{"product_id":"1793-revolutionary-war-officer-george-ross-orders-wine-from-new-york-merchant-nicholas-low","title":"1793 Revolutionary War Officer George Ross Orders Wine from New York Merchant Nicholas Low","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eROSS, GEORGE (1740–1794).\u003c\/strong\u003e Autograph letter signed \u003cstrong\u003e“Geo: Ross,”\u003c\/strong\u003e Elizabethtown, New Jersey, February 4, 1793, to prominent New York merchant and financier \u003cstrong\u003eNicholas Low\u003c\/strong\u003e. One manuscript page with integral address leaf.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn engaging early American commercial letter in which Revolutionary War veteran George Ross orders another cask of wine from one of New York’s leading merchants—and disputes the cooper’s measurement of the previous shipment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoss writes that Low’s wine “is well approved of here” and asks for another cask of the same quality. To reduce expenses, he sends the previous container back with the bearer. Ross then reports that the cooper who gauged it “did not do you justice,” having marked its capacity as 26 gallons when Ross believed it held no more than 24¼.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe considers purchasing an entire pipe of wine but hesitates because of the practical difficulty of storing or selling such a large cask through the summer. Ross assures Low of payment every three months and asks that his order be filled before the bearer, Mr. Boardman, returns to Elizabethtown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Ross served as an ensign in the First New Jersey Regiment during the Revolutionary War and was stationed at Perth Amboy and Elizabethtown. He should not be confused with the Pennsylvania Declaration signer of the same name, who died in 1779.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe recipient, Nicholas Low, was a major New York merchant whose firm imported wine, West Indian goods, gunpowder, textiles and other commodities. A Federalist legislator and delegate to New York’s convention ratifying the United States Constitution, Low later became a substantial land developer; Lowville, New York, bears his name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA colorful document illustrating the wine trade, cask measurement, personal delivery and credit arrangements of the early American republic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginal mailing folds, toning, prominent water staining and a tear with small paper loss at the original seal opening. The manuscript and signature remain dark and readily legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe letter is dated \u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 4, 1793\u003c\/strong\u003e, and addressed to \u003cstrong\u003eNicholas Low (1739–1826)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a prominent New York merchant, financier, Federalist politician and land speculator. Ross orders wine from Low and complains that a previous cask was incorrectly gauged.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eImportant attribution\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e George Ross (1730–1779), the Pennsylvania signer of the Declaration of Independence. The signer died fourteen years before this letter was written.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe correct identification is almost certainly the Elizabethtown George Ross who lived from approximately 1740 to February 22, 1794. He served as an ensign in the First New Jersey Regiment and was stationed at Perth Amboy and Elizabethtown during the Revolutionary War. The place, date and handwriting all support this attribution. \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com\/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites\/towns\/elizabeth_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eGeorge Ross’s recorded New Jersey service\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRecipient\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicholas Low\u003c\/strong\u003e was one of New York’s leading post-Revolutionary merchants. He traded in wine, West Indian goods, Irish linens, salt, gunpowder and other commodities. He also:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eserved in the New York State Assembly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003erepresented New York City at the 1788 convention ratifying the Constitution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eserved as a director of the Bank of New York\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esupported the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edeveloped extensive landholdings in northern New York\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLowville, New York, was named for him. The Library of Congress holds a major collection of his surviving business and political papers. \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/tile.loc.gov\/storage-services\/service\/gdc\/gdcfindingaidpdfs\/ms012108\/ms012108.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eLibrary of Congress Nicholas Low Papers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTranscription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Town February 4, 1793—\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSir,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease to send me by the bearer another Cask of the same Wine I had of you last as it is well approved of here—if not the same, pray be careful that it be equally good; for which purpose I have sent you the same cask that contained the last in order to save expense—I must observe that the Cooper who gauged the Cask did not do you justice; he has marked 26 Gallons—it will not contain more than 24¼ Gallons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI should not hesitate to take at once a pipe of your Wine, but the person of the place would near hear to buy a Cask difficult to pass our Summer—agreeable to our Contract you will certainly get your payment once in every three months.—As I am entirely out of your Wine, I could wish my order complied with before Mr. Boardman who now calls for it returns and you’ll oblige\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSir\u003cbr\u003eYour hum. Servt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeo: Ross\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eN. Low Esq.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome wording in the paragraph concerning the “person of the place” remains uncertain and should be checked directly against the manuscript before publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe address panel reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicholas Low Esqr.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMerchant\u003cbr\u003eNew York\u003cbr\u003ewith Mr. Boardman\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical interest\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe letter provides an engaging glimpse into the early American wine trade. Ross:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eorders another cask of a wine popular in Elizabethtown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ereturns the original cask to reduce expenses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edisputes the cooper’s measurement\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecalculates its capacity at only \u003cstrong\u003e24¼ gallons rather than 26\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003econsiders purchasing an entire pipe of wine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ediscusses quarterly payment terms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003easks that the order be filled before Mr. Boardman returns to New Jersey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe content is especially appealing because Nicholas Low was a documented importer of wine and other overseas commodities. It also illustrates the importance of cask measurement, shipping containers, personal carriers and credit arrangements in commerce before railroads and modern packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne-page letter with integral address leaf. Original mailing folds, a sizable irregular water stain running through the central portion, general toning and scattered staining. The address leaf has a tear and small loss at the original seal opening. The writing remains dark and substantially legible, and the \u003cstrong\u003e“Geo: Ross”\u003c\/strong\u003e signature is clear.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52740936237338,"sku":null,"price":1194.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2514.jpg?v=1787659949","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/en-ca\/products\/1793-revolutionary-war-officer-george-ross-orders-wine-from-new-york-merchant-nicholas-low","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}