Description:

Hancock John

John Hancock's Luncheon Guests Discuss Abolition of Slavery in Massachusetts?

 

1p autographed note signed fully handwritten by Declaration Signer John Hancock (1737-1793) and signed by him in the third person as "The Governor" at top. Dated February 19, 1783. On cream laid bifold paper, with two wax seals present on the integral address leaf inscribed "The Honrble The Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court". With expected paper folds and a few minor closed tears found along these folds. Overall light toning and isolated discoloration, else near fine. 7.625" x 9.125".

 

In full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

 

"The Governor presents his most Respectful Compliments to The Honrble The Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, and Requests the Honor and pleasure of their Company at Dinner on Saturday next 3/4past One oClock -

 

Wednesday Februy. 19th. 1783 - ".

 

John Hancock served as the 1st and 3rd Governor of Massachusetts. This invitation was penned during Hancock's first gubernatorial term (1780-1785), about two weeks after Great Britain declared an end to the Revolutionary War.

 

In February 1783, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court consisted of Chief Justice William Cushing (term 1777-1789); Increase Sumner (term 1782-1797); Nathaniel Sargent (term 1775-1791);  James Sullivan (term 1776-1807); and David Sewall (term 1777-1789).

 

While there is no transcript of Hancock's luncheon, the Governor and the state Justices almost certainly discussed the imminent abolition of slavery. Slavery had been on the court's docket continually. On February 19, 1783--the same day Hancock invited the Justices to dine--an ex-slave named Belinda was granted a one year pension from the estate of her former owner, Isaac Royal, based on her February 14th petition to the Massachusetts General Court. Slavery would be judicially abolished in Massachusetts later that summer, on July 8, 1783. In defending the court's decision, Chief Justice William Cushing cited the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, marking in his trial notes that "all men are born free and equal." Even still, Massachusetts did not pass legislation prohibiting slavery until well after the Emancipation Proclamation, in 1865.

 

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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