Description:

A. Lincoln Including 1st Afr. American Freed By Him in one of Most Important Cases, Lawyer Docs 7, 18 pp. Amazing 1842-59

This collection of seven documents comes from cases and legal matters in three counties where Abraham Lincoln regularly practiced law. Most involve debts and the settlement of estates.

Two of the documents involve the estate of Nathan Cromwell, whose sale of a black female led to one of Lincoln's most interesting cases. In 1836, David M. Bailey gave Nathan Cromwell a promissory note for $376.48 for an African American female indentured servant, and Cromwell promised to provide proof that she was a slave. After Cromwell died, his son William Cromwell and Alexander McNaghton, the administrators of Nathan Cromwell's estate sued Bailey for payment of the promissory note. Bailey retained the law firm of John T. Stuart and Abraham Lincoln, who argued that he did not owe the amount because Cromwell failed to provide proof of the woman's status as a slave. The Tazewell County Circuit Court ruled for Cromwell and McNaghton and awarded $431.97. Bailey appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, where Abraham Lincoln and his new partner Stephen T. Logan handled the appeal. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's judgment, ruling that the promissory note and the agreement to provide proof, made at the same time, were one contract. Because Cromwell did not provide the proof as promised, the contract was void because it lacked consideration. Nance Legins-Costley (1813-1892) was the first African American who secured her freedom with the assistance of Abraham Lincoln.

[ABRAHAM LINCOLN.] Archive of Legal Documents, 1842-1859, Illinois. 18 pp. Expected folds; some tears on folds; complete separation on one tear; edge chipping; general toning.

Contents and Excerpts
- Writ of Execution, October 20, 1842, in Tinney for the use of Goddin v. Richmond, Tazewell County Circuit Court; together with Valuer's Report, October 29, 1842, signed by sheriff. 8 pp., 7.75" x 12.25".
"Whereas William A. Tinney for the use of Archibald C. Goddin by his Attorneys Logan & Lincoln did on the 10th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two file in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for said County a mortgage deed which they wish to be foreclosed....
"And whereas upon which said Mortgage the Clerk of our Said Circuit Court issued a scire facias in due form of law & to foreclose said mortgage.
"And whereas afterwards to wit, at the September Term of our Circuit Court A.D. 1842 and on the fourth day of said September Term the following order was entered in said case....
"This day comes the plaintiff by his Attorneys Logan and Lincoln and the defendant having been regularly served with process was three times solemnly called but came not and made default The Court is therefore of the opinion that the plaintiff recover of the defendant the sum of nine hundred dollars the debt claimed by the plaintiff in the Mortgage deed mentioned and damages for the detention thereof but because those damages are unknown to the Court the Clerk is ordered to make an assessment thereof and he having assessed those damages to the sum of ninety three dollars and made his Report thereof in writing which is approved by the Court and ordered to be filed. It is therefore considered by the Court that the plaintiff recover of the defendant the damages aforesaid in the form aforesaid assessed and likewise the cost and charges by him about his suit expended....
"We therefore command you that of said above described lots or parcels of land aforesaid you cause to be made the sum of nine hundred dollars debt and ninety three dollars damages which William A. Tinney in our Circuit Court for said County on the nineteenth day of September, AD 1842 recovered against Braddock Richmond and likewise the further sum of Twelve dollars which was then and there adjudged to him for his costs and charges by him about his suit therein expended Whereof the said Braddock Richmond is convicted as appear to us of Record and hereof fail not but have that money ready in ninety days from date to render to the William A Tinney and make due return hereof as the law directs."
"State of Illinois, Tazewell County, We Josiah Sawyer, Benjamin F. James, & James Wilson do solemnly swear that we will fairly and impartially value the following property.... on which the annexed execution has been levied, having reference to its cash value. Sworn to before me Ben Briggs this 29th day of October 1842. Ben Briggs Sherif T. C.
"The undersigned valuers, appointed as above stated, and first sworn, do value the N.E. ¼ Section 5, Town 24, North Range 3 West at $12.00 per acre / 25 acres W ½, S. E. ¼, Sec. 2, T. 24, R 4. at $10.00 per acre."

- Account of William Cromwell, administrator of Nathan Cromwell, ca. 1842, Tazewell County. 2 pp., 7.75" x 9.5".
"1842 Paid Stuart & Lincoln for legal services 17 50"

- Account of William Cromwell, administrator of Nathan Cromwell, October 6, 1845, Tazewell County. 2 pp., 8" x 10".
"By amt pd Lamborn & Lincoln for legal services 10 00"

- Henry B. Shipley, Administrator's Report for Estate of Reason Shipley, April 3, 1850, Menard County Circuit Court. 1 p., 8.25" x 19.5".
"Credits claimed by accountant, as follows...
"By A Lincoln in case R Shipley vs. J. J. Robinson 5.00"
"The undersigned begs leave to report that in obedience to an order of this Court, he sold 140 acres of the land described in sd order for $507.75 & that the expences of sd sale & such thus far are $105.47 cts, which makes the net proceeds of sale $402.27, the deficit of assets $320.96 deducted from the same, leaves $81.31 in his hands, from which deduct the further expense of sale & costs of this suit, whatever they may be, the remainder will be for distribution equally among the heirs."

- Cognovit of John Slatten, March 31, 1852, in Wade & Osborn v. Slatten, DeWitt County Circuit Court. 1 p., 7.625" x 12".
"Know all men by these presents that I John Slatten of the county of Dewitt State of Illinois reposing special trust and Confidence in the skill integrity & ability of C H Moore A Lincoln A Gridly or any other attorney of record in this state do hereby authorize and empower him or them for us and in our names at the suit of William Wade & John D Osborn trading under the names of Wade & Osborn to appear at the next term of the Dewitt Court waive service of process filling of declaration &c &c to confess in our names a judgment against us and in favor of the said Wade & Osborn for the sum of ninety five dollars & twenty five cents and to release all Errors therein and for your so doing this shall be your sufficient authority."

- Cognovit of John Slatten, August 16, 1852, in Gill & Rupert v. Slatten, DeWitt County Circuit Court. 2 pp., 7.625" x 12".
"Know all men by these presents that I John Slatten of the county of Dewitt Illinois do hereby constitute nominate and appoint Clifton H Moore Abram Lincoln Asahel Gridly or any other attorney of record in this state for me and in my names to waive service of process filing declaration &c and at the suit of Columbus J L Rupert & Thomas W Gill partners trading under name & style of Gill & Rupert to confess & have entered against me a judgment at the next term of the Dewitt County circuit court & in favor of said Gill & Rupert for the sum of three hundred fifty one 44/100 dollars (351.44) and further to release all Errors. This power of attorney to be irrevocable & is given to confess a judgment for the balance of two notes given by me to said Gill & Rupert which said notes are attached hereto."

- Court Record, 1858-1859, in Smith, Murphy & Co. v. Woodward & Beam, DeWitt County Circuit Court. 2 pp., 8.25" x 13.75".
"Monday March 1st 1858 / This day came the Plaintiffs by S. F. Lewis their attorney; and the Defendants by C H Moore & Abram Lincoln their Attorneys, and on motion of Plaintiffs, the defendants are ruled to plead herein by Monday the 8th day of March."
"Monday Oct 10 1859 / This day the Plaintiffs by S. F. Lewis their attorney, and the Defendant by Wood and C. H. Moore and Abram Lincoln his attorney, and by consent the matters of fact as well as law arising are submitted to the Court; and the Court having heard the evidence and argument of Counsel, is of opinion that the plaintiffs have sustained damages by reason of the breaches in their said declaration mentioned, in the sum Three Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty four Dollars, and seventy eight cents."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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