Description:

John Sutter Unique 49'er Signed Certificate to Paul Revere's Grandson, a Civil War General

John Sutter (1803-1880). Partially Printed Document Signed, "J. A. Sutter", as president, 1p, 10.625" x 8.125", New York, January 20, 1878. Countersigned by Francis D. Clark, as secretary. Membership Certificate No. 80, issued to General Joseph W. Revere, who is set to arrive in California in June 1846, the month of the Bear Flag Revolt. Attractively engraved with the state of California's animal symbol, a grizzly bear, pictured standing on a cliff at top. Large well-preserved gilt embossed seal of The Associated Pioneers at bottom left. Flattened folds and creasing. Toned with scattered foxing. Handsomely presented in green suede-textured matting to an overall size of 14" x 11". In near fine condition and boldly signed.

The Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California was formed in New York in September 1875 by General Horatio Gates Gibson (1827-1924) with the assistance of Francis D. Clark, and was made up of the residents of California who were there prior to its entrance into the Union (September 9th 1850). The Society's objective was 'to form a more perfect union of the Pioneers of California, now residents of the Atlantic States, and to cultivate social intercourse between them' (Article 1, Articles of Association).

The organization was primarily composed of Mexican War veterans of the Army and Navy, gold hunters, politicians, and businessmen 'who were for any period in California prior to the 9th day of September 1850 (the date of the admission of the State of California into the Union)' (Article 6, Articles of Association). At its inception, the organization was made up of 49 members who were among the elite of the California gold rush and military history. Members included: John A. Sutter, Joseph Hooker, John Fremont, Cornelius Vanderbilt, W.T. Sherman, Stephen L. Merchant, Francis D. Clark, and E. Kemble.

To more fully understand the underlying current of the pioneer period one needs to first assess that California's development had been influenced by explorers, Native Americans, padres, trappers, whalers, miners, pioneers, ranchers, farmers and inventors from all over the world. Its history is significant in its national and international aspects as it transitioned from a Mexican province to an American state. Hubert Howe Bancroft, noted California historian, carefully researched and recorded the names of every foreigner, nearly 600, who came to California in the early 1800s. His detailed records showed that by 1840 some 380 remained including John Sutter and other mountain men, many of whom had obtained land grants from the Mexican government.

Sutter was a perfect example of the period and was mentioned by name within the body of this log. He was a Swiss immigrant with a tainted image, who wished to station himself in California which at the time was a province of Mexico with a population of only about 1,000 Europeans and an estimated 100,000-700,000 Native Americans. Sutter had to go to the capital (Monterey) to obtain permission to settle in the territory. Then governor of Mexican Alto California, Juan Alvarado, saw Sutter's plan of establishing a colony in Central Valley as useful in "buttressing the frontier which he was trying to maintain against Indians, Russians, Americans and British", but first required him to become a Mexican citizen. From this point, California's transition to the Bear Flag revolt, independence and integration as part of the United States all occurred in rapid succession.

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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