Description:

Charles Thomson
[Philadelphia, PA], October 5, 1778; January 16, 1806
Continental Congress Seeks to Stabilize Competing Currencies, 1778
MD
This copy of a resolution passed by the Continental Congress was originally certified by Congressional Secretary Charles Thomson. This later copy erroneously spells his surname as "Thompson." With this resolution, the members of Congress asked the states to honor their formerly circulating currency that individuals had used to purchase loan office certificates and lottery tickets from the United States. Otherwise, the state bills of credit, which the states no longer accepted for payments, would be worthless to the United States.

[CHARLES THOMSON.] Manuscript Document, Copy of Excerpt from Minutes of Congress Signed by Charles Thomson (misspelled "Thompson"), October 5, 1778, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. 1 p., 7.25" x 9.5". Expected folds; soiling on folds; general toning.
With: John Elliott, Autograph Document Signed, Receipt, to Charles Thomson, January 16, 1806, n.p. 1 p., 8.5" x 4.5". Expected folds; general toning.

Complete Transcript
In Congress 5th Octobr 1778
Whereas it is represented by severall Commissioners of Continental Loan Offices that they have received for Loan Officer Certificates & Lottery tickets of the United States considerable sums in Bills of credit emitted by States, who by Acts of their respective Legislatures have stopped the circulation of such bills.
Resolved that it be recommended to the said States to direct their Treasurers to receive such Bills of credit from the said Commissioners respectively, & deliver in exchange Continental Currency to the amount thereof, the said Commissioners declaring on Oath if required, that such Bills were received by them in Virtue of their Office.
Extract from the minutes
Charles Thompson Secrety
Copy

[Account; Receipt:]
Charles Thomson Esqr Jany 16th 1806
Bot of John Elliott
1 Loaf Sugar7. 8. @ 2/ 15
2 oz Thread 2.6
17.6
Recd payment
Jno Elliott

[File Note on verso in Thomson's hand:] J Elliot / Jany 16, 1806

Historical Background
Charles Thomson of Pennsylvania served as Secretary of the Continental and Confederation Congresses throughout their entire fifteen-year existence. With a very small executive department, the role was much more than clerical, and some considered him as essentially the "Prime Minister of the United States."

The Continental Congress frequently issued bills of credit, also known as Continentals, to help fund the Revolutionary War. Because of inflation, these Continentals rapidly declined in value. The thirteen original states also issued debt certificates to help pay for the costs of the war. Massachusetts was the first state to do so, beginning in 1776. Both states and the national government also experimented with lotteries to fund the war, largely unsuccessfully.


Charles Thomson (1729-1824) was born in Ireland to Scots-Irish parents. After his mother's death, his father set out with his sons to the British colonies in North America, but his father died at sea, and Thomson and his brothers were separated in America. A blacksmith in Delaware cared for him, and he received an education in Pennsylvania. In 1750, he became a Latin tutor in Philadelphia. After becoming a leader of Philadelphia's Sons of Liberty, he served as secretary to the Continental and Confederation Congresses through their entire history, from 1774 to 1789. Thomson and Congress President John Hancock were the only two men to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. In 1782, Thomson took the work of three previous committees to create a final design for the Great Seal of the United States. Thomson remained the keeper of the seal until the creation of the new federal government, when the role passed to the Secretary of State. In April 1789, Thomson traveled to Mount Vernon to notify George Washington of his election as the first president. He resigned as secretary of Congress in July 1789, and political disagreements kept him from a position in the new federal government. He retired to a home named "Harriton" in suburban Philadelphia and spent the next two decades preparing the first English translation from the Greek Septuagint of the Old Testament and the first American translation of the New Testament, published in 1808. He continued to live at "Harriton" until his death.

John Elliot (1761-1841) was a merchant in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

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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  • Dimensions: 7.25" x 9.5"; 8.5" x 4.5"
  • Medium: MD

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