Autographs
NH. Land Sale Document Signed by "Meshech Weare"
MESHECH WEARE (1713-1786). "President" (Governor) of New Hampshire from 1776 to 1785, Chairman of the Revolutionary War Committee of Safety, and Signer of Colonial Currency.
January 14th, 1754-Dated French and Indian War Period, Handwritten Manuscript Land Sale Document Signed, "Meshech Weare" as Justice at the formal deed signing. It is well written in rich clear brown ink on clean watermarked period laid paper, at Hampton Falls, Province of New Hampshire, Very Fine. The tract of Land is sold for "the Just Sum of One Hundred Pound in Bills of Credit of the Old Tenor to Ye in hand Paid before the Delivery...". Other Signers on this Document include; John French & Comfort French (her Mark), witnessed by Samuel Philbrick and Abner Philbrick. Measures 8.5" x 12" in size with expected age including wear along some fold lines. Scarce being so attractive, well presented and preserved. The bold signature "Meshech Weare" measures 2.25" long.
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, Meshech 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.