Lot 10
Clymer, George (1739-1813) Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Pennsylvania. Autograph Letter Signed ("Geo Clymer"), 3 pages, 13 x 8 in., Mar. 30, 1809. To attorney James Gibson, requesting his help in a lawsuit brought against Clymer by Thomas Fitzsimmons, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, who claims Clymer owes him money from a partnership they formed 13 years before in an effort to recover money from Signer Robert Morris when he went bankrupt. In part, "…About 13 years ago I took an obligation from Robert Morris for a sum between 24,000 and 25,000 pounds. It was a second mortgage on his estate on the Delaware works, the first being with No. American Insurance Cmpany. The intention of that company…to sue and then mortgage, and the estimate of value being very far beyond their debt, I was desirous of covering mine under it, and Mr. Fitzsimmons being also one of Mr. Morris's creditors, it was thought that a surplus might even remain to him. Accordingly a joint application was made by us to the company to suffer us to become the purchasers, engaging to satisfy their debt out of the first avails of the lands on the sub-sales….That [engagement] between us was that my debt should come next in order…." Clymer goes to explain that the estate had been overrated and both Fitzsimmons and Clymer were left with nothing, at which point Fitzsimmons ceased correspondence with Clymer and demanded (through his lawyer) £1,100 for an old account. Clymer asks Gibbons to discuss the case with Fitzsimmons' lawyer. Very good; toning and several edge splits; old tape repairs on address leaf. Paper loss at bottom of page two affects perhaps three words.
This is a remarkable association piece, connecting three men who signed the two most important American documents. Clymer and Robert Morris signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and Fitzsimmons signed the Constitution. Thomas Fitzsimmons, a founder of the Insurance Company of North America, was forced into bankruptcy over his problems with Morris in 1805. Morris, of course, went to debtor's prison.
With an Autograph Document unsigned (purchased from Joe Rubinfine in 1981), 2½ pages, n.p., n.d. Manuscript notes in Clymer's hand of interviews with witnesses in a legal action involving diversion of a stream on property owned by Clymer. About 400 words. Transcript of AD included.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1986.
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| Realized $3,658 |
