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HANCOCK, JOHN

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2. JOHN HANCOCK Good content A.D.S. 1p. oblong 8vo., Boston, July 28, 1766, a sight draft relative to his provisioning of the British troops stationed in Nova Scotia addressed to "Matthew Woodford Est at Southampton". Hancock writes in full: "Sir At Thirty Days Sight of this my Third Bill / First & Second of same Tenor & Date unpaid / please to pay to Mesrs. Harrison & Barnard Merchts. in London on their order Three Hundred & Ten pounds eighteen shilling & seven pence 1/2 sterling being for Sixteen Thousand five Hundred & Eighty three Rations of Troops of Provis. Issued by me to the Troops in Nova Scotia for the contract I hold under you as & Victualling Lists Transmitted you by this Opporty from 17 Febry to 11 May 1766 I am Sir your most Obet. humbl Sevt. John Hancock" Just two years previously, Hancock's uncle Thomas died, leaving John as the head of Boston's leading mercantile house and a fortune worth £70,000. John himself was an indifferent merchant, but was already becoming very prominent in the protests against the Stamp Act and other Parliamentary measures. Thomas Hancock & Company had made a fortune as suppliers to all British forces in Nova Scotia from 1746 onwards. Partial horizontal fold separation repaired on verso, a bit of ink erosion in center of "H" in "Hancock", otherwise very good condition. $4,000-6,000

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