Lot 2
Hewes, Joseph -- Rare War-date Document Signed (1730-79) Member of the Continental Congress and Signer from North Carolina. A wealthy shipping merchant, he put his ships at the service of the Continental Armed Forces and served as the first de facto Secretary of the Navy. Manuscript war-date legal filing signed "Joseph Hewes" as surety for a friend, one page, 12x8", Chowan County, North Carolina, Aug. 10, 1777. Written in the hand of Benjamin Jay and signed by Jay, as well as by Archibald Corry, the document declares that the three men--Hewes, Jay, and Corry--are bound unto Evan Skinner, high sheriff of the county, for the sum of one thousand pounds. Benjamin Jay is to appear in Superior Court on Nov. 1 to answer to William Cumming "of a plea &c. Damage five hundred pounds and there stand to and abide by the Judgment of the said Cort…." A notation by the sheriff, dated Oct. 22, 1778 states that he assigns the "within obligation and condition to William Cummings the plantif…." Overall toning; erosion of iron gall ink affects one line and a couple of words of text. Hewes signature is quite bold. He is among the top twelve percent in scarcity of Signers of the Declaratio of Independence. Estimated Value $4,000 - UP
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