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Illinois, Hancock County, Nauvoo Community Project, 1839-1846 (BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy) - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Illinois, Hancock County, Nauvoo Community Project, 1839-1846 (BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy)
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Hancock, Illinois,
United States
Illinois flag.png
Flag of Illinois
US Locator Map Illinois Hancock.jpg
Location of Hancock , Illinois
US Locator Illinois.png
Location of Illinois
Record Description
Record Type Genealogy
Collection years 1839-1846
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites


What is in This Collection?

The foundation for the Nauvoo project was laid in 2011, and the website launched in 2012. The BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy is working to identify the residents of the Nauvoo, Illinois, area from 1839 to 1846, follow them over time, and document their later lives. There are still significant historical questions about Nauvoo that have never been answered. The data from this project will provide a much more accurate determination of the population of Nauvoo, and because the people will be followed over time, it will reveal how many of the Saints remained with the Mormons and how many left the church at the time of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith or at the time of their exodus to Utah. This project will help determine mortality rates among the pioneers, as well as how many crossed the plains or remained behind.


In addition to answering historical questions, the Nauvoo Community Project will produce quality genealogical documentation for the lives of early LDS Church members who lived in Nauvoo. The Center's project is being entered into a searchable database where research is available online to genealogists and historians. Original sources are being used to uniquely identify the residents, and links are being created to online images of censuses, death certificates, photos of grave markers, the Overland Pioneer Trail database, and much more. The database contains links to numerous primary source documents which provide high quality information to all site visitors.

This is an on-going project. If you do not find your family members who lived in Nauvoo, be sure to return to the site, since more residents are added daily.

This index will include the residents of Nauvoo, Illinois, from 1839 to 1846. Wherever possible, each resident will be documented from birth to death in the records of the time.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

Information contained in this collection may include:

  • The name of your relative
  • The birth date and birth place
  • The names of parents
  • The name of spouse
  • The death date and death place

How Do I Search the Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • The time period in which they were in Nauvoo

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
  2. Click Search to show possible matches


How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Use the information to find other vital records such as birth, marriage, and death
  • Use the information to find additional family members in census records
  • Search for land and probate records
  • Search church records for the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
  • Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation

"Illinois, Nauvoo Community Project (BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy), 1839-1846." Index. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2017. Citing BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy, Provo, Utah.

Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

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