Description:

Jonathan Belcher ALS "The Indians are to meet me 20' Int. at Falmouth...I hope some ships have furnisht the President with Powder"

1p, measuring 7" x 8.75", Boston, dated July 3, 1732. Signed "J Belcher" and addressed to Hon. (Henry) Sherburne, the letter concerns Belcher's frustrations at the opposition, as well as plans to meet with Native Americans and an order of powder. With flattened folds, slightly curled edges, and a large, bold signature. Very fine.

Reading in full:

"No doubt the Male-Conts [male-contents] will be vigilant to do all the mischief they can, our Friends therefore must be as diligent to counter-work them. But I must own they will have some advantage in the use of their Faculty of Lying. I now inclose [sic] four blank commissions to be fill'd up as you shall order. The Indians are to meet me 20' Int. at Falmouth and I think, at present to return by Land as far as Portsmo: I hope some ships have furnisht the President with Powder, if not, you must contrive among you to get a [scratched out]. If any of your Gentm are at leisure I shall be glad to see them at Falmouth." Accompanied by a letter of provenance, Washington, D.C., dated July 3, 1838, from John H. Sherburne to Amos Kendall, Post Master General. John was the great-grandson of Hon. Sherburne, and sent the original letter in honor of "our glorious National anniversary."

Jonathan Belcher (1681-1757) was a merchant, slave trader, and governor of New Hampshire and the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1730-1741) and governor of New Jersey (1747-1757). During his tenure, Belcher made numerous political enemies by purging and humiliating his opponents, both real and imagined, and often ranted about the "vile" and "despicable" men who worked against him. He was, however, supportive of his Quaker community base, providing them with religious exemptions while denying the same benefits to other churches. This is likely to be his reference to "Friends" in his letter.

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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