Archives International Auctions Sale 70 September 22, 2021 U.S., Chinese. & Worldwide Banknotes, Scripophily,

Archives International Auctions - Sale 70 67 September 22, 2021 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com COLONIAL CONNECTICUT & EARLY U.S. FISCAL DOCUMENTS Pennsylvania 389 389 Pennsylvania Land Deed, 1753 Signed by Simon Mathews, One of the Founding Fathers of Chalfont, PA. New Britain, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1753. Ornate handwritten land deed on vellum, measuring approximately 29.5 inches x 9.5 inches, with a pair of red wax seals near signatures at bottom center and bottom right. This document outlines the terms and sale of 36 acres of land for the sum of 100 Pounds Pennsylvania currency, sold by Simon Mathews to his son Edward Mathews. Provides an extremely detailed description of the location of the 36 acres, stating that it is near Simon Butler’s land “north west fifteen perches to a red oak tree” and that the land was once a “part of a tract of land containing one hundred and sixty seven acres” belonging to James Steel and his wife Martha of Philadelphia. VF condition with some toning and small holes, still in remarkable condition for its age. Simon Mathews (died 1755) was a Welsh immigrant who came to Pennsylvania with his cousin Simon Butler in 1712. Along with Butler, he is considered one of the founding fathers of Chalfont, Pennsylvania. In 1720, he moved to the New Britain area of Bucks County with Butler, who had already established himself in the area. In 1731, he bought 147 acres of land and built a home. His farmhouse still stands today and is a wedding venue. He died in 1755 and his estate was bequeathed to his son Thomas. He fathered many children and his descendants are still in the area. Simon Butler, Mathews’ cousin, was also an important historical figure of the area. In 1720, he purchased 176 acres of land that included much of the then-standing “Village of Chalfont” from a former land grant founded by William Penn. In 1730, he finished construction of his house and mill and then purchased over 400 acres of land in 1745 including much of present-day Chalfont and New Britain. During this time, Butler built a number of gristmills on the sites of original mills, such as the Funk sawmill and the Shellenberger’s mill. He then acted as the sole justice of the peace in the county, and until his death he was the economic and legal power in the area. Among other important duties he wrote wills and was well known for his extremely sound judgement. Rare and unique historical document from founding figures in Pennsylvania colonial history. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $600-1200 Connecticut 390 390 Colonial Connecticut, 1775 Promissory Note Signed by Thomas Seymour and Oliver Ellsworth Hartford, Colonial Connecticut, 1775. Handwritten promissory note, stating that Daniel Goodwin is owed 8 Shillings and 3 Pence for “going to Springfield & fetching back horses used in transporting continental money to the camps” with charges levied to the colony. Signed by Oliver Ellsworth and Thomas Seymour as Committee members. Additional writing and dates are on the back. Thomas Seymour (1735-1829) became lieutenant colonel of the 1st Connecticut state regiment of light horse in June 1776 and the following month led three regiments of horsemen to New York as a temporary reinforcement to the Continental army. Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807) was an American lawyer, judge, politician, and diplomat. He was a framer of the United States Constitution, a United States Senator from Connecticut, and the third Chief Justice of the United States. In 1777, he became the state attorney for Hartford County, Connecticut and was selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress, serving during the remainder of the American Revolutionary War. He served as a state judge during the 1780s and was selected as a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which produced the United States Constitution. While at the convention, Ellsworth played a role in fashioning the Connecticut Compromise between the more populous states and the less populous states. He also served on the Committee of Detail, which prepared the first draft of the Constitution, but he left the convention before signing the document. His influence helped ensure that Connecticut ratified the Constitution, and he was elected as one of Connecticut’s inaugural pair of Senators, serving from 1789 to 1796. He was the chief author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which shaped the federal judiciary of the United States and established the Supreme Court’s power to overturn state supreme court decisions that were contrary to the United States Constitution. Ellsworth served as a key Senate ally to Alexander Hamilton and aligned with the Federalist Party. He led the Senate passage of Hamiltonian proposals such as the Funding Act of 1790 and the Bank Bill of 1791. He also advocated in favor of the United States Bill of Rights and the Jay Treaty. In 1796, after the Senate rejected the nomination of John Rutledge to serve as Chief Justice, President George Washington nominated Ellsworth to the position. Ellsworth was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, and served until 1800, when he resigned due to poor health. He subsequently served on the Connecticut Governor’s Council until his death in 1807. Fantastic piece of history which pre-dates the Declaration of Independence, yet includes the signatures of significant American Revolutionary figures. ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $325-500