Who said you can't find anything good in the Stamporama auctions?

Here is what I found (and bought) in a recent auction right here:



I have always wanted to have an example of revenue stamped paper from the 18th Century. This one, a promissory note from September 1799 qualified quite nicely.

I figured that in 1799 a $2,000.00 promissory note was nothing to sneeze at. In 2016 money, it would equate out to be about $34,000.00, so those involved in this financial transaction must have had some money. The names are well known in Philadelphia as are the families and their histories. Right now, I think I can conclude that both men personally knew and were friends with Alexander Hamilton. They also knew George Washington, but how well they knew him and what their relationship was with Washington I do not know.

Here's a brief note on Anthony Morris who borrowed the money:

"Capt. Samuel's son, Anthony, merchant, b. in Philadelphia in 1766; d. in Washington, D. C., 6 Nov., 1860, was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1783, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He subsequently became a merchant, and was extensively engaged in the East India trade. In 1793 he was speaker of the Pennsylvania senate, and because as such he signed the bill providing for troops to suppress the Whiskey rebellion, he was disowned by the Quaker meeting, of which he was a member. During the administration of President Madison he was sent by the latter on a special mission to Spain, where he remained nearly two years. In 1800-'6 he was a director of the Bank of North America, and from 1806 till 1817 a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania."

Miers Fisher, an attorney, and Samuel Fisher were members of a Philadelphia firm of merchants. The Fishers were involved in an equity suit against the “Council of Proprietors of East Jersey & the Heirs & Representatives of James Alexander & Robert Hunter Morris.” In 1795 they asked Alexander Hamilton to serve as their counsel before the Circuit Court of the United States. It looks like Hamilton might have declined to do that. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of the US in 1800.

This has turned out to be an very interesting piece full of historical leads to a couple of people and events in the early years of the United States. I can't wait to dig deeper into all this and see what else I might find.

 
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re: Revenue Stamped Paper

Just dawned on me that they probably very well knew Franklin too. Among their other mercantile adventures, the Morris' also ran the largest brewery in Philadelphia.

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re: Revenue Stamped Paper

That is awesome Michael!! I had a similar discovery in a lot of bank checks (most with R15 on them) I bought a few years back. I bought the lot because they were all from my hometown of Easton, Maryland in Talbot County. I did research on them and found one that stood out. A $2000 check made out to a Chas H. Gibson in 1870 from M.M.Dawson. As you can see Charles Gibson's signature is on the back.
M.M. Dawson was the president of Easton National Bank.

From Wikipedia - Charles Hopper Gibson (January 19, 1842 – March 31, 1900) was a U. S. Senator from Maryland, serving from 1891–1897. He also served as a U.S. Congressman from 1885–1891.

Gibson was born near Centreville, Maryland, and attended the Centreville Academy and the Archer School in Harford County. He graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, engaged in the study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1864, commencing practice in Easton, Maryland.

President Andrew Johnson appointed Gibson as collector of internal revenue for the Maryland Eastern Shore district in 1867, but Gibson was not confirmed. He became auditor and commissioner in chancery in 1869 and resigned in 1870 to accept the appointment of State’s attorney for Talbot County, Maryland, serving from 1871 until 1875.

Gibson was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-first Congresses from Maryland's 1st congressional district, serving from March 4, 1885 until March 3, 1891, but was not a candidate for reelection in 1890. He was appointed and subsequently elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Ephraim King Wilson II, and served in that position from November 19, 1891 until March 3, 1897. As senator, Gibson served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (Fifty-third Congress).

After his service as U.S. senator, Gibson resumed the practice of law, and later died in Washington, D.C. in 1900. He is interred in Chesterfield Cemetery in his home town of Centreville.

 
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re: Revenue Stamped Paper

Les, we often say if pictures could talk. Well, sometimes our little pieces of paper talk quite a bit! Great find on that check.

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vinman

10 May 2016
10:50:34pm

re: Revenue Stamped Paper

Nice finds Michael and Bluparrot,
That's one of the things I like about this hobby, learning history about the people on our covers and other ephemera.
Vince

 
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BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
08 Jul 2016
09:04:00am

re: Revenue Stamped Paper

 
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