Description:

Thomas Hartley
Yorktown, VA, June 5 & 9, 1792
Thomas Hartley Pair of ALS on Repaying Debt to General "Mad Anthony" Wayne
Archive

A pair of autograph letters signed by American Revolutionary War soldier and politician, Thomas Hartley. Both are one page of a bifolium, measuring 6.75" x 8.25", Yorktown, dated June 5 and June 9, 1792. Both signed "Thos. Hartley" and addressed to Major William Alexander respecting the collection of a debt. Hartley instructs Alexander to collect a sum of £50 from a Mr. Sheebly [or Sheebley] in order to pay a debt to General Anthony "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Both letters have flattened mail folds and slightly rough edges. The June 9th letter has paper loss on the address page from where the wax seal was broken, along with what appears to be a crudely drawn survey of land, done in an unknown hand. Minor, uneven toning and very light soiling. Both boldly signed, very good.

June 5, 1792:
"I should suppose from the honest entegrity (sic) of Sheebley that he will have paid the fifty pounds to you by the time General Wayne arrives at Carlisle or whist he stays there. If so be so good as to pay General Wayne the sum of twenty eight pounds two shillings and six pence out of that money. The residue - you will be so good as to send to me by the post the week after the present if no opportunity open cashier. I am sorry to give you so much trouble, but am your most humble servt."

June 9, 1792:
"I have been troubling you too much, respecting the Debt due me by Sheebly of fifty founds, upon which he gave such strong assurances to pay at the day. I presume he did not come in time to enable you to pay General Wayne twenty five Dollars. I shall therefore arrange that elsewhere. If Sheebly pays you I will esteem it as a great favor if you would send the money to me by the next Post, or by an earlier safe hand, as I shall about that period stand in great need of it."

Thomas Hartley (1748-1800) was an American lawyer, Revolutionary War soldier, and politician. During the war, he was made second in command of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment in the Continental Army and later commanded Hartley's Additional Continental Regiment and led it as colonel during the major battles of the Philadelphia campaign. Hartley ran in the same social circles as President Washington, and even hosted the President at his house for tea on July 2, 1791. Hartley was also among the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati and a trustee of Dickinson College.

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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  • Dimensions: 6.75" x 8.25"
  • Medium: Archive

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