| Signers of the Declaration of Independence |
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Lot 1 |
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Adams, Samuel (1722-1803)., Brewer, Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, organized the Boston Tea Party (1773), governor of Massachusetts (1793-1797).
DS, partly printed, 11" x 17", Boston, 1893 Oct 11. Appointment of one Benjamin Kimball of Harvard as Justice of the Peace for Worcester County, boldly signed "Saml. Adams" below seal of Massachusetts. Minor tiny splits along folds, Very Good, matted with full length portrait and engraved biographical plaque, framed to an overall 30" x 28".
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
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Lot 2 |
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Bartlett, Josiah (1729-1795)., American judge, physician, Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court (1788-1790), first president of New Hampshire (1790-1792) and first governor of New Hampshire (1793-1794).
ADS (2) and DS on one sheet, 7¾" x 12½", Kingstown, N.H., 1785 Feb 1. Top half of page is a civil complaint written entirely in Bartlett's hand and signed by Joseph Judkins as complainant. The bottom half, again in Bartlett's hand, and signed by him as Justice of Peace, is an arrest warrant for one Sherburne Sleeper for an armed assault against Judkins. On verso Bartlett has penned and again signed his disposition of the case on 4 Feb. Sherburne acknowledged guilt and paid a fine of five shillings to the state and three shillings for court costs and was discharged. Archival tape used to reinforce folds and slight separation, otherwise Very Good and easily read.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 3 |
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Carroll, Charles (1737-1832)., American lawyer and Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress, U.S. senator (1789-1792).
ALS, 6½" x 7½", 1½pp., two sides of same leaf, Carrollton, 1823 Jan 29. Discussing financial matters, signed "Ch. Carroll of Carrollton" with integral address leaf in his hand "To Mr. Wm. Gibbons". Part of address leaf missing, seal just showing through, otherwise Fine and quite readable, though in an understandably somewhat shaky 86-year-old hand.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 4 |
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Clark, Abraham (1726-1794)., American surveyor and New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress.
ADS, 7½" x 7½", 1771 Apr 23. Arbitration finding in a dispute over goods between on Isaac Freeman and his son-in-law, one Robert Moore. Bold signature with flourishes "Abra: Clark". On verso is another ADS, this one by Clark's co-arbitrator in the case, one Ebenezer Tro(…?). Lightly toned with minor ink erosion and tiny holes at fold intersections, otherwise Fine and easily read.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
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Lot 5 |
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Ellery, William (1727-1820)., U.S. judge and Rhode Island delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 13" x 8¼", Newport, 1792 Mar 26. Ship's manifest for the Sloop Peggy, apparently written in the hand of the ship's master Robert Lawton. Signed "Wm Ellery Collr" with flourish as Collector of the Port of Newport. Paper seal missing at upper left, non-contemporary "206" in pencil, otherwise Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 6 |
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Floyd, William (1734-1821)., American army officer and New York delegate to the Continental Congress.
DS, partly printed, 16" x 13¾", Western, N.Y., 1810 June 25. Land deed in which Floyd sells a parcel of land to one George Dopp, bold "Wm Floyd" with flourish at bottom. Very light toning at edges and along folds, otherwise Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 7 |
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Gerry, Elbridge (1744-1814)., Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, vice-president of U.S. under Madison (1813-1814), namesake of the term "gerrymander".
DS as governor, partly printed, 9" x 14½", Boston 1811 Oct 15. Commission of one Job Nelson to administer oaths to circuit court judges on Hancock and Washington counties, the circuit having just been established on 21 June of that year, boldly signed "E Gerry " with flourishes below an intact paper seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Very minor toning along folds, most noticeable on verso, Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
In 1812, during Gerry's second term as governor, the Republican-dominated legislature at the state redrew the district lines so as to give the Republicans a disproportionate number of representatives. Gerry was blamed, despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the idea and was privately opposed to it. A political cartoonist illustrated an oddly shaped voting district as a salamander and called it the "Gerry-mander"; the term quickly became part of the political lexicon.
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Lot 8 |
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Gerry, Elbridge (1744-1814)., DS as governor, partly printed, 15" x 9½", Boston, 1812 Apr 18. Military Commission of one George Brown as Lieutenant in the Massachusetts Militia, boldly signed "E Gerry" with flourishes below paper seal of Massachusetts. Rejoined along center vertical fold with small holes at other intersecting folds, some toning, otherwise a Very Good war dated commission.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 9 |
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Hancock, John (1737-1793) and Adams, Samuel (1722-1803)., President of the Continental Congress (1775-1780, 1785-1786), first signer of the Declaration of Independence, governor of Massachusetts (1780-1785, 1787-1793).
DS by Hancock as governor, 10" x 15½", Boston, 1793 July 2. Appointment of one Daniel Perry as Justice of the Peace for Norfolk County. Signed boldly but in a somewhat trembling hand below a virtually intact paper seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On verso is an MsDS, signed "S. Adams" as lieutenant governor as witness to Perry's subscription to his oaths of office. Upper and lower halves separated and taped together along horizontal fold, couple minor age spots, otherwise Very Good; rare with both signatures on one document.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
Hancock's health forced him to resign as president of the Continental Congress in 1777 and again as governor of Massachusetts in 1785. The shaky signature on this document no doubt indicates further deterioration of his health. Hancock would die just three months later.
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Lot 10 |
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Hancock, John (1737-1793)., DS as governor, partly printed, 11" x 17", Boston, 1785 Jan 29. Appointment of one Josiah Thatcher of Gorham as Justice of the Peace for Cumberland County, characteristic bold signature with intact paper seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Few minor splits along folds, particularly at edges, Very Good. Beautifully double-matted with a color portrait and two steel-engraved biographical plaques, framed to an overall size of 39" x 29".
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
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Lot 11 |
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Harrison, Benjamin (1726-1791)., Farmer and Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, governor of Virginia (1782-1784), father of William Henry Harrison.
MsDS as governor, 6" x 3¾",[Richmond], 1783 June 14. Affidavit granting one Benjamin Shurls bounty land for three years service as a private in the Virginia Continental Artillery. Written and signed by "Thomas Meriwether" for the Council of Virginia and signed "Benj Harrison" as witness. Inlaid to 9¾" x 7¾", small hole and repaired separation on verso with resultant discoloration showing through, Very Good appearance.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 12 |
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Hart, John (1711-1779)., American farmer and New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress.
DS, 4" x 2¼", New Jersey, 1776 March 25. One of three signers on a 12/-, N.J. Colonial note, the others signers are Jona Dean and John Stevens, Jr. Average circulated condition with nice even margins and unusually bold red and black print.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 13 |
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Hewes, Joseph (1730-1779)., American merchant and North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 4¼" x 3¼", Chowan (County, N.C.), 1768 Dec 10. Affidavit certifying that one Thomas Hubbard appeared in court to give evidence in the case of Dominic Rex vs Samuel McGuire, written and signed by one Thomas Jones and signed by Hewes as witness. Vertical crease through signature has minimal affect, otherwise a Very Good example of one of the rarer signers.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
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Lot 14 |
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Hooper, William (1742-1790)., American lawyer and North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 7¼" x 11", Salisbury, N.C., 1768 Sep 5. Indictment of one William Lheuwyllen for armed assault against one John Jenkins in which the defendant did "beat, wound and ill treat" Jenkins "so that his life was nearly dispaired" and "did other wrongs (to Jenkins) to his great damage and against the peace of God and our sovereign Lord King, his Crown and Dignity", signed "Will Hooper Atty DR". The body of the document was penned by a clerk but Hooper has, where appropriate, inserted the names of the plaintiff and defendant (also on verso). Partial separation along horizontal folds, light water stains at left and overall toning, mostly strong signature, Good; one of the rare signers.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 15 |
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Hopkins, Stephen (1701-1785)., Rhode Island governor (1756//1767) and Rhode Island delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS as governor, 6¼" x 3", Newport, 1758 Aug 10. Order to the Post Office to pay one Thomas Vernon £5 "for postage & charge it to the Colony", signed "Step Hopkins Govr." Inlaid to slightly larger 6¾" x 3¼", fresh and Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 16 |
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Hopkinson, Francis (1737-1791)., U.S. judge, satirist, New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, primary designer of the U.S. flag.
DS, partly printed in black and red, 8" x 4¼", 1780 Jan 20. Sight Bill to one John Cushing for $24 "for interest due on Money borrowed by the United States", signed "F. Hopkinson" as the Treasurer of Loans, countersigned by "Nichl. Gilman" as Commissioner of the Continental Loan-Office in New Hampshire, ornately printed with scalloped left margins. Slight ink erosion in Cushing's endorsement on verso, otherwise Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
Gilman was a New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress and a U.S. Representative and Senator.
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Lot 17 |
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Huntington, Samuel (1731-1796)., U.S. judge and Connecticut delegate to the Continental Congress, president of Continental Congress (1779-1781, 1783), 1st governor of the State of Connecticut (1786-1796).
ADS as governor, 7½" x 4", Norwich, 1788 Dec 3. Order to State Treasurer Lawrence to pay one Nathan Bushnell Jr. "Thirty Shillings out of the taxes appropriate for payment of the civil list; & charge the same on account of what is due from the State to your humble servant Saml. Huntington." The word "Treasury" is written vertically across the text. Seal cut out at top, otherwise Very Good.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 18 |
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Livingston, Philip (1716-1778)., New York delegate to the Continental Congress and brother of William, the New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and the first governor of the state of New Jersey.
LS, 7½" x 9½", New York, 1761 Aug 14. Business letter to attorney Richard Law re account collections, signed "I am/your Hum. Servant/Phil. Livingston", addressed in his hand on verso. Laminated with silk on both sides, slight show-through of wax seal stains on verso, VG, old but non-contemporary biographical notes on verso.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 19 |
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McKean, Thomas (1734-1817)., U.S. judge and Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress, chief justice at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (1777-1799), governor of Pennsylvania (1799-1808).
DS as governor, 20½" x 11½", vellum, [Lancaster], 1806 Sept 10. Deed to a parcel of land called "Strawhall" in Potter County, bold signature "Tho McKean" above one of three intact paper seals (two on verso), also singed by "T(imothy) Matlack" as Master of Rolls. Usual folds, wonderfully fresh and Fine.
Estimate 400 - 500
McKean left the Congress a few days after casting his vote for independence in order to command a battalion of troops in aid of George Washington at Perth Amboy, N.J. He was not present on Aug 2 when most signers placed their names on the Declaration. It is unclear exactly when his signature was added. Matlack was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress and was the "engrosser" or transcriber of the Declaration of Independence.
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Lot 20 |
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Morton, John (1724-1777)., American farmer and New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress.
DS, 3½" x 2¾", Pennsylvania, 1772 April 3. One of three signers on a 2/- Pennsylvania Colonial note, others are John Sellers and Charles Humphreys. Browned and well circulated but with dark signatures.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 21 |
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Paca, William (1740-1799)., U.S. judge, Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress, governor of Maryland (1782-1785).
ALS, 7½" x 8", 1p., no place or date. Sends regrets "that the very disagreeable situation of my domestic concerns will not permit my personal attendance" at a meeting of "our respectable club" [perhaps the Forensic Club in Annapolis, of which Paca was a founding member], signed "Wm. Paca". Laminated to Japanese paper with slight repairs, Very Good appearance, Fine signature.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
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Lot 22 |
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Paine, Robert Treat (1731-1814)., U.S. Judge, Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, attorney general of Mass. (1777-1790).
ADS, 6" x 1¾", Bristol, 1771 March 18. "…William Perry took the Oath enjoined by Law previous to the issuing Executions--before Rob Treat Paine, Jus. O Peace". Part of a large document but complete unto itself. Laminated to 7" x 2¾", Fine.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 23 |
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Penn, John (1741-1788)., American lawyer and North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress.
AES, 7" x 4½", Granville County, N.C., 1785 Aug 1. Arrest Warrant to the County Sheriff for four parties to answer to a charge that they owe one Charles Duncan (Penn's client) "£60.16.6 Virga. Currency of the value of Eight One pounds two shillings current money". Penn has inserted the names of the defendants and the plaintiff as well as the complaint, on verso he has added "Duncan vs Wm. Williams et al" and his endorsement. "Issued 5 Augt. 1785 (signed) J. Penn atto. for Pl." Strong signature, Very Good. Penn is one of the more difficult signers to find.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 24 |
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Rodney, Caesar (1728-1784)., Revolutionary War general, Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress and president of Delaware (1778-1782).
MsDS, 8" x 6", Kent County, Del., 1768 Oct 13. Affidavit sworn before Rodney as Justice of the Peace, on the voluntary examination of one Mary Clarke, "single woman", that said Clark is "now with child, and that said child is likely to be born a Bastard, and to be chargeable to the said County of Kent". Clarke also swears that one William Tillitson, "apprentice in Physick [the equivalent of today's medical student] is the father." Fold through the signature has virtually no affect upon it, Very Good.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
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Lot 25 |
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Rush, Benjamin (1745-1813)., Treasurer of the U.S. Mint (1797-1813) and Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 7½" x 9½", Philadelphia. 1813 Mar 20. Affidavit sworn by Rush that in 1795 he and his wife sold a parcel of land to one Robert Morris, the said Morris having subsequently died and the trustees of his estate being unable to find the original deed; penned by a clerk and boldly signed "Benj: Rush". Rush, a physician, describes himself in the affidavit as a "Practitioner of Physick". Very Good.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
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Lot 26 |
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Smith, James (1719-1806)., Irish born lawyer, Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 8" x 13¼", York, Pa., 1791 June 15. Power of Attorney given to his son George Smith to collect quarterly interest payments on U.S. Treasury Notes of $885.78 at 6% and $672.45 at 3%, signed "Jas. Smith" and by witnesses David Jamison Weaver and John Shaffer Shoemaker, sworn before and signed by Justice of the Peace W. Scott. Slight breaks at fold intersections and normal light aging, Very Good.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 27 |
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Walton, George (1741-1804)., U.S. Judge, Georgia delegate to the Continental Congress.
MsDS, 7¾" x 12½", 4 pp., Richmond County, Ga. 1802 Aug 4. Complaint sworn before Walton as Judge of the Middle District of Georgia and ruling by Walton in favor of the plaintiff, one Benjamin Sims, against one Thomas Ruston, who had left Georgia for Pennsylvania owing Sims $166.86. The same document includes an order by Walton to the Sheriff of Montgomery County, Ga. to attach the estate of Thomas Ruston. Walton has signed the "Geo Walton" four times on the various sections (twice each on two of the four pages), three of them with short endorsements. Normal light aging and minor edge flaws, Very Good, a most unusual document.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 28 |
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Whipple, William (1730-1785)., U.S. Army officer, judge, and merchant, New Hampshire delegate to the Continental Congress.
ALS, 7½" x 9", 1p., Portsmouth, N.H., 1779 Dec 14 (War date). Writes to N.H. Congressman Nathaniel Peabody in Philadelphia, speaks of visit by "Mr. [John] Langdon" and that "Genl. Folsom will be with you before this arrives at your home", he has signed boldly "WW". Some water staining and foxing, mainly at margins, and small piece of blank area at integral address leaf missing, Good, easily read.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
Peabody was the first man in New Hampshire to resign the Kings Commission and take up the American cause. Langdon was a signer of the U.S. Constitution; Folsom played important roles at the siege of Boston and at Ticonderoga.
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Lot 29 |
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Williams, William (1731-1811)., American Merchant, Connecticut delegate to the Continental Congress.
DS, partly printed, 8¾" x 12", Lebanon, Conn., 1760 Dec 29. Land deed wherein one Nathaniel Cushman sells 100 acres to one Jonathon Trimble. Signed three times "Wm Williams", twice on front, once adding title "Justo Pacis", and again below his docketing on verso. Tiny splits along folds, Very Good.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 30 |
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Wilson, James (1742-1798)., Scottish born U.S. judge, Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1789-1798).
DS, partly printed, 8¼" x 6¼", Carlisle, Pa., 1773 July 24. Order to the Sheriff of Cumberland County to sell the property that was seized as compensation for an unpaid debt, boldly signed "Wilson" on verso. Overall toning, darker along folds with small tape reinforcement in two places, otherwise Very Good.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 31 |
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Witherspoon, John (1723-1794)., New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and president of Princeton University (1768-1794).
MsDS, 7¼" x 6", 1773 Aug 13. Bill for "work and materials used in Mrs Weatherspoons (sic) upper Parlour", Witherspoon has added a two-line note approving payment of the bill to one Jonathan Sergeant and signed it "Jn. Witherspoon". Minor splits along folds and torn irregularly at bottom, otherwise Very Good. One of the more difficult signers to obtain.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
Provenance: Laurence
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Lot 32 |
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Wythe, George (1726-1806)., U.S. judge and Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress.
ADS, 6½" x 8", Orange County, Va., 1748 March. Complaint filed by Wythe for a widow to collect a debt owed her late husband in order to settle his estate. Boldly signed "Wythe for the Pl." on verso, over 400 words in Wythe's amazingly precise writing hand, prepared ahead and with amounts filled in later, space left for signature of defendant's attorney is blank. Couple small nicks at left margin, otherwise Very Good.
Estimate 2,000 - 2,500
Wythe was a quiet abolitionist. He freed his slaves and provided them support. A young member of his family, upon hearing that Wythe had willed part of his estate to former slaves, attempted to poison said slaves, thereby enlarging his share of the estate. In doing so, he inadvertently also murdered Wythe. Wythe is one of the more difficult signers to obtain.
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