Description:

Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) Living in London a little more than a year after he signed the preliminary Treaty of Paris, Henry Laurens signs an interesting document relating to a suit filed against him in the South Carolina Court of Chancery

Manuscript Document Signed "Henry Laurens," half-page, 7.25" x 9". [London], January 27, 1784. On watermarked laid paper. Light stains in blank lower portion. Docketed on verso. Fine condition.

In full, "Henry Laurens being duly sworn maketh Oath that his health still continues so very infirm that he has not been able to inspect & adjust his Accounts as Executor to the Estate of Elias Ball deceased, so far as to get ready to put in answer to the Bill filed against him in the Court of Chancery by, Joseph Sealy & Beulah his Wife. Henry Laurens. Sworn before ne this 27. Jany 1784. J. Mitchell J.P."

Henry Laurens was the Executor of the Estate of Elias Ball who had died in 1758. Ball's will directed that his estate be divided among his four children. When the division of the Estate finally took place in 1769, only two of Elias's children, Ann and Samuel, were alive. Laurens retained half of Ball's Estate for Samuel Ball who was still a minor. Samuel Ball, still a minor, married and shortly after. His widow Beulah Ball married Joseph Sealey and they claimed Samuel's half of the Estate. Laurens declined saying that according to Elias Ball's will, the whole Estate would now go to his sole surviving child, Mrs. Ann Ball Hunt. In December 1787, the South Carolina Court of Chancery decided in the case of Sealy & Wife, Executrix of Samuel Ball vs. Henry Laurens, Executor of Elias Ball, that Laurens "pay over to the complainants, the one half of the estate of Elias Ball, to which hos son Samuel was, at the time of his death, and under the will of the said Elias Ball, his father, entitled." On verso of this document is the notation "Filed 30th March 1787."

In a letter written by Laurens just four days earlier, to his friend John Delagaye dated, London, January 23, 1784, Laurens wrote "I returned from Bath three Days ago in a very indifferent State of health, a violent Cold, & the Gout in my head." Hence, Laurens states in this document that "his health still continues so very infirm."

Elected Minister to Holland by the Continental Congress on October 21, 1779, Henry Laurens sailed for his post early in 1780. He was captured on the voyage and held a prisoner in the Tower of London for 15 months. He was released on December 31, 1781, in exchange for Lord Cornwallis. Appointed one of the Peace Commissioners, Laurens signed the preliminary Treaty of Paris on November 30, 1782. He returned to the United States in August 1784.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000