Description:

Ellery William

William Ellery, RI Declaration signer, Newport ADS

 

The cream watermarked paper slip is signed in the third person by future Declaration of Independence signer William Ellery (1727-1820) as "William Ellery." The receipt is in near fine condition, lightly toned, measuring 3.75" x 3.25."

 

"Received / Newport Jany. 12th. 1767 / of William Ellery Sixty three Pounds, eleven Shillings Old Tenor in full of all Accounts, Jos Nichols

 

Received / Newport Feb.y. 26th. 1767 / five Pounds, eighteen Shillings Old Tenor in full of all Accounts in behalf of my uncle Mr Stephen Ayrault, John Cranston."

 

William Ellery lived his entire life in Newport, Rhode Island. The Harvard College graduate was a merchant, customs collector, lawyer, and state assembly clerk before serving as a Rhode Island delegate in the Continental Congress in 1776. His signature on the Declaration of Independence is second largest after Boston merchant John Hancock's.

 

Stephen Ayrault (1709-1794) was a fellow Newport merchant. His deeds, letters, will, and account ledgers can be viewed in the Manuscripts and Archives Collection of the Newport Historical Society. The co-signee of this document, John Cranston (1752-1793), was the son of Ayrault's younger sister Frances Ayrault (1718-1793). Also a merchant, Cranston was the great-grandson of namesake and Rhode Island Governor John Cranston (1625-1680).

 

Colonial currency was extremely complex, made up of British and foreign hard currency as well as poorly regulated local paper money. "Old Tenor" referred to the first issue of this local paper money, which appeared after 1710 and had less than sterling value. "New Tenor" currency, introduced after 1740, had a higher exchange rate.

 

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