Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
1786 Chester, PA, Signed Petition by Eight Judges Supporting a Fellow Judge
c. 1786, Post-Revolutionary War Period, Rare Manuscript Document Legal Petition Signed by Eight Judges, all Supporting the Continued Service of a Fellow Judge so he is not removed from the Bench, Caleb Davis, Choice Extremely Fine.
A highly unusual serious and attractive Manuscript Document Petition, Signed by Eight Judges in response to a Petition to have Caleb Davis, "Prothonotary" (or fellow Judge) removed from the Court of Common Please of Chester County, PA. c. 1786 (undated), being 1 page, measuring about 10-1/4" x 7-5/8" beautifully written in rich brown on fine laid period paper, boldly Signed by eight noted judges, with two official red wax and paper Embossed Seals of the State of Pennsylvania at top left and lower left.
In 1786, an attempt was made top move the Court from Chester, PA, being on the extreme edge of the county, to relocate to a more central location. From this attempt arose two factions: the "Removalists" and those who wished the Court to stay where it was. Caleb Davis was in favor of the removal, hence the petition against him. The group of eight judges who signed this Counter-Petition were men of power and influence. William Clingan, who was the first to sign, was the Chief Judge of the Court. Persifor Frazer, who signed at the bottom, rose to the rank of Brigadier General Pennsylvania Militia in 1782. John Culbertson was a Major in the Pennsylvania Militia until 1780. George Pierce was a Captain in the Chester County Militia from 1776-1777. Because of the intervention of these brave men, Caleb Davis kept his position. This attractive, interesting document is accompanied by a photocopied portion of the 1881 "History of Chester County, Pennsylvania" by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope.