Description:

Witherspoon John

John Witherspoon, Declaration Signer, as President of Princeton University

 

A manuscript document signed by John Witherspoon (1723-1794), the 6th President of the College of New Jersey (the future Princeton University), as "Jno Witherspoon" at center. Written in Princeton, New Jersey on December 10, 1773--a little more than three years before the Battle of Princeton (1777). The manuscript portion, of cream laid paper, has been expertly inlaid into a larger cream paper sheet measuring 8.25" x 10.375". An isolated area of show-through at upper right corresponds to the docketed inscription verso. Several vertical splits have been professionally repaired verso. A small closed tear runs through the underlined name of the countersigner, Robert Stockton, at lower right. Light mounting traces on larger sheet verso. Else very good. The sight size of the fragment is 5.5" x 4". Provenance: Sold by Walter Benjamin Autographs, ca. late 1960s. Accompanied by a transcript.

 

John Witherspoon, who served as president of the College of New Jersey between 1768-1794, requested that Jonathan Sergeant, university treasurer, pay £32:8:8.5 to a recipient named Robert Stockton.

 

In full:

 

"Princeton Decr 10 1773

 

Sir

 

At ten Days Sight please to pay to the order of Robert Stockton thirty two pounds Six Shillings and eight pence half penny + place the Same to my Acct.

Jno Witherspoon

To Jonathan Sargeant Esqr

Treasurer to the College at

Princeton

 

Recd. the Contents

Robt Stockton".

 

In 1768, John Witherspoon, a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister, was invited to serve as president of what was to become Princeton University. Witherspoon's 26-year-long administration of the college is regarded as formative. For, even though the College of New Jersey enjoyed considerable prestige as being one of the oldest universities established in the American colonies (1746), it had been founded with a narrow focus, as a training school for Presbyterian clergy. Witherspoon envisioned a secular and more academically rigorous student body. During his administration of the college, Witherspoon made entrance requirements more stringent, modeled the syllabus and curriculum on European universities, and expanded its library and access to basic teaching tools. His prodigious fundraising efforts also allowed rebuilding to take place after the university was damaged during the Battle of Princeton. "Dr. Wetherspoon" also taught moral philosophy, history, and religion at the school.

 

Witherspoon, an avid republican, later served as one of five New Jersey delegates to the Second Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and later, the Articles of Confederation.

 

The "Robert Stockton" who acknowledged receipt of this sum in 1773 was almost certainly Robert Stockton (ca. 1730-1805), the first cousin of Witherspoon's fellow Declaration signer Richard Stockton (1730-1781). (Richard Stockton's father John Stockton (1701-1758) had been an original land donor of the College of New Jersey.) Major Robert Stockton was a well-known Patriot in his own right; he served as a Quartermaster of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. His property at Constitution Hill served as General George Washington's headquarters during the Battle of Princeton, and local oral history maintains that this was also the site where the Constitution of New Jersey was drafted.

 

This extraordinary document thus features interesting connections to two Declaration signers and three Revolutionary War patriots. The overarching theme is Princeton University: John Witherspoon served as university president; Robert Stockton's uncle donated its land, and his cousin Richard Stockton was a 1748 graduate and longtime trustee.

 

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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