Josiah Bartlett ADS Investigating Illegal Sale of Land in New Hampshire

An autograph document signed by Josiah Bartlett concerning a fraudulent tax case. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 6.5", [New Hampshire]; [February 5, 1780]. Signed by Bartlett "J Bartlett for Comte" as Head of the Committee on Taxes for New Hampshire. With flattened folds, mounted on a sheet of backing paper. Remnants of a typed description or clipping on verso. Uneven toning throughout with spots of soiling and staining. Boldly signed, very good overall.

The Committee was investigating an illegal sale of property, and Bartlett writes: "The committee on the Taxes laid on the lands of absentees Beg leave to report that the within account has been laid before them from Selectmen of Francestown by which it appears that the Constable has made a pretended sale of 320 acres of land for the Tax of 5:13:4:2 which sale has been represented to your Comtte as illegal…" 

Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795) was an American Founding Father, physician, statesman, delegate to the Continental Congress for New Hampshire, and a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation. In 1765 he was elected to Kingston's colonial assembly, and two years later he was made colonel of his county's militia, and Governor John Wentworth appointed him justice of the peace. Following the Revolutionary War, Bartlett was elected the first governor of New Hampshire and chief justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court of Judicature.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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