Lot 794
Ross, George (1730- 1779) American lawyer, jurist and patriot. Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly (1768-70); Pennsylvania member of the Continental Congress (1774-77) and Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Judge of the Court of Admiralty (1779). Autograph letter signed ("Geo: Ross"), 2pp, 12¾ x 7¾", n.p., n.d. The letter, addressed to Mr. Galloway, is written below and on the verso of a manuscript document regarding an agreement made between the widow Mary Prater and Anthony Ellmaker, the gentleman with whom her husband had begun a land transaction before he died. The extract indicates that Mary Prater, widow of Anthony Prater, in keeping with his wishes, agrees to sell the said property to Anthony Ellmaker; Prater died before a will could be made out, wherein lies the complication of the case. It seems that Ross was engaged by one of the parties to straighten out the situation, which Prater's heirs were contesting. Ross's letter to Mr. Galloway reads, in part: "After Anthony Prater died Mary his widow took out letters of admin[intrati]on & afterwards gave a deed of the plantation to Aanthony Ellmaker from which the above is extracted; at the taking out letters of adminon. both the wido. & Anthony Ellmaker inform'd the Deputy Regr. there was no will. You may observe by the above extract that they recite a device by a will but that Anthony Prater died before the execution of it. Now from their own testimony it appears that Anthony Prater died before he made any mention how he would dispose of his estate…." Very good condition, with intersecting folds, professionally reinforced on the verso; scattered light toning and soiling, and a couple of small pencil notations.
Estimated Value $900 - 1,200.
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| Realized $840 |
