Lot 391

John Marshall Just Before Chief Justice: Impressment of 2 U.S. Seamen on British Naval Vessels!

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John Marshall Just Before Chief Justice: Impressment of 2 U.S. Seamen on British Naval Vessels!

Estimate: $4,000 - $5,000

Current Bid: $1,700

(2 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

John Marshall
Washington, DC, September 16, 1800
John Marshall Just Before Chief Justice: Impressment of 2 U.S. Seamen on British Naval Vessels!
LS

John Marshall (1755-1835). Letter signed, "J Marshall," as Secretary of State, 1p, on bifold stationery measuring 8" x 10", Washington, September 16, 1800. Secretarially written and signed in Marshall's hand. Integral address leaf at verso. Two inner pages blank. With remnants of red wax seal and partial circular postmark. Flattened transmittal folds and creases. Minor soiling and age toning, mostly isolated to address leaf. Opening tear with loss, not affecting text, beside docketing at verso. In very good condition. Ex-Christie's; sold for over $3,800 way back in their June 2007 auction.

Here, three months into his term, Marshall forwards documents relating to the impressment of two American seamen to Major David Lenox (1753-1828), Revolutionary War veteran and United States Marshal, who served as a commissioner to England.

In full:

"I enclose a deposition shewing that Thomas Maskill, a native of New Jersey, has been impressed and is detained on board the British ship of war Zealand, and also a certificate and deposition relative to the case of Benjamin Roberts, a native of Boston, impressed and detained on board the Solebay. The Zealand is said to be lying at the Nore, and the station of the Solebay is uncertain. I request you will be pleased to make the usual application for their discharge." A note at lower right in an unknown hand, possibly Lenox's, states the disposition of the seamen.

Although Jay's Treaty resolved numerous conflicts between the United States and Great Britain at the end of the 18th century, the continued British impressment of American seamen would create tension between the countries, leading in part to the War of 1812. While non-British subjects were not supposed to be impressed, the British Navy seized crew members on American merchant vessels, often claiming they were British deserters. It is suspected that over 7,000 American men were wrongly seized during the period between 1793 and 1812, and only those men whose citizenship could be established were returned.

John Marshall, particularly during his time as U.S. Secretary of State (1800-1801) and later as Chief Justice (1801-1835), consistently addressed the British practice of impressment as a major violation of American sovereignty and personal liberty. This was an important moment in American foreign policy, as the United States sought to maintain neutrality in the conflict between England and France. The Washington and Adams administrations were thought to favor England in its conflict with France, as opposed to the pro-French Jeffersonian Republicans. But in his writings on the subject of impressment, Marshall was critical toward the British, calling it "an act of violence for which there is no palliative." Just a few months after this letter was written, John Adams would appoint Marshall to the Supreme Court, and Thomas Jefferson would assume the presidency.

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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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