Interim Content

Declaration, 18 January 1842

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JS, Declaration,
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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, IL, 18 Jan. 1842; Plat Books, vol. 1, p. 27, Hancock County Surveyor’s Office; microfilm at Family History Library.

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Know all men by These presents that I, Joseph Smith of the County of and State of Illinois am seized, possessed of, and lawfully own a certain tract of Land in said Known by the name of “Smith &. ’s Addition to ”— as surveyed and plotted by J[ohn] Wilson Williams June 29[th] and July 1st.— 1841. Said plat covering and representing the same piece of ground so far as it extends as is Represented by the plots of the City of , and the Town of , all of which is now inclosed within the general Boundaries & limits of the City of as Specified in the Charter of said . Now Know Ye, that I, Joseph Smith do declare that it is my intention to vacate & by these presents I do Vacate so much of said Town of , and also so much of said City of as is represented & set forth on the plat of “Messrs Smith & s addition to ,[”] as aforesaid to all intents and purposes as though the said Town of & City of as aforesaid had never been surveyed plotted and recorded.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal, at aforesaid this 18 day of January A. D. 1842.— Attest.

Joseph Smith L S

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 ... More Info )

I, a Justice of the Peace of the City of , do certify that Joseph Smith, whose signature appears to the foregoing declaration and who is personally known to me to be the person who executed the same did acknowledge that he had executed the above instrument and declaration of his own free will and accord & for the purposes therein specified.

Given under my hand and seal at this 29th, day of January A. D. 1842.

(J.P) for

Recorded 31 January 1842. [p. 27]

Know all men by These presents that I, Joseph Smith of the County of and State of Illinois am seized, possessed of, and lawfully own a certain tract of Land in said Known by the name of “Smith &. ’s Addition to ”— as surveyed and plotted by John Wilson Williams June 29[th] and July 1st.— 1841. Said plat covering and representing the same piece of ground so far as it extends as is Represented by the plots of the City of , and the Town of , all of which is now inclosed within the general Boundaries & limits of the City of as Specified in the Charter of said . Now Know Ye, that I, Joseph Smith do declare that it is my intention to vacate & by these presents I do Vacate so much of said Town of , and also so much of said City of as is represented & set forth on the plat of “Messrs Smith & s addition to ,” as aforesaid to all intents and purposes as though the said Town of & City of as aforesaid had never been surveyed plotted and recorded.