Oath, 11 February 1843

Home >
The Papers >

Oath, 11 February 1843
Source Note

JS, Oath,
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, 11 Feb. 1843; 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
; signature of JS; certified by
James Sloan
View Full Bio
; one page; JS Collection, CHL.

Single leaf, measuring 4⅝ × 7⅝ inches (12 × 19 cm). The leaf consists of blue paper ruled with twelve horizontal lines printed in blue ink with header space. The leaf was torn on the left side of the recto and hand cut along the bottom edge. It was later folded in half.

James Sloan
View Full Bio
may have originally kept the document in his role as
Nauvoo
More Info
city clerk and recorder, which he held from February 1841 to August 1843.
1
Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.
Thereafter, this document was presumably kept among Nauvoo city records. In 1845 the city of Nauvoo was disincorporated.
2
“An Act to Repeal the Nauvoo Charter,” 14th General Assembly, 1844–1845, Senate Bill no. 35 (House Bill no. 42), Illinois General Assembly, Enrolled Acts of the General Assembly, 1818–2012, Illinois State Archives, Springfield.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Illinois General Assembly. Bills, Resolutions, and Related General Assembly Records, 1st–98th Bienniums, 1819–2015. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.
Many if not most of the city records were likely included in the various collections of city records listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1846, when they were packed up along with church records and taken to the Salt Lake Valley.
3
“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
The city records are also listed in inventories of church records created in 1855, 1878, and circa 1904.
4
“Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [1]–[2]; “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [11]; “Index to Papers in the Historians Office,” ca. 1904, 7, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
5
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
The document’s likely inclusion with the city records listed in early church inventories and its inclusion in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous church custody since 1845.
Footnotes
[1]
Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; JS, Journal, 30 July 1843.
[2]
“An Act to Repeal the Nauvoo Charter,” 14th General Assembly, 1844–1845, Senate Bill no. 35 (House Bill no. 42), Illinois General Assembly, Enrolled Acts of the General Assembly, 1818–2012, Illinois State Archives, Springfield.
Illinois General Assembly. Bills, Resolutions, and Related General Assembly Records, 1st–98th Bienniums, 1819–2015. Illinois State Archives, Springfield.
[3]
“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
[4]
“Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [1]–[2]; “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [11]; “Index to Papers in the Historians Office,” ca. 1904, 7, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
[5]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
On 11 February 1843, JS took an oath of office as part of his inauguration as mayor of
Nauvoo
More Info
, Illinois. Because JS was originally appointed mayor during a special election of the city council in May 1842 following
John C. Bennett
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 ...
View Full Bio
’s resignation from the office, the election on 6 February 1843 marked the first time JS ran for mayor in a general city election.
1
Minutes, 19 May 1842; JS, Journal, 19 May 1842.
This election was held in accordance with provisions in Nauvoo’s charter.
2
See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.
By designation of the Nauvoo City Council,
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...
View Full Bio
’s office served as the polling location.
3
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 Jan. 1843, 140; see also JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1843; and “City Election,” Wasp, 8 Feb. 1843, [2].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Running unopposed, JS received all of the votes cast and was reelected as mayor.
4
Both JS and Amos Davis, who around this time was involved in numerous lawsuits also involving JS, abstained from voting. (Nauvoo Poll Book, 1843, [13], [19], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)
Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.

The city council assembled at ten o’clock the morning of 11 February and swore in JS and the newly elected councilors. JS arrived late, having been in a meeting with
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
View Full Bio
.
5
JS met with Rigdon to resolve differences that had pervaded their relationship for several months. Arriving at the meeting, he informed the city council that “he had been doing a good deed” in conversing with Rigdon and that “good feelings [had] prevaild.” (JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843.)
If he followed
John C. Bennett
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 ...
View Full Bio
’s precedent, he took his oath shortly after arriving at the city council meeting and before delivering his inaugural address.
6
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
The language of the oath reflects the stipulation in Nauvoo’s charter that the mayor and aldermen swear to support the
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
More Info
and
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
constitutions and to “well and truly perform the duties of their offices to the best of their skill and abilities.” It also matches the wording of the oath that JS took in May 1842 and the one administered to Bennett in 1841.
7
Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Oath, 21 May 1842; John C. Bennett, Oath, 3 Feb. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.

JS was sworn in before the
Nauvoo
More Info
city recorder,
James Sloan
View Full Bio
, who recorded the oath on a loose leaf of paper. Sloan may have prepared the oath ahead of time. Changes in the ink suggest that the date and Sloan’s signature were added after the initial inscription of the document, presumably during or shortly after the inaugural ceremony. As city recorder, Sloan certified the copy of the oath.
Footnotes
[1]
Minutes, 19 May 1842; JS, Journal, 19 May 1842.
[2]
See Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.
[3]
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 Jan. 1843, 140; see also JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1843; and “City Election,” Wasp, 8 Feb. 1843, [2].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
[4]
Both JS and Amos Davis, who around this time was involved in numerous lawsuits also involving JS, abstained from voting. (Nauvoo Poll Book, 1843, [13], [19], Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.)
Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800.
[5]
JS met with Rigdon to resolve differences that had pervaded their relationship for several months. Arriving at the meeting, he informed the city council that “he had been doing a good deed” in conversing with Rigdon and that “good feelings [had] prevaild.” (JS, Journal, 11 Feb. 1843.)
[6]
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
[7]
Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; Oath, 21 May 1842; John C. Bennett, Oath, 3 Feb. 1841, JS Collection, CHL.
Page [1]
Hide editing marks

City of
Nauvoo
More Info
, Ills. <Feb.y. 11th.> A. D. 1843.

I Joseph Smith do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, that I will Support the Constitution of the
united States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
More Info
, and of the State of
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
, and that I will well and truly perform the duties of Mayor of the City of
Nauvoo
More Info
, to the best of my skill and abilities.

Signature of JS.
Joseph Smith

Sworn to before me the day and year above written.

<
James Sloan
View Full Bio
, City Recorder, and Clerk of the Municipal Court, of the City of
Nauvoo
More Info
, Ills..—> [p. [1]]
View entire transcript
|
Cite this page
Source Note
Document Transcript
Page [1]
Document Information
Footnotes