Description:

Hancock John

John Hancock, Original Secretarial Copy Letter with Autographed Docketing, Regarding New England Tax Code

 

1p manuscript letter from John Hancock's personal files!


Inscribed in a secretarial hand, possibly that of Secretary of the Commonwealth John Avery, Jr. (1739-1806), but with the autograph docketing of Massachusetts Governor John Hancock (1737-1793). Written in Boston on February 14, 1783. On watermarked cream bifold paper, the inner pages blank. Expected wear includes paper folds, slightly chipped hinge, and toning, else near fine. Measures 7.5" x 9".

 

John Hancock's docketing reads:

“Letters to the Governors of the States of Rhd Island Connecticutt & New York also Presdt of New Hampshire State - February 14, 1783 and is located on the fourth page above an extravagant looping flourish.

 

Then three years into his first term as Massachusetts Governor, John Hancock exhorts his colleagues to send delegates to a convention in Hartford scheduled for April 1783. The Massachusetts Assembly had agreed on February 13, 1783 to send state delegates there to discuss formulating a New England tax code.

 

With original spelling and punctuation.

 

"Boston Feby 14. 1783

 

Sir

 

Agreeably to the request of the two Houses of Assembly of this Commonwealth I have the Honor to inclose your Excellency a Resolution passed by them on the 13th Instant for the purpose of appointing Delegates to meet in Convention at Hartford in the State of Connecticut on the last Wednesday of April next to confer on the Necessity of adopting such a General and uniform System of Taxation by Impost and Excise, as may be thought advantageous to the several States mentioned in said Resolve; I have to request that you would submit to the consideration of the Legislature of your State the inclosed Resolution and the expediency of this Appointing Delegates to meet in the said Convention for the purposes therein mentioned. -- You will please to inform me of the Result of their Deliberations upon this Subject as soon as you can conveniently --

 

I am with every Sentiment of Esteem

& Respect

Your Excellency, --

very humbl Servt.”

 

The Articles of Confederation, ratified and first implemented in March 1781, provided little else but a basic governmental framework. Central government was severely limited in order to safeguard individual states' rights and privileges. Taxation was a hot button issue, not only because it was a catalyst of the American Revolution, but also because states felt that Congress did not have the authority to levy it. Under the Articles, Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris attempted to raise national revenue by imposing a blanket 5% import tariff in 1781, but it was simply rejected by the states. Congress could only recommend that states contribute revenue--it could not guarantee compliance.

 

As a result, Congress relied heavily on foreign lenders to pay for its most fundamental operations. States simply printed more paper money when they needed revenue, or decided their own policies as a state or as a region.  It soon became clear that the Articles of Confederation were ineffective. Delegates drafted the new and improved U.S. Constitution between 1787-1789.

 

John Hancock was a wealthy Boston merchant and radical Patriot with an impressive political track record. He was unanimously elected President of the Second Continental Congress in the spring of 1775, and his grandiose signature on the Declaration of Independence symbolized the audacity of the wayward colonists' plan. Hancock lent a strong sense of personal style to everything he did. He returned to lead the Continental Congress in between his two gubernatorial terms. He died at age 56.

 

John Avery, Jr. served as 1st Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts between 1780 and his death in 1806.

 

A remarkable document inscribed by Boston firebrand John Hancock himself!

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** 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.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000