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Sale 64
| Signers of The Declaration of Independence |
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| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 51 |
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Thornton, Matthew (1714-1803) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire. Brief Autograph Document Signed as Justice of the Peace, one page, 11¾ x 8 in., Province of New Hampshire, Dec. 17, 1754. On the lower portion of the partly-printed document, which is a deed whereby Eleazer Wells sells land to Thomas Gorge, Thornton fills in some 14 words, that Eleazer Wells appeared before him on Dec. 17, 1754 and acknowledged that he had received the money ("two hundred pounds old Tenure) from Thomas Gorge and that he had signed the deed of his own free will. The document is inlaid; overall toning, some soiling and a stain in upper portion.
Thornton was elected to the Continental Congress after the vote for independence. He arrived in Philadelphia in November 1776 and signed the Declaration for New Hampshire, some three months after most of the delegates had signed on August 2. Matthew Thornton is rare.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1982.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,033 |
Lot 52 |
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Thornton, Matthew. Rare Document Signed ("M. Thornton"), 3 pages (two separate sheets), 12 x 7¼ in., Dec. 25, 1800. A legal document settling a land dispute between Matthew Thornton of the one part and Joseph Blanchard and John Hogg of the other. The dispute involves several lots in Thornton, New Hampshire. By this quit claim deed, each party gives up rights to certain lots and cedes them to the other party. Browning, numerous repairs to folds and edges, and some old tape marks. Thornton's signature is especially large and bold. Thornton is rare.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,062 |
Lot 53 |
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Walton, George (1741-1804) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia. Document Signed ("Geo Walton") and with four words in his hand as Chief Justice of the Superior Court, 2¼ pages, 12 x 7¼ in., Augusta, Feb. 7, 1791. A petition to the judges of the Superior Court of Georgia by Levi Shestall for foreclosure on property for which Robert Walton owes him. The property entails "all that Island situate and being in the County of Richmond at the mouth of Rocky Creek on the river Savannah…one hundred and ninety five acres…known by the name of Robert Walton's Island; And also all the nigro Slaves…Abram Monday Sam (a boy) Cambridge Peter Will Charles George Philis Flora Fanny Syrus Jacob Golah Jacob Sam Cato Lilly Abba Catrina and Betty together with the future issue and encrease of all the female Slaves…." The case was decided for the plaintiff. Walton wrote "Let usual Rule issue" and signed below. Overall toning; 1st and 4th pages are silked and there are small areas of paper-fill at center seam and lower right corner, not affecting Walton's bold script and signature are on the 3rd page. Accompanied by a transcript.
Estimated Value $600 - 800.
Purchased from Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc. in 1984.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,298 |
Lot 54 |
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Whipple, William (1730-85) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Autograph Letter Signed ("W:m Whipple"), 2½ pages, 12½ x 7¾ in., Portsmouth, Oct. 19, 1778. To his brother, Joseph Whipple, whom he had hoped to see before he set out for Congress, regarding the family farm in Kittery (Maine), where they lived before moving to New Hampshire. He discusses in detail the below-par yield of crops and the manager of the farm, who is not doing a good job. He is concerned about being charged for the wages of a boy who did no work and whose master had "brought him to keep him from doing mischief at home," and he encloses money received from Mr. Austin for rental of a store. A seal tear on the address leaf does not affect any text or the signature. Accompanied by a transcript. Whipple is rare.
William Whipple served in the Continental Congress from 1776 through 1779, although he took leave to fulfill his military duties as Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia, a post to which he was appointed in 1777. He led his troops against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500.
Purchased from Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc. in 1982.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$3,186 |
Lot 55 |
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Williams, William (1731-1811) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Autograph Note Signed ("W. Williams") as Registrar, on the verso of the integral leaf of a two-page document signed by Elijah Hyde Jr., acting as administrator for the estate of his father and selling land in Lebanon to Thomas Williams, which in part adjoined the land of William Williams. Williams notes in his hand, "Recd. & Recorded on Lebanon Records, Leb. 13, p. 178 & 6. W. Williams Reg," followed by a paraph. Some soiling, else fine. Integral leaf is inlaid. Accompanied by a transcript.
In 1776, Williams was elected to the Continental Congress to replace Oliver Wolcott, who, certain that the vote for the Declaration would be affirmative, had returned home for an overdue visit. Williams arrived too late to vote for Independence, but signed the engrossed Declaration. He was appointed a member of the committee to frame the Articles of Confederation and in 1787, he attended the Hartford convention, where Connecticut ratified the Federal Constitution.
Estimated Value $500 - 750.
Purchased from Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc. in 1980.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$401 |
Lot 56 |
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Wilson, James (1742-98) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Pennsylvania. Partly-printed Document Signed, one page, 13½ x 8½ in. (Philadelphia), Mar. 24, 1795. A deed of sale of land to Dr. Benjamin Rush, another Pennsylvania Signer. Witnessed by Nathan Lufborough and William Johnston. Some show-through from notations on verso; otherwise, a very attractive document. Wilson signed boldly by his small paper and wax seal. Wilson is scarce. (See also in this section the Benjamin Rush document, also signed by Wilson.)
In addition to signing the Declaration of Independence, Wilson was chairman of the committee that presented the first draft of the Federal Constitution and a member of the state convention that ratified it. He also served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His later years were marred by ill-fated land speculation, which prompted him to move to New Jersey to avoid arrest for debt in Philadelphia.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
Purchased from Walter R. Benjamin Autographs, Inc. in 1980.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$885 |
Lot 57 |
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Witherspoon, John (1723-94) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. Autograph Endorsement Signed ("Jno. Witherspoon") as president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), one page, 6 x 7¼ in., n.p., Aug. 13, 1773. An account of money due for "work and materials used in Mrs. Weatherspoons upper parlour," with two lines in Witherspoon's hand approving payment, "Sir please pay the above Acct of Repairs To Jonathan Sergeant Esqr." Overall toning and uneven lower margin, affecting nothing.
At the urging of Benjamin Franklin and Richard Stockton, Witherspoon, who was a noted Presbyterian scholar, came to America from Scotland in 1768 to become president of the College of New Jersey. Witherspoon lived at first in the President's House but around 1773, the year of this bill, he moved about a mile north of the village to "Tusculum,'' a residence he built that still stands. Witherspoon was very active in the revolutionary cause. Elected to the Continental Congress in 1776, he voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee's Resolution for Independence and shortly after voted for the Declaration of Independence. He helped draft the Articles of Confederation and supported the adoption of the U. S. Constitution.
Witherspoon is very rare.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 5,500.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$9,735 |
Lot 58 |
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Wolcott, Oliver (1726-97) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Autograph Document Signed as Sheriff of Litchfield County, one page, 4¼ x 7¾ in., Salisbury, April 13, 1757. Written on the verso of a writ from Justice of the Peace David Whitney, ordering Wolcott or his deputy to attach the goods or estate of James Fitch and for want of these, to arrest Fitch and have him appear before the County Court. Wolcott writes more than 80 words in his hand, acknowledging that he had served the writ by attaching the land of the defendant and describing where the land was located. There are several legal notations in the margins by other hands. Boldly penned and signed by Wolcott. Accompanied by a transcript.
Elected to the Second Congress in January 1776, Wolcott remained for the debates on the Declaration and returned home to Connecticut (where he had not been for six months) on June 28th, certain that the Declaration would be approved. He returned to Congress on October 1, 1776 and signed the Declaration then.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1982.
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| Unsold |
Lot 59 |
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Wythe, George (1726-1806) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia. Autograph Letter Signed "G. Wythe" at the end and "George Wythe" in the text, 1¼ pages, n.p., Mar. 30, 1801. Neatly and clearly written at the age of 75 to Peter Tinsley: "If P T knows the note, of which a copy is inclosed, to be his brother Samuel Tinsleys handwriting and to have been subscribed by him: that his undertenent occupied the house three years, or did not resign the possession of it before expiration of that term; and that PT doth not know money, towards discharging the rent, than twelve dollars, to have been paid, will he be pleased to give to George Wythe a certificate there, for the purpose of applying to proper authority for obtaining what remains due, with interest? The certificate may be writen under a copy of the note, and sent, with this paper, to G. Wythe. 30 of march, 1801." Wythe is rare. Only three Autograph Letters Signed are listed in ABPC, one in 1989, one in 1998, and one in 2010.
In 1769, at the College of William and Mary, Wythe became America's first Professor of Law. He counted among his students Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Marshall, Henry Clay, and many other men of reknown. In 1775 Wythe was elected to attend the Continental Congress, where he served for two years, voting in favor of R.H. Lee's Resolution, and the Declaration. In 1777 he was elected Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, and in 1778, he was made one of the three Chancellors of the State of Virginia, a post that he served in for the rest of his life.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1982.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$2,714 |
Lot 60 |
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Wythe, George. Autograph Document Signed ("Wythe") as attorney for the plaintiff, 1½ pages, 8 x 6¼ in., Orange County (Virginia), March 1748. A complaint filed by Wythe as a 22-year-old lawyer, for a widow, Ann Moore, against one Henry Downs, who owed a debt to Augustine Moore, now deceased. Wythe boldly wrote over 400 words in his very precise hand, prepared ahead and with amounts filled in later; the space left for the defendant's attorney is blank. Fine except for two small nicks at left margin, affecting one word of text. Elected to the Continental Congress (1775-76), Wythe would sign the Declaration of Independence for Virginia 28 years after he wrote this document. Wythe is one of the more difficult signers to obtain.
Wythe held many positions in the state of Virginia, including Attorney General (1753), Member of the House of Burgesses (1755-65), Professor of Law at the College of William and Mary (1769-1789), Speaker of the Virginia House (1777-78), and Judge of the Chancery Court of Virginia (1789-1806). He also freed his slaves and provided them support, willing part of his estate to three former slaves. His grandnephew, George Wythe Sweeney, discovered Wythe's intention and decided to poison the slaves so that he would be the only beneficiary, but Wythe also became a victim of the poison, dying a painful death. Sweeney was arrested and charged with murder, but got off because the only witness was a slave and the testimony of slaves was not allowed against a white person.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,888 |
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