Description:

Paterson William 1745 - 1806 Rare Signer of the Constitution, William Paterson a gorgeous example

Single page signed manuscript on laid paper, 8" x 13", docketed to verso. Boldly scripted, paper toned, with a few pinhole losses, and slight chipping to outer edges. Expected folds with a touch of creases to one corner. Small light pencil note. Boldly signed by William Paterson as "Wm Paterson."


Paterson, perhaps best known as a signor of the Constitution, was highly instrumental in the negotiations and proposals for determining how the individual states would be represented in the House and in the Senate. His long experience in state politics and administration earned him a seat on the five-person delegation sent by New Jersey to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he played a pivotal role. By a narrow margin, delegates approved the Virginia Plan, which provided for proportional representation, based on population, in two houses of government. Paterson introduced the New Jersey Plan, which called for a unicameral body with equal representation from each state. In the debate that followed, the delegates hammered out the Great Compromise, with proportional representation in the house of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.

This lovely Paterson signed manuscript document was executed shortly after he resigned from the Senate to become Governor of New Jersey, and just 6 months before George Washington nominated Paterson to sit as associate justice of the United States Supreme Court on March 4, 1793. Paterson spent the last 13 years of his life devoted to building a stable and powerful federal judiciary.

The document encompasses a Warrant for payment to the widow of a deceased member of the Militia, and is shown in full below:

"State of New Jersey the twenty ninth Day

of October 1792

This warrant entitles the bearer Susanna Bowls -

By late Suzanna Martin Widow of John Marten

late a Private in the Militia of this state who

died in the Service of the United sates or here order

to receive from the Treasurer of the State the sum

of twenty five shilling per month from the first

day of February Seventeen hundred and seventy

eight to the first day of April Seventeen hundred

and eighty eight being the amount of here late

Husbands half pay

House of Asembly

October 29, 1792

By order of the House

Council Chamber Lika Convicts Epeaker

Oct 30th, 1792

By Order of the

House

Wm Paterson"

A wonderful piece of history with beautiful, bold contrast allowing for a handsome presentation. Would be stunning framed. Paterson is extremely scarce, maybe even scarcer than Broom or Baldwin as far as completing a set of Constitution signers. The most recent examples appeared in 2007 and 2008 and averaged over $5,000 each.

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