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MESHECH WEARE, 1777 Document Signed

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American Revolution

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1777 Dated Revolutionary War Pay Document Signed by the Revolutionary War Era "Governor" Of New Hampshire

MESHECH WEARE, "Governor" of New Hampshire and Signer of Colonial Currency.
August 21, 1777, Autograph Document Signed, "M. Weare Chr." This is an original Revolutionary War period New Hampshire state warrant, 1 page , 4" x 8", Very Fine. This scarce New Hampshire fiscal document reads in full:
"State of New Hamp. In Committee of Safety - Augt. 21st 1777 - To Nicholas Gilman Esqr. R.G. Sr. pay Jona. Blanchard Esqr. Twenty Pounds to be accounted for by him. - M Weare Chr."
Signed by Weare as Chairman of the Committee of Safety, this document authorizes a payment to Jonathan Blanchard, who had been an officer in the New Hampshire Militia since the 1760s and was at the time of this document, also a member of the Committee of Safety. Blanchard's endorsement signature appears on the back of the document. While in general colonial pay vouchers are not scarce in the marketplace, vouchers dated 1776 and 1777 command significant premiums, and New Hampshire vouchers are among the very scarcest and are rarely ever available. This first we have offered of this type. Hole cancellations not affecting signature, and some rumpling of the corners, otherwise this document is in great condition.

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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