Description:

Caesar Rodney Rare & Interesting ADS, Writing From First Continental Congress

1p, measuring 8.25" x 3.25", [Philadelphia], n.d. [Ca. September 1774]. A short document signed "Caesar Rodney", requesting that his brother, Thomas Rodney, purchase him a number of items. Reading in full:

"Memorandum/ for Mr. Thomas Rodney to get me in Philadelphia, a verry neat Steel Watch Chain, one blank Book for Recording the Orphan's Court proceedings, some very good Chewing Tobacco, and possible a verry Good pair of Coach horses but not too Good eighty pounds prince - & a small fiddle for Caesar [his nephew]. - To get Blackstone to make me a pair of neat summer shoes not too low in the Quarters." The document has been backed with another slip of paper to stabilize it. With flattened mail folds, light toning and foxing. A number of various sized holes throughout, with one being near but not affecting the signature. Boldly signed. Although undated, we are able to infer a general date as Rodney again mentions sending a fiddle for Caesar Augustus Rodney in a September 24, 1774 letter from Philadelphia.

In 1774, Caesar Rodney (1728-1784) was elected to serve as a Delegate of Delaware to the First Continental Congress, which met at Carpenters' Hall in September 1774. During this time, he served on a committee that organized the boycott of British goods. For a period he also acted as Speaker of the Delaware Assembly and brigadier general in the Continental Army. Although frequently ill, suffering from asthma and later cancer of the face, Rodney understood the importance of the work being done by the Continental Congress. Just two years later, he made a midnight ride that rivaled that of Paul Revere! Rodney had returned to Dover, Delaware in order to manage Loyalist activity when he received word from Thomas McKean that he and George Read (his fellow delegates) were deadlocked on the vote for independence. Rodney rode 70 miles through a thunderstorm on the night of July 1, 1776, arriving in Philadelphia "in his boots and spurs" on July 2, just in time for the vote. His vote broke the tie and the Declaration of Independence was signed two days later. Without his dedication to the cause, who knows what may have become of the revolution and our country! Tragically, Rodney died at the age of 55 after an eight-year-long battle with facial cancer.

Caesar Augustus Rodney (1772-1824), nephew to Caesar Rodney, made a name for himself in his own right. He studied law at the University of Pennsylvania and practiced in Delaware before setting his sights on a more political career. He served in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and became the 6th Attorney General, serving under presidents Jefferson and Madison from 1807 to 1811. Later he became the U.S. Minister to Argentina under James Monroe.

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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