Description:

Hancock John 1737 - 1793 John Hancock fills out a Bill of Lading for an order of lime, corn,and other sundries to be delivered to Louisbourg, Nova Scotia – the order was placed by Sir Jeffrey Amherst who had captured the town from the French four years earlier. Partly Printed Document Signed "Thomas Hancock" in text by John Hancock and "Ephraim Dean" as Master of the ship "Lark," one page, 9" x 4.5" on laid paper. Boston, October 20, 1762. Completed in manuscript by John Hancock. Exquisitely matted and framed with a 5" X 6.5" engraved image of Hancock to a finished size of 17.5" X 21". Fine condition.

Ornate pictorial "S" printed at beginning of first word. In full, "Shipped by the Grace of God, in good Order and well Condition'd, by Thomas Hancock by order of Sir Jeffery Amherst in and upon the good Ship called the Lark whereof is Master, under God, for this present Voyage, Ephraim Dean and now riding at Anchor in the Harbour of Boston and by God's Grace bound for Louisbourg to say, Eleven Hogsheads Stone Lime, Sixteen Hogsheads Corn, One Barrell of Flags, One Tierce of Locks &c, One Box Stationary [sic] per Invoice Also one Bundle Line being mark'd and number'd as in the Margin, and are to be deliver'd in the like good Order, and well Condition'd, at the aforesaid Port of Louisbourg (the Danger of the Seas only excepted) unto Coll. John Tulliken or to his Assigns, Freight for the said Goods To be paid in Boston Twenty-one pounds fifteen shillings & 7d Lawful Money with Primage and Average accustom'd. In witness whereof the Master or Purser of the said Ship hath affirm'd to Two Bills of Lading, all of this Tenor and Date; the one of which Two Bills being accomplish'd, the other One to stand void. And to God send the good Ship to her desir'd Port in Safety. Amen. Dated in Boston Octobr.20. 1764" Signed "Ephraim Dean."

This Bill of Lading fills an order placed by Sir Jeffrey Amherst. In 1758, during the French and Indian War, Amherst had been sent to America by British Prime Minister William Pitt to take command of 14,000 men during the Siege of Louisbourg. Victorious, he was appointed Commander in Chief of North America (1758-1764) and the first Governor-General of British North America (1760-1763). Lieutenant Colonel John Tulliken was Commanding Officer at Louisbourg. Upon his graduation from Harvard in 1754, John Hancock entered his uncle Thomas's business as a clerk. One of Boston merchant Thomas Hancock's customers was the British government in Nova Scotia to whom he furnished vessels, food, and other supplies. Two months after this Bill of Lading, on January 1, 1763, Thomas Hancock sent business letters to his customers notifying them that he had "taken my Nephew Mr. John Hancock, into Partnership with me, having had long Experience of his Uprightness, & great Abilities for Business..." He added that future correspondence should be to "Thomas Hancock & Company."

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Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

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