...

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,
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...

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, 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, ...

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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, ...

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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, ...

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; 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...

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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...

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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...

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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. *Minutes, 30 October 1841, Copy

Page 28

30 October 1841 • Saturday
Saturday 30th. Octr. 1841.—
City Council met pursuant to adjournment, Meeting opened by Prayer, <​Colr
Brigham 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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, & the who was formerly appointed, & the <​a Colr ​> subscribed his oath & the ​> Aldermen & Colrs who were appointed at last Meeting, were Sworn <​& subscribed their oaths.—​>.— Minutes of last meeting read, & amended.—
Colr. [John] Barnett

20 Oct. 1809–2 Sept. 1905. Farmer, community and civic leader. Born in Sullivan Co., Tennessee. Son of James Henry Barnett and Mary A. Tipton. Moved to Jefferson Co., Tennessee, by 1822. Moved to Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, 1829. Boyhood friend of...

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<​one of the Committee​> Chairman on burying Ground Reported Orally,
Report Accepted.—
Petn. of
Isaac Hill

28 Sept. 1806–25 June 1879. Blacksmith, brick maker. Born near Brighton, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania. Son of John Hill and Nancy Warrick. Moved to East Liverpool, Columbiana Co., Ohio, by Dec. 1826. Married first Mary Bell, 7 June 1827, at East Liverpool. Joined...

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referred to a Committee of three, Viz Joseph Smith,
John P: Green[e]

3 Sept. 1793–10 Sept. 1844. Farmer, shoemaker, printer, publisher. Born at Herkimer, Herkimer Co., New York. Son of John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman. Married first Rhoda Young, 11 Feb. 1813. Moved to Aurelius, Cayuga Co., New York, 1814; to Brownsville...

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&
Chas C. Rich

21 Aug. 1809–17 Nov. 1883. Schoolteacher, farmer, cooper. Born in Campbell Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Rich and Nancy O’Neal. Moved to Posey Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, ca. 1810. Moved to Tazewell Co., Illinois, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

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.— to enquire into his ability or inability to support a Pauper Pauper who has been at his House for a length of time, & Report upon the Case generally.—
Colr. Rich

21 Aug. 1809–17 Nov. 1883. Schoolteacher, farmer, cooper. Born in Campbell Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Rich and Nancy O’Neal. Moved to Posey Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, ca. 1810. Moved to Tazewell Co., Illinois, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

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moved that the St. East of Warsaw St. be opened from Parley St. to the City limits. Seconded & Carried.
Moved, Seconded, & Carried, that
Lawyer Styles [George Stiles]

18 July 1816–Sept. 1885. Attorney, judge, politician. Born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of John Stiles and Persis Cole. Moved to Le Ray, Jefferson Co., by 1820. Moved to Pamela, Jefferson Co., by 1830. Married first Julian Mackemer, 7 Nov. 1841...

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, &
Judge [Sylvester] Emmons

28 Feb. 1808–15 Nov. 1881. Lawyer, newspaper editor/publisher. Born in Readington Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Son of Abraham Emmons and Margaret Vlerebome. Moved to Philadelphia, 1831. Moved to Illinois, 1840. Admitted to bar in Hancock Co., Illinois...

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[blank] be permitted to Speak as Lawyers, Respecting the Remitting of the Fine imposed upon
Mr [John] Eagle

19 Jan. 1805–ca. 1854. Grocer, laborer. Born in Alexandria, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania. Son of John Eagle and Catharine Spence. Moved to Porter, Huntingdon Co., by 1820. Married Susannah Whitelock, 4 Dec. 1827, in Licking Co., Ohio. Moved to Illinois, by...

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, & the Confirmation thereof,
Lawyer Styles

18 July 1816–Sept. 1885. Attorney, judge, politician. Born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of John Stiles and Persis Cole. Moved to Le Ray, Jefferson Co., by 1820. Moved to Pamela, Jefferson Co., by 1830. Married first Julian Mackemer, 7 Nov. 1841...

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on the part of
Mr. Eagle

19 Jan. 1805–ca. 1854. Grocer, laborer. Born in Alexandria, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania. Son of John Eagle and Catharine Spence. Moved to Porter, Huntingdon Co., by 1820. Married Susannah Whitelock, 4 Dec. 1827, in Licking Co., Ohio. Moved to Illinois, by...

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, &
Judge Emmons

28 Feb. 1808–15 Nov. 1881. Lawyer, newspaper editor/publisher. Born in Readington Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Son of Abraham Emmons and Margaret Vlerebome. Moved to Philadelphia, 1831. Moved to Illinois, 1840. Admitted to bar in Hancock Co., Illinois...

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on the part of the City Council.—
Moved & Seconded & Carried that the City Col. have jurisdiction & authority over all Fines imposed by the City Council <​Officers​>, whether in Retaining, or remitting them.—
Colr Joseph Smith moved, & it was seconded & Carried that the Fine imposed upon
Mr. Eagle

19 Jan. 1805–ca. 1854. Grocer, laborer. Born in Alexandria, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania. Son of John Eagle and Catharine Spence. Moved to Porter, Huntingdon Co., by 1820. Married Susannah Whitelock, 4 Dec. 1827, in Licking Co., Ohio. Moved to Illinois, by...

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, be remitted.
Lawyer Styles

18 July 1816–Sept. 1885. Attorney, judge, politician. Born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Son of John Stiles and Persis Cole. Moved to Le Ray, Jefferson Co., by 1820. Moved to Pamela, Jefferson Co., by 1830. Married first Julian Mackemer, 7 Nov. 1841...

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spoke on the part of
Mr Eagle

19 Jan. 1805–ca. 1854. Grocer, laborer. Born in Alexandria, Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania. Son of John Eagle and Catharine Spence. Moved to Porter, Huntingdon Co., by 1820. Married Susannah Whitelock, 4 Dec. 1827, in Licking Co., Ohio. Moved to Illinois, by...

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, to have the Fine imposed upon him, Remitted.
Judge Emmons

28 Feb. 1808–15 Nov. 1881. Lawyer, newspaper editor/publisher. Born in Readington Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Son of Abraham Emmons and Margaret Vlerebome. Moved to Philadelphia, 1831. Moved to Illinois, 1840. Admitted to bar in Hancock Co., Illinois...

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spoke at length upon the propriety of a Confirmation of the Fine, by the City Council.—
The
Mayor

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

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spoke at great length, in explination of the Charter, & the Powers thereby given, & the right of the City Council to Act thereunder,— & that he wd Vote for a Remittance of the Fine Returned by the Jury
Colr. [p. 28]
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Page 28

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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

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