18th Century American Historical Documents 18th Century American Historical Documents
Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097C
Symbol: Other
Cat No: Collection
1782 State of Connecticut, Revolutionary War Treasury Bonds to Connecticut Line Soldier Abel Stockwell of the Continental Army, Signed by John Lawrence Pair of Connecticut Revolutionary War Treasury Bonds
Two sequential serial-numbered Connecticut Line certificates, dated "Treasury-Office, June 1, A.D. 1782," each partially printed and signed by John Lawrence as Treasurer of Connecticut, acknowledging a debt of the State of Connecticut to Abel Stockwell for service in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army. The two are issued to Abel Stockwell, one for five pounds, eleven shillings and seven pence, payable on or before June 1, 1787 (serial 4306), and the other for three pounds, six shillings and one penny, payable on or before June 1, 1788 (serial 4307), representing successive quarter-installments of the soldier’s balance. Certificates of this issue were prepared to settle balances of back pay owed to Connecticut soldiers. Each is cancelled by a punch hole.
John Lawrence (1719–1802) served as Treasurer of the Colony and State of Connecticut from 1769 to 1789 and signed certificates of this issue throughout his tenure; he was succeeded in the treasurership by Peter Colt. (Image)
Estimate Range: 800 to 950US$
Opening US$ 500.00
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Closed..Jun-26-2026, 15:59:49 EST
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Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097E
Symbol: Other
Cat No: Collection
1795 North American Land Company, Share Certificate Signed by Robert Morris as President of the Company Robert Morris, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution
Partly-printed share certificate of the North American Land Company, numbered 1375 and representing share 15,614. It certifies that Dr. Enoch Edwards is entitled to one share in the entire property of the company, the dividend whereof shall not be less than six dollars on each share annually, conformably to articles of agreement executed at Philadelphia the twentieth day of February 1795, transferable only at the company’s office. Signed by order of the Board of Managers at Philadelphia the eighteenth day of April 1795 by Robert Morris as President and James Marshall as Secretary, brother of Chief Justice John Marshall.
The North American Land Company was founded on February 20, 1795 by Robert Morris, James Greenleaf, and John Nicholson; it held 30,000 shares of stock at $100 each against six million acres of land in Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia, and was one of the largest land trusts in American history.
Robert Morris was one of the most influential financial figures in American history, often referred to as the “Financier of the Revolution” for his critical role in funding the Continental Army during the War for Independence.
Morris signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States ConstitutionReferences:Robert Morris(Image)
Estimate Range: 1,500 to 1,950US$
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Closed..Jun-26-2026, 16:01:37 EST
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Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097F
Symbol: Other
Cat No: Collection
1782 State of Connecticut, Pay-Table Office Order Paying Deputy Quartermaster Ralph Pomeroy, Signed by Oliver Wolcott Jr. and William Moseley Second Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and Governor of Connecticut
Connecticut Pay-Table Office order dated at Hartford the 30th of January 1782, directing the State Treasurer to pay Ralph Pomeroy, Esquire, Deputy Quartermaster, the sum of one pound, two shillings and six pence (£1 2s 6d) out of the tax granted by the General Assembly, and charge the State. The order is addressed to "John Lawrence Esq. Treasurer" and signed on the face by two members of the Committee of the Pay-Table, Oliver Wolcott Jr. and William Moseley. Endorsed "For Ralph Pomeroy" and signed by Andrew Kingsbury as clerk, and signed by Ralph Pomeroy. The Committee of the Pay-Table, known as the Committee of Four, handled Connecticut’s military finances during the Revolution.
The order brings together several men who went on to hold the highest fiscal offices of the state and nation. Oliver Wolcott Jr. (1760–1833), son of Declaration signer and Governor Oliver Wolcott Sr., here a member of the Pay-Table, later served as the second Secretary of the Treasury of the United States under George Washington, succeeding Alexander Hamilton, and as Governor of Connecticut. Andrew Kingsbury, then a clerk in Ralph Pomeroy’s quartermaster office, served in the Comptroller’s office, was appointed Comptroller of Public Accounts, and in 1793 was elected Treasurer of the State of Connecticut, an office he held until 1818.
Ralph Pomeroy is related to George Eltweed Pomeroy founder of Pomeroy's Express.
Ralph Pomeroy (1737–1819), the Deputy Quartermaster named in this order, was a second cousin twice removed of George Eltweed Pomeroy (1807–1886), founder of Pomeroy's Letter Express (Scott 117L), whose 1844 local stamps are among the cornerstones of United States carrier-and-local philately. Both men descend from Medad Pomeroy (b. 1638), son of the Windsor, Connecticut, immigrant Eltweed Pomeroy; Ralph through Medad's son Joseph, George through Medad's son Ebenezer.
References:George Eltweed Pomeroy (1807 - 1886) Family Tree(Image)
Estimate Range: 500 to 600US$
Opening US$ 300.00
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Closed..Jun-26-2026, 16:02:27 EST
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Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097G
Symbol: Other
Cat No: Collection
1795 State of Connecticut, Lebanon School Money Certificate Signed by William Williams, Addressed to Treasurer Andrew Kingsbury William Williams, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Consitution.
Manuscript Connecticut tax and financial order dated June 8, 1795, written in manuscript and endorsed by additional local officials and witnesses. The document concerns the collection or settlement of state taxes assessed in earlier years.
It is signed by William Williams (1731–1811), who signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Connecticut in 1776. By 1795, Williams was among the last surviving members of the founding generation, and documents bearing his signature from this later period are increasingly difficult to locate.References:William Williams, Signer of the Declaration of Independence(Image)
Estimate Range: 2,000 to 2,200US$
Opening US$ 1,300.00
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Closed..Jun-26-2026, 16:03:21 EST
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Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097H
Symbol: Other
1777 State of Massachusetts Bay, "Sword in Hand" Six Percent Treasury Loan Certificate, Signed by Treasurer Henry Gardner State of Massachusetts Bay six percent treasury loan certificate, numbered 3531 and dated December 1, 1777, printed within an engraved border, with the "Sword in Hand" device at upper left and the motto "ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE QUIETEM." The certificate acknowledges receipt from Nathan Bliss of ten pounds, two shillings (£10 2s) for the use and service of the State, the Treasurer promising on behalf of the State and his successors in office to repay Nathan Bliss or bearer by the first day of March 1781 the said sum with interest annually at six percent per annum.
It is signed by Henry Gardner (1731–1782), the first Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, and by committee members Ezekiel Price (1727–1802), John Scollay (1711–1790), and Peter Boyer (1731–1790).
The "Sword in Hand" device on the Massachusetts treasury loan certificates of this period was engraved by Nathaniel Hurd, following Paul Revere’s design for the Massachusetts "Sword in Hand" currency. With no fully formed federal government to fund the war, the individual states largely financed the Revolution themselves, Massachusetts borrowing from its citizens through interest-bearing loan certificates of this kind. (Image)
Estimate Range: 800 to 950US$
Opening US$ 500.00
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Closed..Jun-26-2026, 16:04:02 EST
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Sale No: 2026Icons
Lot No: 2097J
Symbol: Other
1790 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Militia Commission Appointing Captain Ebenezer Weeks, Signed by Governor John Hancock and John Avery Signed by John Hancock, First Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Massachusetts military commission dated September 21, 1790 and signed by John Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts. The document is partially printed with a large heading, "By His EXCELLENCY John Hancock, Esq. GOVERNOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS," and a paper-covered wafer seal of the Commonwealth at upper left. It appoints Ebenezer Weeks to the rank of "Captain of a Company in the second Regiment third Brigade and fifth division of the militia of this Commonwealth comprehending the Counties of Plimouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes County & Nantucket." Signed by John Hancock at left beneath the Massachusetts seal and countersigned by John Avery Jr. as Secretary of the Commonwealth.
John Hancock (1737-1793) remains one of the most celebrated figures of the American Revolution, remembered as President of the Continental Congress and for his iconic signature on the Declaration of Independence. Also signing the commission is John Avery (1739-1806), whose attestation appears at the bottom as Secretary of the Commonwealth.References:John Hancock Biography(Image)
