(1737-1793) American Revolutionary politician and first signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of the Continental Congress and two-time Governor of Massachusetts. JOHN HANCOCK SEEKS TO SETTLE THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN NEW YORK AND MASSACHUSETTS - AN AGREEMENT WITH FAR-REACHING REPERCUSSIONS A signed letter of great American historical significance written by Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts, 2pp. 4to., Boston, Oct. 31, 1783 to New York Governor and future Vice President to Thomas Jefferson, GEORGE CLINTON (1739-1812). Excellent content shortly following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution. In part: '...In compliance with the request of the two Branches of the General Court, I have the honor to inclose Your Excellency an Attested Copy of their Resolve pass'd the late Session, relative to the Appointment of Commissioners for running & ascertaining the dividing Line between the State of New York & the unappropriated Land belonging to this Commonwealth lying to the Westward of Hudson's River. Our General Court have appointed three Gentlemen... to affect this Business, & I am to request that Your Excellency will be pleased to lay this matter before your General Assembly & I cannot but flatter myself they will adopt effectual measures for a speedy Settlement of these boundaries... our General Court are dispos'd to Cede a part of their unappropriated Lands agreeably to the Recommendation of Congress, but it is necessary that previous to that, the precise Line of boundary should be Settled, & the sooner it is effected, the sooner we shall be able to comply with the recommendation of Congress...' Executed with a beautiful, large Hancock signature and in overall fine condition. This letter reflects the early challenges faced by the new nation regarding state land claims and it led directly to the 1786 Treaty of Hartford. That treaty granted New York sovereignty over the six million acres of land in dispute; i,e.: Massachusetts relinquished its claim to the government and jurisdiction of the land, officially recognizing the territory as part of New York State. Massachusetts meanwhile received the 'preemption right' to sell and purchase the land from the Iroquois Confederacy (mainly the Seneca). The treaty also ensured Massachusetts citizens had the same rights as New York citizens to navigate and fish in Lake Ontario, a very valuable commodity at the time. Additionally, the agreement established a 'preemption line' running from the Pennsylvania border north to Lake Ontario, defining the boundary of this land deal and firmly setting the boundary between the two states. The treaty was actually called into play in 1926 in Massachusetts v. New York, 271 U.S. 65 (1926), a Supreme Court case where Massachusetts sought to claim ownership of land along the Lake Ontario shore in Rochester, NY, based on historical, pre-Revolutionary rights. The Court ruled against Massachusetts, holding that the 1786 Treaty of Hartford ceded all property rights to New York, and Massachusetts retained no title to the shoreline. A truly important early American document.