Description:

Founding Father Francis Hopkinson Signs a Court Order

Manuscript Document Signed, “Fras. Hopkinson”, as Judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania, 1p, 12.75” x 7” (visible), Philadelphia, December 17, 1787. Blind embossed seal of the Admiralty Court is affixed at the left blank margin. Matted with an attractive engraving of Hopkinson to a size of 19.75” x 8.875”. Minor uniform toning; small tear at the top; else, near fine with a bold 4” long signature.

The document reads, in full, “Francis Hopkinson Esquire Judge of the Court of Admiralty of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania / To Clement Biddle Esquire Marshal of the said Court Greeting / These are to Command you that upon sight hereof you immediately attach and cite James Ramage late Commander of the Ship Anna so that he be and appear in his proper Person before me at a Court of Admiralty to be held at my Chambers in the City of Philadelphia on the Eighteenth Day of December Instant at Ten o’Clock in the Forenoon of the Same Day there then to answer His Demands of William Bettey and Alexander Donnell Mariners for Wages to them due for their Services by them performed as Mariners on board the said Ship Anna in a late Voyage and or his Command (as his said) more particularly set forth in a Libel by them this Day to this Court exhibited, and to make his obligations (if any he hath) why a Sentence or Decree of the Court should not in that behalf be pronounced against him the said James Ramage according to the Prayer of the Libellants. And how you shall have executed this Writ make a Return to Me at the Time and Place aforesaid together with this Writ.”

Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791) was an American Founding Father, judge, author, and composer. He designed Continental paper money and two early versions of flags, one for the United States and one for the United States Navy. Hopkinson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776 as a delegate from New Jersey. After serving several roles within the early United States Government, he was appointed by George Washington as the first federal judge of the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania in 1789, where he sat until his death in 1791.

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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