Description:

Millard Fillmore Interrogation of NY Justice of Peace. A Rare Early Legal Doc Signed Multiple Times!

A 2pp manuscript document written largely in the hand of future 13th U.S. President Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), and signed by him at least three times and possibly four. June Term 1831. [New York.] Fillmore's three confirmed signatures appear as: 1) "Millard Fillmore"; 2) "M Fillmore Atty"; and 3) "Fillmore Atty." The possible signature appears as "Fillmore." Inscribed on either side of legal-sized paper. With contemporaneous edits including insertions and cross-outs. Expected wear such as even toning, isolated edge darkening, flattened folds, and some creases with repaired closed tears, else very good to near fine. 7.875" x 13."

This legal document was prepared by Millard Fillmore around 1831, when Fillmore was a lawyer practicing in upstate New York. The document consists of an "Interrogation to be administered to the defendant," a series of four questions to be posed to the defendant in order to establish the basic facts of the case. The case of The People v. Robert Person was adjudicated in the Erie Court of Common Pleas. At its core was an allegation of malfeasance on the part of the defendant, Robert Person, who had served as a Justice of the Peace in Aurora, a small community on the banks of the Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

The document reads in part:

"Interrogation to be administered to the defendant Robert Person late a Justice of the peace of the town of Aurora in the County of Erie, upon an attachment against him for not complying with a rule of said court requiring him to amend a return made by him to an appeal from a certain judgment rendered by him as such Justice in a cause wherein Lewis Northrup who prosecuted as well for himself as for the overseers of the poor of said town of Aurora was plaintiff and one James Woolcott was defending…"

Fillmore's name appears four times in the document, and he has signed it three times, possibly four.

1. The first confirmed instance of a Fillmore signature is found within the Third Question, near the bottom of page 1, as: "Third - Did Millard Fillmore in the month of December 1830 or at any time before or since that time and when serve[d] upon you by delivering the same to you, a certified copy of an order made by this honorable court…" This reveals that Fillmore had delivered the request for the amendment, and therefore played a significant role in this case.

2. The second confirmed instance of a Fillmore signature is found at the conclusion of the Interrogation, near the center of page 2, as: "M Fillmore atty for / Counsel for pltff."

3. The third confirmed instance of a Fillmore signature is found in the annotations and docket section near the bottom of page 2, as "Fillmore Atty."

4. The possible Fillmore signature appears on page 2 as "Fillmore."

The details of this particular case are not clearly known, but Robert Person (also known as Persons) (1793-1864) was one of the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of Aurora. He opened a store there in 1815 that his brother later turned into a hotel. As we can see, Person also acted as justice of the peace. Fillmore had passed the New York bar in 1823 and soon afterward served Aurora as its only resident lawyer. As he gained experience in his law practice, Fillmore also engaged for the first time in politics. He sat as an Anti-Masonic Party New York state assemblyman during three terms from 1829-1831. In 1833, Fillmore would become a U.S. Congressman from New York. He served as president from 1850-1853.

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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