Description:

Stephen Johnson Field, Supreme Court Associate Justice, LS & DS: "I took them to the White House on New Year's and presented them to the President…"

Two items relating to Stephen Johnson Field (1816-1899), one of the longest serving justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, including a letter signed by him as "Stephen J. Field," and a check endorsed by him as "Stephen J. Field." The items date from the 1880s and relate to his sister-in-law, Sarah S. Smith.

The lot includes:

1. A 10pp letter signed by Field as "Stephen J. Field" at the top of the ninth page. Written in Washington, D.C. on January 2, 1885 on three sets of bifold paper inscribed in secretarial script. Expected paper folds as well as isolated foxing and edge darkening. The last pages are blank with some weathering. 5" x 8."

Field addressed this letter to Richard Smith (1838-1891) of Troy, New Jersey, the brother-in-law of his widowed sister-in-law Sarah S. Smith (1839-1908) (Sarah was the younger sister of Field's wife Sue.) Sarah's husband John Condit Smith (1830-1883) had died suddenly in November 1883. Evidently, Field--the deceased's brother-in-law by marriage--and Robert Smith--the deceased's younger brother--had been selected to serve as guardians to his widow and their seven children, all born between 1866-1876. The letter contains financial content relating to the housing, schooling, and care of the widow and children, and mentions surrogacy, dower rights, and guardianship.

One of the most interesting lines of the letter can be found on page 8, when Field writes: "I took them [referring to "George and Con." mentioned earlier, possibly Field's nephews George Condit Smith (1866-1894) and Condit D. Smith (1868-?)] to the White House on New Year's and presented them to the President, which was a great event in their lives…"

2. A check signed by Field as "Stephen J. Field" in the endorsee section verso. The unnumbered check dated October 7, 1887 was drawn from Morristown, New Jersey National Iron Bank accounts in the amount of $500 to be paid to "Mrs. Sarah S. Smith Guardian." Signed by Field's co-guardian Richard Smith on the signature line recto. Bearing the usual stamps and cancellation marks.

Stephen J. Field served as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court between 1863-1897. Field's fellow justices asked him to retire because he struggled with senility during the last years of his court appointment, but Field refused, purportedly because he wanted to best the bench record of Chief Justice John Marshall.

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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August 25, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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