Description:

Penn John



John Penn, Rare Declaration Signer, Endorses Legal Summons in 1785

 

1p ADS signed by North Carolina Declaration of Independence signer John Penn (1741-1788) as "J.P. atto." in the docket area verso. Inscribed overall by an unknown hand, possibly that of court clerk and witness Reuben Searey. Written in Granville County, North Carolina on August 1, 1785. With expected folds, and a few pin holes along center fold. Bottom edge slightly asymmetrical, else very good to near fine. 9" x 4.75".

 

In the summer of 1785, lawyer John Penn endorsed this legal summons concerning a law suit between plaintiff George Bristow, Jr. (born 1751) and co-defendants Aaron Springfield (1761-1820) and Zachariah Hester. Bristow was suing the pair for £20 worth of unspecified damages.

 

"Granville County Jst. To the Sheriff of Granville County Greeting we Coman on the Suit brought by George Bristow Esqr. --------- against Aaron Springfield & Zachariah Hester for £20. specie Damg… The Sheriff having made a return that the defendant is not to be found on the plantiffs motion an attachment is Granted him against the defendant for the Sum aforesaid & Costs of Suit Returnable to the next Court we therefore Command you that you attach so much of the Goods & Chattels of the said Aaron Springfield & Zachariah Hester…"

 

John Penn was already an experienced attorney when he served as a North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress between 1775-1780. He was one of three North Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence (along with Joseph Hewes and William Hooper) and later, one of three North Carolina signers of the Articles of Confederation (with Cornelius Harnett and John Williams.) Penn worked and lived in Granville County near the Virginia state border until his untimely death at age 47.

 

Local genealogical records provide us with some enticing clues about the individuals involved in the lawsuit. Plaintiff George Bristow, Jr. was one of four sons born to farmer, farrier, and Patriot George Bristow, Sr. (1723-1783). The father and sons had all served during the American Revolution. In 1779, George Bristow, Jr. was fined for impregnating a woman he later married.

 

Co-defendant Aaron Springfield was orphaned at age 7 after his father purportedly committed suicide. Aaron and his siblings were farmed out to local merchants for indenture. This court summons dates about one year after Aaron's indenture with a blacksmith named James Currin would have expired. Springfield later married and lived in Oglethorpe, Georgia.

 



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