William Clayton's Nauvoo Lodge Minute Book 2 postdates petitions for admission to the lodge.
Meeting Minutes, March 17, 1842, Freemasons minutebook, 1841 October-1846 February (Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minute Book 2), William Clayton Copy, 30–31, MS 3436, Church History Library, accessed February 23, 2022.
Thursday, March 17th DL 5842, A.D. 1842. . . .
An Entered Apprentice lodge was then opened in due form and the following named persons presented petitions for initiation, to wit: Willard Richards, aged 37, merchant; . . . J. B. Backenstos, aged 30, merchant; . . . Willm F. Cahoon, aged 27, carpenter . . .