Description:

Hancock John

John Hancock Docketed ALS Informing him of his Election as MA Governor

 

A letter docketed by Declaration Signer John Hancock (1737-1793) as "Rev'd P. Thatcher / April. 1787" on the address panel. (Hancock has misspelled his correspondent's name!) The 3pp ALS written by Peter Thacher (1752-1802), Hancock's friend and minister, was written in Boston, Massachusetts on April 29, 1787 and informed Hancock that he had been elected Governor of Massachusetts. On cream laid bifold paper, the fourth page serving as an integral address leaf. Red wax seal remnants. With expected paper folds and creases, some professionally reinforced. Light overall toning and isolated discoloration, else near fine. 7.375" x 9". For a more detailed description, please see attached scans.

 

Reverend Thacher notified Hancock that he had defeated incumbent Governor James Bowdoin (1726-1790) in the recent gubernatorial election. The minister included voting tallies by county.

 

In part, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

 

"Through the lieutenant governor I have obtained the following accurate state of the returns as they stood yesterday…You see by what a clear + decided majority you come in as governor; I hope that God will enable you to do great good in the station; the confidence + affection of the people enable a ruler to do much more good than he could otherwise…"

 

Peter Thacher was a highly respected Congregationalist minister of several Boston churches, including Hancock's congregation, Brattle Street Church. Thacher would deliver John Hancock's memorial sermon just six years later, in late October 1793.

 

John Hancock had served as Massachusetts' first governor from 1780-1785. He was reelected in 1787 as described here, and served until his death in 1793. Hancock won the election because of his former political track record, and because Bowdoin was impopular for his handling of the Shays Rebellion.

 

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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