American Revolution
1788 Likely Unique WILLIAM ELLERY Continental Congress Rhode Island Loan Office Fiscal Interest Payment Form
(WILLIAM ELLERY) (1727 - 1820). Signer of the Declaration of Independence for Rhode Island,"Son of Liberty," 1776 Delegate to the Continental Congress from Rhode Island and on its Marine Committee, Naval Officer for the Colony and appointed Continental Congress Loan Office Commissioner for the State, etc.
Not Listed in Anderson. Previously Unknown and Likely Unique Early American. November 18, 1788-Dated, Federal Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, "Sylvester Wickes for Mary Wickes," 1 page, measuring 6.5" x 3.5", Choice Extremely Fine. Printed with William Ellery as Continental Loan Officer who has issued a Continental Loan Interest payment of $65 and 89/90 to Mary Wickes, signed as receiving interest by Sylvester Wickes. This is the only and first example of this Unique Continental Loan Office form we have ever encountered and to our best knowledge is unrecorded and previously unknown. It is thus an exceedingly historic and important example for specialists in this early American Fiscal Paper field of collecting. This Document is in excellent overall quality. The text and border designs are well centered, boldly printed in sharp black upon fresh, clean period laid paper and with four full large margins. This discovery piece reads as follows, in full:
"No. 172 -- RECEIVED OF WILLIAM ELLERY, CONTINENTAL LOAN-OFFICER, IN THE STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND & PROVIDENCE-PLANTATIONS, Sixty Five --- Dollars 89/90 being in full for Interest to the 31St Day of December, 1786 - On Sundry Loan-Office Certificates, amounting to One Hundred and Sixty Seven - Dollars, 90 Specie Value, as per Account of Interest Settled, No. 172 - and for which I have signed another Receipt of this Tenor and Date. --- WITNESS MY HAND, this 18th November 1788 for Mary Wickes - Sylvester Wicks"
WILLIAM ELLERY, was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Newport, Rhode Island. He was appointed Commissioner of the Continental Loan office for Rhode Island in 1786, and was for a short period, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island State Superior Court. From 1790 until his death, Ellery was the Federal Collector of Newport. An extraordinary, UNIQUE DISCOVER PIECE.