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1809 Funeral Tribute to James Sullivan Mass. Senate + House of Representatives

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:2,400.00 - 2,800.00 USD
1809 Funeral Tribute to James Sullivan Mass. Senate + House of Representatives
Federal Period
1809 Joint Resolution Funeral Tribute to Governor James Sullivan by the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives
(JAMES SULLIVAN) (1744–1808). 7th Massachusetts Governor 1807–08.
January 31, 1809-Dated, Official Manuscript Document Signed, "Wm Tudor” as Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2 pages plus reverse docket on the 4th page, measuring 9.75” x 8” (at Boston) being a true copy Joint Resolution of the Massachusetts Legislature, Choice Extremely Fine. It is Signed by William Tudor (secretarially for all), including by H.(arrison) G.(ray) Otis President of the Senate, Timothy Bigelow Speaker of the House of Representative, and “Approved” by Levi Lincoln. This historic original Document is the official approved report of a Joint Massachusetts House and Senate Committee, beautifully written on very clean laid period paper in rich brown ink and is easily readable. It reads, in full:

“The Committee of both Houses who were directed to consider and report the proper mode of showing the respect of the Legislature to the memory of His Excellency James Sullivan Esquire, late Governor of this Commonwealth, ask leave to make the following Report, which is submitted. --- Elijah Brigham Jr. Order --- Commonwealth of Massachusetts ---

Whereas it has pleased the Almighty Ruler of the Universe to remove from this life His Excellency James Sullivan Esquire late Governor of this Commonwealth:

Resolved, that the members of the Legislature recognize with lively sensibility his Patriotism and his Talents - and in Testimony of their regret for the loss of him, their Chief Magistrate, will wear a black crape on the left arm the remainder of their present Session. And that the Hon[orable] the President of the Senate, and the Hon[orable] the Speaker of the House of Representatives address a respectful Letter to Mrs. Martha Sullivan, widow of the deceased in behalf of the Legislature, expressive of their sympathy with her and the bereaved Family; and that they enclose therein a copy of this Resolve. --- In Senate, Jan[uary] 30th, 1809 -- Read and unanimously accepted. ---- Sent down for Concurrence --- H. G. Otis Presdt. --- In the House of Representatives. - Jan. 30th, 1809 -- Read & Concurred, --

Timothy Bigelow Spkr." --- (Continued upon the next, inside page:) “Jan[uary] 31st, 1809, Approved, Levi Lincoln. --- Secretary’s Office Jan. 31st, 1809, -- True Copy, - Attest, -- (Signed) Wm. Tudor Secretary of the Commonwealth”.

Docket noted upon the blank last page reads: “1. Resolve of the Legislature concerning the late Governor. -- 2. Letter of President & Speaker. -- 3. Sketch of answer.”

This important historical Massachusetts Manuscript Document is of museum quality and is of the type that would typically only be located in an institutional collection. A Document of significance in the history of Massachusetts in its official Funeral Tribute to its 7th, now deceased beloved Governor, James Sullivan.
James Sullivan (April 22, 1744, Berwick, Maine – December 10, 1808) was a U.S. Political figure and served as Massachusetts’ Governor 1807–08.

For his services as a lawyer defending land claims in York County, Maine, in 1773 Sullivan was offered a portion within the tract. He accepted, and the property was organized as Limerick Plantation, named after County Limerick, Ireland, the birthplace of his father. In 1775, he helped settle the town, which on March 6, 1787 would be incorporated as Limerick, Maine.

In 1776, Sullivan was a judge in Massachusetts. Although he was elected to represent Massachusetts at the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783 he did not attend. From 1790 to 1807, he was the Republican Attorney General of Massachusetts and in 1801 prosecuted the Dedham murderer Jason Fairbanks. He also served as the Seventh Governor of Massachusetts between 1807 and 1808. He was the brother of John Sullivan.

He died in office on December 10, 1808, aged 64, and was interred in the Boston Common Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts.