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Early
America
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 1. Josiah Bartlett
(1729-1795) Statesman. Bartlett was a
delegate to the Continental Congress for
New Hampshire, and signatory of the
Declaration of Independence. He was
later Chief Justice of the New Hampshire
Superior Court of Judicature and
Governor of the state. 6” x 3 ¼”
document signed, Kingston, June 28,
1775. The document is an order to pay
Moses Welch “…of his Services as a
Surveyor of High way….” Bartlett
signs with two others as Selectmen of
Kingston. There are two age spots,
overall toning.
$350 to $500
 2. William Bingham
(1751-1804) Statesman. Bingham was a
delegate for Pennsylvania to the
Continental Congress and served in the
United States Senate from 1795 to 1801.
He helped to found the Bank of North
America, the first bank of the new
nation, in 1781. He was also a land
surveyor, and looked to develop areas
currently a part of Southern New York,
and Northern Pennsylvania. Binghamton,
New York was named in his honor. 9 ½” x
7 ¾” vellum stock certificate for one
share of stock in the Philadelphia and
Lancaster Turnpike, 1795, issued to
Rebeca Gore, signed as president.
$1,000 to $1,800
 3. Aaron Burr
(1756-1836) Politician. Burr
served as the third Vice President of
the United States, under Thomas
Jefferson. In 1804 Burr challenged
longtime political rival Alexander
Hamilton to a duel and fatally shot him.
4 ¾” x 7” unsigned autograph letter,
March 21 (no year), to J. V. N. Yates.
“…Having occasion to search among the
records of the Senate for certain
matters transacted in 1780, we were
greatly surprised to discover that there
was not a paper in the office or in the
keeping of the Clerk of the Senate of
earlier date than 1790-- Mr Bacon can
give no account of the missing
papers….”
$250 to $400
 4. Dewitt Clinton
(1769-1828) Politician. Clinton served
as United States Senator and Governor of
New York. In this last capacity he was
largely responsible for the construction
of the Erie Canal. 8” x 9 ¾” autograph
letter signed, Albany, August 22, 1827,
to Dr. Smith. “…send to me David
Cunike’s History…five volumes…I will
remit to you the charges….” Small
tear in the right margin from opening.
$100 to $200
 5. Peter Colt
(1736-1824) Patriot. Colt was appointed
Deputy Commissary General of Purchases
for the Eastern Department in 1777. He
assisted Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth in
furnishing supplies to the French Troops
under Rochambeau. From 1789 to 1793 he
was Treasurer of Connecticut. Peter Colt
was related Samuel Colt. 8” x 4”
partially printed document signed, State
of Connecticut, June 1, 1782, signed.
The document is a pay order directing
payment to Nathaniel Sturgess “…who
had served in the Connecticut Line of
the Continental
Army….”
$150 to $250
 6.
Jedediah Huntington
- Connecticut Tax Receipt – 1783.
7 ¾” x 12 ½” legal document, Hartford,
Connecticut, August 8, 1783, signed by
William Sutton and Ralph
Pomeroy with a cancellation
signature through their names signed by
Jedediah Huntington,
“Huntington.”
The document evidences receipt of funds
from confiscated estates and land rent
collected by John Lawrence.
$300 to $500
 7. William Eden, 1st Baron
Auckland
(1745 - 1814) British statesman. Eden
was sent to America in 1778, he carried
an Act for the improvement of the
treatment of prisoners, on an
unsuccessful mission to settle certain
disputes with certain colonists. 6 ¼” x
7 ¾” autograph letter signed, one-one
third pages, front and back, no place or
date, to “Dear Lee.” The letter
deals with treaty negotiations, likely
with the French, “…I doubt whether
they will be dispatched from this
country…I heartily wish we were clear of
them….” Two small holes in a
fold,
paper loss in the left margin affects
text.
$150 to $300
 8.William Ellery
(1727-1820) Merchant. Ellery was among
the fifty-six signers of the Declaration
of Independence in 1776. Ellery also
served as a judge of the Supreme Court
of Rhode Island and by 1785 he had
become an abolitionist. He was the first
customs collector of the port of Newport
under the Constitution, serving there
until his death. 7 ¾” x 12 ½” autograph
document signed in the text four times
and again on the reverse, April 9, 1783.
The document is a Bill of Sale and
Promissory Note from Joshua Landford.
Minor paper loss and break in the center
fold.
$1,000 to
$1,500
 9. Oliver Ellsworth
(1745-1807) Jurist. Ellsworth was the
second Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme
Court. He also served as a senator in
the newly formed Congress. Ellsworth is
primarily remembered for his
contribution to the formation of the
Constitution and for drafting the
Judiciary Act of 1789, which provided
for a strong federal judiciary system
and created the United States Supreme
Court. 8” x 6 ¾” payorder signed,
directing payment to Michael Barber,
July 17, 1777 also signed by John
Chenevard
(1733-1808).
$200 to $350
 10. Oliver Ellsworth.
3” x 6 ½” legal document signed in the
text, October 18, 1781. One page receipt
for legal papers pertaining to pending
law suits while Ellsworth was serving as
Connecticut’s State Attorney.
$400 to $500
 11. Alexander Hamilton
(1757-1804) Statesman. Hamilton was the
first Secretary of the Treasury, a
Founding Father, economist, and
political philosopher. The chief of
staff to General George Washington
during the American Revolution, he was a
leader of nationalist forces calling for
a new Constitution. 7 ¾” x 12 ½” legal
document signed, “Albany, Oct. 25,
1796 Alexander Hamilton.” The
document is a legal agreement involving
a boundary dispute. “…The respective
parties shall execute conveyances to
each other of the lands in controversy
between them according to three
different constructions of the said
bounds, to be lodged with the said
Reference, as Escrow, & delivered to the
party in favour of whom their opinion
shall be….” The document is also
signed by the counsel for the
opposition, Richard Harrison. The
document shows some age spotting and is
mounted to a larger sheet.
$5,000 to $6,000
 12. David Gelston
(1744-1828) Merchant, politician.
Gelston was a delegate to the last
session of the Continental Congress and
a member of the New York State Senate.
Gelston was appointed by President
Thomas Jefferson Collector of the Port
of New York in 1801, and held that post
until 1821. 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” autograph letter
signed, Custom House, New York, April
26, 1810, to James Hill. “…A schooner
called the Ant has just arrived
here from Bordeaux which I believe to be
the Hornet from your port – she
is about 150 tons- will you let me know
as soon as possible whether any such
vessel ever belonged to your
port….”
$100 to $200
 13. Sam Houston
(1793-1863) President of the Republic of
Texas. Houston led the Texans in their
struggle to win independence from
Mexico. Later he served as president of
the republic of Texas. After Texas
became a state, he represented it in the
United States Senate. He was elected
governor of Texas just before the Civil
War, but when he opposed the state's
decision for secession, he was removed
from office. 5 1/8” x 3 1/8” postal
cover addressed and free franked. The
cover is addressed to "R. A. Ewing,
Esq," and has a post mark of
February 2. Matted with a color image
and brass plaque and framed with gold
fillets to 15 ¼" x 25 ¼".
$2,000 to $2,500
 14. Jedediah Huntington
(1743-1818) General, patriot. Huntington
aided in repealing the British at
Danbury, Connecticut and later fought in
New York. He was one of the organizers
of the Society of the Cincinnati. He
became collector of the port of New
London in 1789 and held the office 26
years.
6 ¼” x 7 ½” partially printed document
signed, Connecticut, August 4, 1789. The
document is a certification that
“…Capt Jon. Johnson has lodged…2 Army
Notes due June 1, 1785 amounting to 129
3 (Pounds) ….”. The document
is endorsed by Johnson on the reverse.
$300 to $500
 15. Francis Scott Key
(1780-1843) Poet, lawyer. Key is best
known for penning the poem The
Defense of Fort McHenry, which later
became The Star Spangled Banner.
3 ¼" x 7 ¾” receipt, October 21, 1817,
signed "F. S. Key.". The document
is matted with an engraving, gold
fillets and brass description plaque and
framed to 15 ½” x 22”.
$1,500 to $2,800
 16. Francis Scott Key.
7 ¾” x 10 ½” legal document signed,
“Key,” place unknown, August
15, 1804. The document, written in
another hand, accuses Mrs. Andrea Deale
of perjury in a suit brought against her
by Attorney Key in behalf of his
clients, “…Michael Rowe & Wife….”
It has been double matted with an
engraving and framed to17” x 18”.
$1,200 to $2,000
 17. Lafayette (Gilbert de Motier
)
(1757–1834). French general and
political leader. Lafayette left his
country to join George Washington’s
army. When he arrived in Philadelphia in
1777, Congress appointed him a major
general. He quickly became a close
friend of Washington, sharing the
hardships of Valley Forge and obtaining
a divisional command. After traveling to
France in 1779–80 to negotiate for
French aid, he distinguished himself at
Yorktown. He returned to France after
the war and played a prominent role in
politics and the military. 6” x 7 ¾”
autograph letter, in French, signed,
“Lafayette,” Paris, February 17,
1830, to Monsieur le M. de Cambis.
“…having indicated the desire of having
two tickets for some ladies, I am
enclosing herewith the one he was kind
enough to let me have for tomorrow,
together with another which I managed to
procure…”
$1,500 to $1,800
 18. Henry Lee
(1756-1818) Revolutionary cavalry
officer known as ``Light-Horse Harry''
Lee and father of Robert E. Lee. Lee
served brilliantly as cavalry commander
in the southern campaign under General
Nathanael Greene. After the war Lee was
elected governor of Virginia and, later,
a member of Congress. 7 ¼” x 8 ¾”, two
page legal document signed, June 5,
1802. The document details a default on
a land purchase and is signed at
the conclusion.
$750 to $1,200
 19. Robert Morris
(1734-1806) Financier. Morris was a
signer to the Declaration of
Independence, the Articles of
Confederation, and the Constitution.
Morris was known as the “Financier of
the Revolution,” because of his role in
securing financial assistance for the
American side in the Revolutionary War.
8” x 9 ¾” letter signed, Washington,
January 8, 1853, to
Philip Phelps, Deputy Comptroller.
“…Have the Legislature passed a Law yet
by which I can get my salary - I have
not recd one cent for my services for
Jany 1 inst. Send me a check payable at
any of the Banks in this city. Please
answer."
$950 to $1,200
 20. (Thomas Paine)
(1736-1809) Author, Founding Father.
Paine’s principal contributions were the
powerful, widely-read pamphlet Common
Sense, advocating colonial America's
independence from the Kingdom of Great
Britain, and The American Crisis,
a pro-revolutionary pamphlet series. An
extremely rare 4 ½” x 7 ½”, one hundred
eighty-three page copy, The Crisis:
in Thirteen Numbers Written During the
Late War, Charles R. & George
Webster, 1792. No cover, evenly age
toned.
$900 to $1,500
 21. James Pemberton
(1723-1808) Quaker merchant,
philanthropist. Pemberton was one of the
founders of Pennsylvania Hospital and
succeeded Benjamin Franklin as the
president of the Pennsylvania Abolition
Society. 6 ¼” x 3 ¾” partially printed
financial document signed, April 26,
1768. The document is a Pennsylvania
Hospital subscription certificate
acknowledging a debt of twenty pounds by
Thomas Riche. Evenly age toned, there is
a 3” x 1” fragment cut from the document
in the right margin.
$300 to $500
 22. Timothy Pickering
(1745-1829) Patriot. Pickering
was
appointed Washington’s Adjutant General
in June
of
1777. He was present at the Battles of
Brandywine and Germantown and
was
elected to the newly created Board of
War. On Aug. 5, 1780, he was appointed
Quartermaster-General of the Army.
Pickering was also present at the
surrender of Cornwallis.
He was
Secretary of State under the
administration of
John
Adams until the XYZ affair.8” x
12 ¾” letter signed, War Office, August
15, 1795, to Nathaniel Appleton. “…I
transmit you a list of Invalid
Pensioners for the State of
Massachusetts, with my warrant thereon
for the payment of their annual pension…
In the beginning of December next you
will transmit to this office a return of
the deaths of any of the invalids, which
may then have come to your
knowledge....”
$450 to $600
 23. Joseph Reed.
7 ¼” x 6” document signed, Philadelphia,
December 13, 1779, to David Rittenhouse.
The document is a pay order, “…Pay to
Mrs. Sarah Chestnut or her order the sum
of two hundred and forty three pounds
ten shillings the amount of her Claim on
the estate of Thomas Mackiness, decreed
her by the Supreme Court, with Interest
on the sum of two hundred pounds from
the fifteenth day of December 1776….”
Irregularly torn at the top, age tone in
the horizontal fold.
$200 to
$350
 24. Thomas T. Tucker
(1745-1828) Physician, politician.
Tucker represented South Carolina in
both the Continental Congress and the
United States House. He later served as
Treasurer of the United States. Tucker
was an early supporter of the cause of
American independence. He was first
elected to the South Carolina House of
Representatives in 1776, and served
there in various years until 1788. In
1781 he joined the Continental Army as a
hospital surgeon supporting the Southern
Department, and served until 1783. South
Carolina sent him as a delegate to the
Continental Congress in 1787 and again
in 1778. 5 ¾” x 3 ¼” partially printed
document signed, “Th. T. Tucker
Treas. Un. States,” October 21,
1826. The document is a receipt issued
to John Winslow for his payment of
thirty dollars “…in conformity to an Act
of Congress, dated 21st February,
1793….”
$50 to $100
 25. Sir Henry Vane
(1613-1662) English politician. Vane
served as governor of Massachusetts in
1636. After returning to England, he
became treasurer of the navy and was the
chief English negotiator of the Solemn
League and Covenant, Vane became leader
of the House of Commons and a member of
the Commonwealth's Council of State.
After the Restoration, he was arrested,
imprisoned, and executed for treason. 7
½” x 11 ¾” document signed, Westminster,
October 1648. The document is a receipt.
$900 to $1,200
 26. Thomas Willing
(1731-1821) Merchant, Delegate to the
Continental Congress. Willing entered
into business with Robert Morris to
establish the firm of Willing, Morris,
and Company, which became one of the
most successful businesses in the
American colonies. During the
Revolutionary War Willing and Morris,
became two of the most important figures
in obtaining foreign supplies needed by
the army. Because he supplied the army
at a price, rather than as a free
service, during and after the war he
came under harsh criticism. 7 ¾” x 13”
document signed, two pages,
Philadelphia, June 1, 1811. The document
lists the assets of John Nixon
(1733-1808) at it is also signed by
Henry Nixon, John’s son. John Nixon
is best known as the first person to
publicly read the Declaration of
Independence, which he did from the
steps of the State House on July 8,
1776. Henry Nixon was the son-in-law of
Robert Morris.
$150 to $300
 27. William Augustus Washington
(1757-1810) Brigadier General.
Washington was an officer of the
Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War, who held a final rank
of Brigadier General in the newly
created United States after the war.
Primarily known as a commander of light
dragoons, mounted troops under
Washington's command engaged in a number
of notable battles in the Carolinas
during the campaigns of 1780 and 1781.
8 ½” x 3 ¼” financial document signed,
April 18, 1804, Wahsington authorizes
payment of “four hundred and Ninety
two dollars and twenty five cents…”
to Bushrod Washington. Age toned, some
paper loss in the margins, mounted.
Bushrod Washington (1762-1829) was a
Supreme Court associate justice and the
nephew of George Washington.
$100 to $175
 28. Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
(1760-1833) Politician. Wolcott was
United States Secretary of the Treasury
from 1795 to 1800 and
governor
of
Connecticut
from 1817 to 1827. 8” x 6 ½” pay order,
April 8, 1779, directing payment to John
Cuningham signed by John Chenevard
(1733-1808) and Fenn Wadsworth
(1750-1785). The order has been
signed by Wolcott diagonally across the
face.
$100 to $200
 29. Oliver Wolcott, Jr..
6 ½” x 3 ½” partially printed document
signed, Connecticut, March 4, 1787. The
document is a pay order directing the
payment of one pound to Timothy Cowles.
The circular cancellation hole barely
touches the beginning of the
$100 to $200
Slavery
 30. Slave Trader Letter.
7 ¾” x 9 ½”, three pages, Nashville, May
15, 1835, to Samuel Logan of Virginia,
from Joseph Meeks. “…My objective now
is to purchase as many as possible as
all signs are favorable only the wet
spring, but gotten now 18 to 20 and
money plenty so there is no risk…Do not
miss likely girls under 500 and men 700
and if even a little old so they ain’t
gray and got good teeth, purchase them
if the price is in proportion. I have
told Little & Talbert to keep out of
your market, not to purchase in
opposition to each other…don’t loose no
negroes for want of funds as I can raise
any amount here in 3 days notice…I told
Little…of course purchase as low as
possible but loose none at 500 girls,
700 fellows, but to purchase in N.
Carolina or South Carolina…There is from
7 to 750 asked here for fellows and on
the rise. If you come
across…seamstresses or fine yellow girls
with good hair. They are as valuable as
fellows and for no one give as much…In
your answer please state as near as
possible the number of negroes and
capital left on hand….” Age browned
with modest paper loss in folds. A full
transcription is included. Slave trader
letters are extremely rare!
SOLD!!! A Customer has used our "EARLY
BUY' to purchase this lot.
$700 to $1,200
 31. Slavery – Alabama.
15 ½” x 4 ¾” document January 1845. The
document is an accounting of expenses
billed to Dr. James G. Young, Guardian
for George W. Heath minor. The first
entry is for $84.00 covering “…one
fifth part of Negro hire for 1845….”
The document is signed by Young and by
Justice of the Peace T. W. Mathews.
There is a partial break in the center
fold.
$175 to $300
 32. Slavery – Medical Care for
Slaves.
7 ¾” x 5 ¼” invoice to the estate of
James Gamble for the period between
March 1 and September 15, 1845 in the
amount of $19.50 for medical care
provided to his slaves. The invoice
details supplies and visits to his
“child negro.” The reverse side
shows that the invoice was presented by
J. B. Holman in the State of Alabama,
Wilcox County on January 22, 1846.
SOLD!!! A Customer has used our "EARLY
BUY' to purchase this lot.
$175 to $300
 33. Slavery – Hire of Negro.
7 ¼” x 4 ½” document, October 30, 1830,
a promissory note for “…the sum of
eighty dollars being for the hire of
Negro Silas for the term of one year….”
Age toned.
$175 to $300
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