{"product_id":"caleb-strong-1805-massachusetts-justice-of-the-peace-commission-for-maine-with-great-seal","title":"Caleb Strong — 1805 Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Commission for Maine with Great Seal","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eImpressive original Massachusetts judicial commission signed \u003cstrong\u003e“Caleb Strong”\u003c\/strong\u003e by Founding-era statesman and Governor \u003cstrong\u003eCaleb Strong\u003c\/strong\u003e, appointing \u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Allen Jr. of New Gloucester as a justice of the peace for Cumberland County\u003c\/strong\u003e. Issued at Boston on January 18, 1805, for a term of seven years.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew Gloucester was then part of Massachusetts, nearly fifteen years before Maine achieved statehood. The commission empowered Allen to preserve the public peace, hear complaints, investigate thefts, trespasses, riots and unlawful assemblies, require bonds for good behavior, and commit offenders to jail when warranted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is countersigned by \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Avery Jr.\u003c\/strong\u003e, longtime secretary of the Commonwealth. Its reverse contains Allen’s oath-of-office certification, apparently witnessed by Massachusetts Governor’s Council members \u003cstrong\u003eSalem Towne and Artemas Ward\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaleb Strong represented Massachusetts at the Constitutional Convention, participated in the state’s ratifying convention, served as one of its first United States senators, and held the governorship for eleven years. His long public career extended from the American Revolution through the War of 1812.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe commission retains its large and visually impressive embossed Massachusetts seal bearing the Commonwealth’s Native American figure and arm-and-sword crest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpected folds, moderate toning, scattered staining, several small fold holes and short edge tears. Strong’s signature, Avery’s countersignature, reverse certification, and embossed state seal remain well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eHistorical significance\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaleb Strong (1745–1819)\u003c\/strong\u003e was an important Founding-era statesman:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDelegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMember of the Massachusetts convention that ratified the Constitution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of Massachusetts’s first United States senators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGovernor of Massachusetts from 1800–1807 and again from 1812–1816\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Avery Jr. (1739–1806)\u003c\/strong\u003e served for many years as secretary of Massachusetts. He was secretary of the Commonwealth when Massachusetts commissioned its delegation—including Caleb Strong—to attend the Constitutional Convention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThe signatures on the reverse appear to include \u003cstrong\u003eSalem Towne\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eArtemas Ward\u003c\/strong\u003e, identified as members of the Governor’s Council. Further handwriting comparison is warranted before advertising the reverse names as fully authenticated signatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document empowered Allen to preserve the peace, hear complaints, punish violations, require security for good behavior, commit offenders to jail, and participate with other justices in hearing cases involving thefts, trespasses, riots, unlawful assemblies, and other offenses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is an attractive example despite expected wear:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple original folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModerate toning and scattered staining\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdge wear and several short tears\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA few small fold holes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor old paper or adhesive remnants on the reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong printed text and generally legible manuscript\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaleb Strong’s signature is large and clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJohn Avery’s signature is well preserved\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe unusually large embossed seal remains substantially complete with only minor losses to its pointed border\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surviving seal is a significant positive feature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52737657110810,"sku":null,"price":795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2474.jpg?v=1787588051","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/caleb-strong-1805-massachusetts-justice-of-the-peace-commission-for-maine-with-great-seal","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}