James Hoban, Architect of the White House — 1830 Bank of the United States Property Release
An important original 1830 Washington, D.C., manuscript documenting the private financial and real-estate affairs of James Hoban, the Irish-born architect and builder of the White House.
Dated May 11, 1830, the deed of release records Hoban’s complete repayment of a $1,500 loan made through the Washington Office of Discount and Deposit of the Second Bank of the United States. The obligation had been secured by a deed of trust conveying Lot No. 5 in Square No. 491 in Washington, together with all buildings, improvements and appurtenances.
Following payment of the principal and interest, bank cashier and trustee Richard Smith formally released and reconveyed the property to Hoban and his heirs. The manuscript repeatedly names “James Hoban, of the City of Washington,” and the reverse bears the prominent contemporary docket title:
“Richd Smith to J. Release of Deed of Trust — James Hoban.”
The instrument is signed and sealed by Richard Smith, cashier of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, and bears contemporary witness, judicial and recording endorsements. It was acknowledged on May 12 and entered into the Washington County land records on May 13, 1830.
Hoban won the 1792 competition to design the President’s House and supervised both its original construction and its rebuilding after the British burned Washington in 1814. Dating from approximately eighteen months before his death, this document provides an unusually direct record of Hoban’s personal finances and Washington property ownership late in his life.
Please note: This document concerns James Hoban but is not signed by him. The principal execution signature is that of Richard Smith.
Condition: Original folds, light toning, minor edge wear and several small fold separations. Manuscript writing, docketing and signatures remain clear and well preserved.
Transaction details
- Date of release: May 11, 1830
- Acknowledged: May 12, 1830
- Recorded: May 13, 1830
- Borrower/property owner: James Hoban of Washington, D.C.
- Creditor: President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States
- Bank representative: Richard Smith, cashier
- Original loan: $1,500
- Original note: August 25, 1829
- Deed of trust: Approximately September 8, 1829
- Property: Lot No. 5 in Square No. 491, Washington, D.C., including its improvements and appurtenances
- Earlier recording: Liber W.B. No. 27, folios 49–54
- Release recording: Liber W.B. No. 30, folios 189–191
The release declares that Hoban had fully paid the principal and interest and therefore reconveys the property to him “for ever, to his and their only proper use and behoof.”
Richard Smith served as cashier of the Washington branch of the Second Bank of the United States from 1816 to 1836. He handled financial business for prominent Washington residents, including President James Monroe. Papers of James Monroe Papers of Bushrod Washington
Signatures and endorsements
The instrument is signed and sealed:
- “Rd Smith” — Richard Smith, cashier and trustee
- Witness signatures appear to include Washington Beck and another individual whose name is difficult to determine from the photographs.
- The acknowledgment is signed by two Washington County justices of the peace; their names require additional comparison before being positively identified.
- Recorder’s endorsement signed Wm. Brent, apparently William Brent, clerk/recorder.
The large docket title reads approximately:
“Richd Smith to J. Release of Deed of Trust — James Hoban.”
That prominent docket reference gives the document strong visual identification with Hoban even though he did not sign it.
Historical significance
The document dates from the final eighteen months of Hoban’s life. In 1830 he remained one of Washington’s leading property owners, builders and civic figures. He had designed the White House, supervised its original construction, and directed its reconstruction following the British burning in 1814. The document provides direct evidence of his private finances and Washington real-estate holdings late in his career. White House Historical Association
It also connects Hoban with the Second Bank of the United States, one of the central institutions in the political and financial controversies of the Jacksonian era.
Condition
The multiple-page manuscript is in comparatively good condition:
- Original mailing and filing folds
- Light, even toning
- Minor edge wear and small marginal splits
- A few short fold separations
- Writing remains clear and legible
- Richard Smith’s signature and seal device remain strong
- No substantial paper loss evident in the photographs
The condition is substantially better than that of the 1815 Hoban lease previously examined.
Value
Because Hoban did not sign the document, it should be valued as an important manuscript relating to him, rather than as a James Hoban autograph.
- Likely auction value: $600–$1,000
- Dealer retail range: $1,200–$1,750
- Recommended asking price: $1,495
- Probable negotiated sale: $1,000–$1,250
An important original 1830 Washington, D.C., manuscript documenting the private financial and real-estate affairs of James Hoban, the Irish-born architect and builder of the White House.
Dated May 11, 1830, the deed of release records Hoban’s complete repayment of a $1,500 loan made through the Washington Office of Discount and Deposit of the Second Bank of the United States. The obligation had been secured by a deed of trust conveying Lot No. 5 in Square No. 491 in Washington, together with all buildings, improvements and appurtenances.
Following payment of the principal and interest, bank cashier and trustee Richard Smith formally released and reconveyed the property to Hoban and his heirs. The manuscript repeatedly names “James Hoban, of the City of Washington,” and the reverse bears the prominent contemporary docket title:
“Richd Smith to J. Release of Deed of Trust — James Hoban.”
The instrument is signed and sealed by Richard Smith, cashier of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, and bears contemporary witness, judicial and recording endorsements. It was acknowledged on May 12 and entered into the Washington County land records on May 13, 1830.
Hoban won the 1792 competition to design the President’s House and supervised both its original construction and its rebuilding after the British burned Washington in 1814. Dating from approximately eighteen months before his death, this document provides an unusually direct record of Hoban’s personal finances and Washington property ownership late in his life.
Please note: This document concerns James Hoban but is not signed by him. The principal execution signature is that of Richard Smith.
Condition: Original folds, light toning, minor edge wear and several small fold separations. Manuscript writing, docketing and signatures remain clear and well preserved.
Transaction details
- Date of release: May 11, 1830
- Acknowledged: May 12, 1830
- Recorded: May 13, 1830
- Borrower/property owner: James Hoban of Washington, D.C.
- Creditor: President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States
- Bank representative: Richard Smith, cashier
- Original loan: $1,500
- Original note: August 25, 1829
- Deed of trust: Approximately September 8, 1829
- Property: Lot No. 5 in Square No. 491, Washington, D.C., including its improvements and appurtenances
- Earlier recording: Liber W.B. No. 27, folios 49–54
- Release recording: Liber W.B. No. 30, folios 189–191
The release declares that Hoban had fully paid the principal and interest and therefore reconveys the property to him “for ever, to his and their only proper use and behoof.”
Richard Smith served as cashier of the Washington branch of the Second Bank of the United States from 1816 to 1836. He handled financial business for prominent Washington residents, including President James Monroe. Papers of James Monroe Papers of Bushrod Washington
Signatures and endorsements
The instrument is signed and sealed:
- “Rd Smith” — Richard Smith, cashier and trustee
- Witness signatures appear to include Washington Beck and another individual whose name is difficult to determine from the photographs.
- The acknowledgment is signed by two Washington County justices of the peace; their names require additional comparison before being positively identified.
- Recorder’s endorsement signed Wm. Brent, apparently William Brent, clerk/recorder.
The large docket title reads approximately:
“Richd Smith to J. Release of Deed of Trust — James Hoban.”
That prominent docket reference gives the document strong visual identification with Hoban even though he did not sign it.
Historical significance
The document dates from the final eighteen months of Hoban’s life. In 1830 he remained one of Washington’s leading property owners, builders and civic figures. He had designed the White House, supervised its original construction, and directed its reconstruction following the British burning in 1814. The document provides direct evidence of his private finances and Washington real-estate holdings late in his career. White House Historical Association
It also connects Hoban with the Second Bank of the United States, one of the central institutions in the political and financial controversies of the Jacksonian era.
Condition
The multiple-page manuscript is in comparatively good condition:
- Original mailing and filing folds
- Light, even toning
- Minor edge wear and small marginal splits
- A few short fold separations
- Writing remains clear and legible
- Richard Smith’s signature and seal device remain strong
- No substantial paper loss evident in the photographs
The condition is substantially better than that of the 1815 Hoban lease previously examined.
Value
Because Hoban did not sign the document, it should be valued as an important manuscript relating to him, rather than as a James Hoban autograph.
- Likely auction value: $600–$1,000
- Dealer retail range: $1,200–$1,750
- Recommended asking price: $1,495
- Probable negotiated sale: $1,000–$1,250
