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Nauvoo Marriage Record, February 1842–January 1846

Source Note

Nauvoo City Recorder, Record of Marriages,
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 Feb. 1842–8 Jan. 1846; 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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,
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; twenty-eight pages; CHL.
This record was later used in 1854 as a letterbook for the Historian’s Office in Salt Lake City, UT. It also includes a single marriage record from 1866.
1

See Historian’s Office, Letter Book and Marriage Record, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Letter Book and Marriage Record, Commencing February 21st 1842. CHL. MS 3444.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historian’s Office, Letter Book and Marriage Record, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Letter Book and Marriage Record, Commencing February 21st 1842. CHL. MS 3444.

Historical Introduction

On 17 February 1842, 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
City Council passed an ordinance concerning marriages. The first section stated that males over seventeen years of age and females over fourteen could be joined in marriage. The second section stipulated that anyone desiring to be married could have the ceremony officiated by a “minister of the gospel,” mayor, alderman, justice of the peace, judge, or anyone else authorized to perform marriages in
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
; a license was not required.
1

Ordinance, 17 Feb. 1842. In contrast, Illinois statute required a marriage license. (An Act concerning Marriages [14 Feb. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 459, secs. 3, 5.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

The third and final section stated that the officiator was to “make return,” or submit a certificate of marriage, and pay a fifty-cent fee to the city recorder, who was to keep an accurate record of the marriage.
2

Ordinance, 17 Feb. 1842.


By 22 February,
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
, the city recorder, began receiving marriage certificates.
3

Marriage Certificates for Joseph Aldridge and Mary Earl and Stephen Boyington and Martha Head, between 21 and 22 Feb. 1842.


Sometime between February 1842 and his departure on a mission to Ireland in July 1843,
4

JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.


Sloan acquired the record book featured here and started recording marriages in it. A notation by Sloan in the front of the book states that certificates “have been duly received, and filed.” All of the certificates for the marriages recorded by Sloan are extant.
The certificates received 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
give the names of the people being married, the date of the marriage, the officiator, and sometimes the date the certificate was written. Some of these certificates were written by the marriage officiator, others were written by Sloan and signed by the officiator, and a few are forms written by Sloan with the participants’ names and marriage date filled in by the officiator. On the Joseph Smith Papers website, certificates are listed by the date they were created, which is sometimes not precisely known and is often not the same day the wedding occurred. After receiving each certificate, Sloan generally noted on the certificate the date he received it and whether he was paid.
When
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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left for Ireland in late July 1843,
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
became the city recorder. Richards began recording marriages in the record book on 28 July 1843. Presumably he followed the same procedure for submitting and recording marriages, though none of the certificates are extant for the marriages recorded in the book after Sloan’s time. Perhaps Richards (and the other scribes in the record book,
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) discarded the certificates after recording the marriages. Along with the participants and the date of the marriage, Richards noted the date he recorded the marriage. McEwan recorded two marriages in September 1844, and Thomas Bullock took over recording duties at the beginning of November 1844. McEwan and Bullock also noted the recording date. The last Nauvoo marriage recorded in the book took place 31 December 1845 and was recorded 8 January 1846.
Before the passage of the marriage ordinance 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....

More Info
, local marriages were recorded in the
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
marriage record.
5

See Hancock Co., IL, Marriages, 1829–1849, microfilm 229,486, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Marriages recorded with the county required a marriage license along with a certificate signed by the officiator. After the marriage ordinance was passed in Nauvoo, some Nauvoo marriages continued to be recorded by the county instead of the city. With only two exceptions, marriages recorded in the county record book do not overlap with those recorded in the Nauvoo record book.
6

An Act concerning Marriages [14 Feb. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 459, sec. 3. The two exceptions are the 27 July 1843 marriage of Daniel S. Cahoon and Jane Spencer; and the 22 August 1843 marriage of Benjamin Hay and Ruth Jane Clarke. (Hancock Co., IL, Marriages, 1829–1849, pp. 67–68, entry nos. 738, 749, microfilm 229,486, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

The Nauvoo Marriage Record is included in several Historian’s Office inventories, indicating continuous institutional custody.
7

See “Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [11]; “Contents of the Historian and Recorder’s office—G. S. L. City July 1858,” 7; Historian’s Office Catalog, 1859–1882, [59]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue 1858,” 3; and “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [8], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

It was reused as a letterbook for the Historian’s Office in Utah, though the final inscribed page records a marriage performed in 1866.
8

Nauvoo, IL, Recorder, Marriage Record, 31–64, 66.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo, IL, Recorder. Marriage Record, 1842–1845. CHL.

The individual marriage certificates from the JS period are also featured on this website. The certificates were apparently bundled together in 1858.
9

The item “Certificates of Marriage” is listed on a March 1858 inventory for records that were transported to Provo during the Utah War. (“Historian’s Office Catalogue March 1858,” [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.

Included are the 1842 and 1843 certificates submitted to
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
, along with one certificate from 1845 and one from 1846 ; neither of these marriages was recorded in the marriage record before the Saints left
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
. There are also a handful of certificates that were interfiled within the marriage record book. The certificates were not recorded in the book, probably indicating an intention to record them at a later time. These certificates were removed from the book and are now cataloged with the certificates noted above.
10

See the full bibliographic entry for Nauvoo, IL, Recorder, Marriage Certificates, 1842–1846, in the CHL catalog.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Ordinance, 17 Feb. 1842. In contrast, Illinois statute required a marriage license. (An Act concerning Marriages [14 Feb. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 459, secs. 3, 5.)

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

  2. [2]

    Ordinance, 17 Feb. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Marriage Certificates for Joseph Aldridge and Mary Earl and Stephen Boyington and Martha Head, between 21 and 22 Feb. 1842.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.

  5. [5]

    See Hancock Co., IL, Marriages, 1829–1849, microfilm 229,486, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  6. [6]

    An Act concerning Marriages [14 Feb. 1827], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 459, sec. 3. The two exceptions are the 27 July 1843 marriage of Daniel S. Cahoon and Jane Spencer; and the 22 August 1843 marriage of Benjamin Hay and Ruth Jane Clarke. (Hancock Co., IL, Marriages, 1829–1849, pp. 67–68, entry nos. 738, 749, microfilm 229,486, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  7. [7]

    See “Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [11]; “Contents of the Historian and Recorder’s office—G. S. L. City July 1858,” 7; Historian’s Office Catalog, 1859–1882, [59]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue 1858,” 3; and “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [8], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  8. [8]

    Nauvoo, IL, Recorder, Marriage Record, 31–64, 66.

    Nauvoo, IL, Recorder. Marriage Record, 1842–1845. CHL.

  9. [9]

    The item “Certificates of Marriage” is listed on a March 1858 inventory for records that were transported to Provo during the Utah War. (“Historian’s Office Catalogue March 1858,” [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.)

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

  10. [10]

    See the full bibliographic entry for Nauvoo, IL, Recorder, Marriage Certificates, 1842–1846, in the CHL catalog.

Page 19

David E. Norton and Susannah M. White were married December 7th. 1843, by
Wm Law

8 Sept. 1809–12/19 Jan. 1892. Merchant, millwright, physician. Born in Co. Tyrone, 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...

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Minister of the Gospel
Recorded Dec 29 30th.1843.
 
William Edwards

13 June 1821–13 May 1846. Policeman. Born in Overton Co., Tennessee. Son of Thomas Edwards and Elizabeth. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, before Oct. 1839. Ordained an elder, Oct. 1839, in Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois...

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and Eliza M. Alred were married January 1st 1844, by
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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, Minister of the Gospel Recorded Jany. 8th 1844.
 
Austin H. Lovelin and Ellen Edwards were Married January 1st 1844 by
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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, Minister of the Gospel,
Recorded Januay 8, 1844.
 
Jacob Morris and Mahala Ann Overton were married December 9th. 1843 by
Joseph A. Kelting

13 Oct. 1811–after 1900. Deputy sheriff, merchant, attorney, gristmill owner. Born in Philadelphia. Married Elizabeth Martin, 20 Sept. 1832, in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ordained an elder, by 2 May 1836...

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,
Elder

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
,
Recorded Jan 9th 1844.
 
Simeon [A.] Dunn

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and Margaret Snyder were married June 19th. 1842. By Elder
Willford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

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.
Recorded January 12th 1844.
 
R. A. Allred and Julia A. Bates were married December 21st. 1843. By Elder A. L. Fullmer.
Recorded January 15, 1844,
 
Alonzo Jones. and Hannah Burgess were married January 18th. 1844, by Elder
Harrison Burgess

3 Sept. 1814–10 Feb. 1883. Born in Putnam, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Burgess and Vilate Stockwell. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 1832. Served mission to Vermont with John S. Carter, spring 1833. Ordained a ...

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.
Recorded January 19th 1844
 
Joseph Dobson and
Caroline Murdock

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were married January 14th. 1844, by Elder Jonathan O. Duke,
Recorded January 20th. 1844
 
Alvin Horr

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and Sarah Davis were married January 13th. 1844, By.
President

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

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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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Recorded January 20th 1844
 
Stephen Perry

22 Dec. 1818–16 Nov. 1888. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Middlebury, Genesee Co., New York. Son of Asahel Perry and Polly Chadwick. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 Aug. 1833, in Middlebury. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, May...

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and Ann Maria Hulett were married January 18th 1844. by President
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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Recorded January 20th 1844
 
William C. Patten and Jane Crouse were married January 14th 1844. by Elder
George Babcock

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.
Recorded January 24[th] 1844 [p. 19]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Nauvoo Marriage Record, February 1842–January 1846
ID #
15626
Total Pages
37
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

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