Second Seminole War (1835-1842) military appointment commission document signed by President Martin Van Buren and Secretary of War Joel Roberts Poinsett, dated February 20, 1840, conferring the rank of Major of the First Regiment of Infantry to Brevet Major Greenleaf Dearborn. 17 1/2" H x 13 3/4" W. Provenance: The Estate of Charles Boyd Coleman, Jr., Chattanooga, TN. Descended in the family of Greenleaf Dearborn, nephew of Henry Dearborn (1751-1829). Greenleaf Dearborn - alternate spelling Greenlief - was born in Monmouth, ME, on August 7, 1786 to Simon Dearborn, nephew of Henry Dearborn, and Molly Blake. Greenleaf married Pamela Augusta Gilman, granddaughter of Henry Dearborn, on April 2, 1822 and had 4 children. Dearborn, as Captain of the Second Regiment of Infantry, was promoted to Major by Brevet July 1, 1846, and Major of the First Regiment of Infantry, February 20, 1840. As Major he commanded troops in the Second Seminole War, including Camp Townsend, Lowndes County, GA. He passed away on September 9, 1846 in Brattleboro, VT. His daughter, Annette Maria Dearborn Boyd, great grandaughter of Henry Dearborn on her mother's side, was married to Charles Harrod Boyd; they had four children including Julia Wingate Boyd (who married Lewis M. Coleman, Jr., a descendent of fourth U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall). Source: "The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder", Vol. 3 by S.M. Watson, 1886; see multiple lots related to this family in this auction. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Overall good condition. Signatures in strong, clear condition. Scuffs and toning, surface of sheet. Two 4" fold lines forming "V" shape, top left of sheet.