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MESHECH WEARE Signed Land Deed, 1769

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Autographs

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Meshech Weare Signed Colonial Document

MESHECH WEARE, "Governor" of New Hampshire and Signer of Colonial Currency.
October 4, 1769, Autograph Document Signed, "Meshech Weare", regarding a Land deed, New Hampshire, one page, 12.5" x 7.5", Fine. Meshech Weare was the first "President" of NH. He served from 1776 to 1785. The term "President of the State of New Hampshire" was the official styling of the position, until 1791, when the New Hampshire Constitution was amended to replace "President" with "Governor."

Meshech Weare (1713-1786) was the first "Governor" of New Hampshire under its first constitution. On January 5, 1776, New Hampshire became the first American state to adopt a formal constitution. Meshech Weare was a leader in the drafting of this document, which served as the basic instrument of government until the adoption of a second and more permanent constitution in 1784. Under this first constitution, there was no established executive, and the legislature was supreme. In practice, however, executive power was delegated to a Committee of Safety, consisting of eight or ten legislative leaders. This committee had full power to act on behalf of the government while the legislature was not in session. After a brief interval, Weare was elected chairman of the Committee of Safety and served in this capacity through out the Revolution. Because the state had no chief executive, Weare, as Chairman of the Committee of Safety, could be considered the first Governor of New Hampshire. During 1786-1791, under the second constitution, the chief executive of New Hampshire was known as the President of New Hampshire, but the title was then changed to Governor. Previously, Weare had served in the Colonial House of Representatives of New Hampshire during the mid 1700's, sometimes as its Speaker. He was one of the signers of the July 1762 issue of New Hampshire currency. In the 1780's Jonathan Blanchard (1738-1788) was a State Senator, Member of the Continental Congress, and Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia.

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