{"product_id":"1793-robert-morris-174-428-acre-land-indenture-signed-by-declaration-signer-thomas-mckean-and-constitution-signer-thomas-mifflin","title":"1793 Robert Morris 174,428-Acre Land Indenture — Signed by Declaration Signer Thomas McKean and Constitution Signer Thomas Mifflin","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn extraordinary, monumental American Founding-era indenture on vellum (28 x 20) documenting the transfer of approximately \u003cstrong\u003e174,428 acres of South Carolina land to Robert Morris\u003c\/strong\u003e, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and United States Constitution and renowned “Financier of the American Revolution.”\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExecuted December 13, 1793, the indenture records a lease from Georgia physician and land speculator Dr. John Hall to “Robert Morris the Younger” of Philadelphia. The enormous property portfolio comprised approximately 161,628 acres in South Carolina’s Orangeburgh District and another 12,800 acres in the District of Ninety-Six. Scores of plantations and tracts situated around the Edisto and Savannah rivers are individually identified in the lengthy handwritten text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe transaction dates from the height of Morris’s vast and ultimately disastrous speculation in American frontier and Southern lands. Having accumulated more than six million acres, Morris became one of the largest private landowners in American history. The collapse of this highly leveraged land empire following the Panic of 1797 eventually resulted in his bankruptcy and imprisonment for debt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document bears an exceptional group of original Founding-era signatures and seals. Dr. John Hall signs as grantor beside his red wax seal. \u003cstrong\u003eThomas McKean\u003c\/strong\u003e, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, signs the acknowledgment beside a second red wax seal. \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Mifflin\u003c\/strong\u003e, Revolutionary War major general, signer of the United States Constitution and first governor of Pennsylvania, signs the document twice. \u003cstrong\u003eAlexander J. Dallas\u003c\/strong\u003e, Pennsylvania secretary and future United States Secretary of the Treasury, also signs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost impressively, the original pendant \u003cstrong\u003eGreat Seal of Pennsylvania\u003c\/strong\u003e remains attached by its pink ribbon. The large cream-colored paper seal retains a strongly embossed central state device and decorative starburst border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately 23½ × 45 inches when opened. Contemporary docketing on the reverse reads, in part, “Lease for One Year, Doctr. John Hall to Robert Morris Junr. Esquire,” followed by the acreage totals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good for an American vellum instrument of this extraordinary size and age. Expected original storage folds, general wrinkling and scattered toning, soiling and staining, particularly on the folded docket panel. Ink is generally strong and legible. The two red wax seals show some cracking and small losses but remain largely intact. The large pendant paper seal has creasing, edge tears and losses to several decorative points but retains its principal embossed design. Original ribbon attachment remains present. No major loss affecting the essential text or signatures. Please examine all photographs carefully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA museum-worthy primary document uniting Robert Morris’s legendary land speculation with the signatures of Declaration signer Thomas McKean, Constitution signer Thomas Mifflin and future Treasury Secretary Alexander J. Dallas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore info...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe document is dated \u003cstrong\u003eDecember 13, 1793\u003c\/strong\u003e, and records a one-year lease from \u003cstrong\u003eDr. John Hall of Georgia\u003c\/strong\u003e to “Robert Morris the Younger” of Philadelphia. “Junior” or “the Younger” was the designation commonly used by the famous Founding Father Robert Morris, not his son.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"\"\u003eProperty conveyed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse docket summarizes the immense landholding as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e161,628 acres\u003c\/strong\u003e in the District of Orangeburgh, South Carolina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12,800 acres\u003c\/strong\u003e in the District of Ninety-Six, South Carolina\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal: 174,428 acres\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body enumerates scores of plantations and tracts situated around the Edisto and Savannah rivers and elsewhere in South Carolina. The consideration stated for the one-year lease is five shillings, the customary nominal payment used in a lease-and-release conveyance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis transaction occurred at the height of Morris’s enormous post-Revolutionary land-speculation program. He eventually accumulated more than six million acres, making him arguably the largest private landowner in American history. The failure of these speculative ventures contributed directly to his bankruptcy and imprisonment for debt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImportant signatures and seals\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document contains an exceptional group of Founding-era signatures:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRobert Morris (1734–1806)\u003c\/strong\u003e — named as purchaser, although he did not sign the instrument\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr. John Hall\u003c\/strong\u003e — original signature as grantor, with red wax seal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThomas Mifflin (1744–1800)\u003c\/strong\u003e — signed twice as Governor of Pennsylvania; Revolutionary War major general, president of the Continental Congress, signer of the Constitution and Pennsylvania’s first governor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThomas McKean (1734–1817)\u003c\/strong\u003e — original signature and red wax seal as Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; signer of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation and later governor of Pennsylvania\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlexander J. Dallas (1759–1817)\u003c\/strong\u003e — signed as Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth; later United States attorney, Secretary of the Treasury and acting Secretary of War and State.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWitnesses \u003cstrong\u003eCatharine Baker and George A. Baker\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA large pendant \u003cstrong\u003eGreat Seal of Pennsylvania\u003c\/strong\u003e, attached by its original pink ribbon, remains substantially intact. Two additional red wax seals are present beside the Hall and McKean signatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas McKean acknowledged Hall’s execution of the document on December 21, 1793. Governor Mifflin subsequently authenticated McKean’s authority under Pennsylvania’s Great Seal in March 1794, with Alexander J. Dallas acting as secretary.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52810750099738,"sku":null,"price":5243.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2954.jpg?v=1788708397","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/en-ca\/products\/1793-robert-morris-174-428-acre-land-indenture-signed-by-declaration-signer-thomas-mckean-and-constitution-signer-thomas-mifflin","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}