{"product_id":"james-hoban-and-william-thornton-signed-1815-washington-d-c-land-indenture-architects-of-the-white-house-and-u-s-capitol","title":"James Hoban and William Thornton Signed 1815 Washington, D.C. Land Indenture — Architects of the White House and U.S. Capitol","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional early Washington, D.C., real-estate indenture signed by \u003cstrong\u003eJames Hoban\u003c\/strong\u003e, architect and builder of the White House, and officially acknowledged by \u003cstrong\u003eDr. William Thornton\u003c\/strong\u003e, designer of the United States Capitol, and \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Brent\u003c\/strong\u003e, the first mayor of Washington.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated September 14, 1815, the manuscript records a long-term lease from James Hoban to Joyquan, or possibly Joyjuan, Webster of Washington. The property comprised part of Lot No. 5 in Square No. 225, specifically described as the portion lying between the tavern known as the Washington Hotel and property belonging to James Patterson. The lease was granted for 99 years, renewable for additional 99-year terms, at an annual rent of approximately $121.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is boldly signed and sealed by \u003cstrong\u003e“James Hoban”\u003c\/strong\u003e and the lessee. Its legal acknowledgment is signed by \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Brent\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Thornton\u003c\/strong\u003e, acting as justices of the peace for Washington County in the District of Columbia. The reverse bears its contemporary recording memorandum dated December 18, 1815.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJames Hoban won the 1792 competition to design the President’s House and supervised both its original construction and its rebuilding after the British burning of Washington in 1814. William Thornton’s design for the United States Capitol was accepted by President George Washington in 1793. Robert Brent, a prominent early Washington landowner and public official, became the capital’s first mayor in 1802. \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehousehistory.org\/press-room\/press-releases\/james-hoban-designer-and-builder-of-the-white-house-by-stewart-d-mclaurin?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eWhite House Historical Association\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aoc.gov\/about-us\/history\/architects-of-the-capitol\/william-thornton?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003eArchitect of the Capitol\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rare manuscript uniting three foundational figures in the architectural and civic development of Washington, D.C.—the designers of the White House and Capitol and the city’s first mayor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original folds with fold separations, edge wear, toning, and several old transparent-tape repairs. Manuscript writing and principal signatures remain legible and visually strong. Sold as shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eSigned by three notable figures associated with the creation of the nation’s capital:\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJames Hoban (c. 1755–1831)\u003c\/strong\u003e — architect and builder of the White House.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr. William Thornton (1759–1828)\u003c\/strong\u003e — designer and first architect of the United States Capitol.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRobert Brent (1764–1819)\u003c\/strong\u003e — first mayor of Washington, D.C., serving from 1802 to 1812.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is a 99-year lease from James Hoban to a man whose name appears to be \u003cstrong\u003eJoyquan [possibly Joyjuan] Webster\u003c\/strong\u003e, described as a resident of the City of Washington.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProperty\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lease covers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePart of \u003cstrong\u003eLot No. 5 in Square No. 225\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocated in the City of Washington\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe portion of the lot lying between the tavern called the \u003cstrong\u003eWashington Hotel\u003c\/strong\u003e and the property of \u003cstrong\u003eJames Patterson\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnnual ground rent of approximately \u003cstrong\u003e$121\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRenewable at the end of each 99-year term\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe earlier lease is specifically referenced as recorded in Washington County land records, Liber A, No. 26, folios 167–169.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSquare 225 was part of the important early commercial area of Washington. Historical property research places it near the early Washington Hotel\/Lovell’s Tavern vicinity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSignatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lease is signed and sealed:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Hoban\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoyquan\/Joyjuan Webster\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was witnessed or legally acknowledged by:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRobert Brent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Thornton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThornton and Brent appear in their official capacity as justices of the peace for Washington County. A further docket notation records the document on December 18, 1815, in Liber A, No. 35, folios 375–376.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is considerably more desirable than an isolated Hoban signature because the document concerns property in the developing federal city and brings together the architect of the White House, the architect of the Capitol, and Washington’s first mayor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original laid-paper document retains strong manuscript writing and generally bold signatures. It has:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExtensive original folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral fold separations and edge splits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld transparent tape repairs, including tape near the docket panel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral toning and handling wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome ink reinforcement or heavier ink in the Webster signature area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo seals presently visible beyond drawn or embossed seal devices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe condition is compromised but acceptable for a working Washington land document of this period. The tape should be evaluated by a paper conservator and not removed without professional treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52733380788506,"sku":null,"price":4950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2389.jpg?v=1787429574","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/james-hoban-and-william-thornton-signed-1815-washington-d-c-land-indenture-architects-of-the-white-house-and-u-s-capitol","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}