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1774 Document Signed Andrew Allen PA Loyalist Member of the Continental Congress

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:375.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
1774 Document Signed Andrew Allen PA Loyalist Member of the Continental Congress
American Revolution
1774 Document Signed By “Andrew Allen” Pennsylvania Loyalist Who Was a Member of the Continental Congress !
July Sessions 1774-Dated Pre-Revolutionary War. Manuscript Document Signed, “Andrew Allen Atty. Genl.,” as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, also Signed “Thomas Smith,” who was also a Delegate to the Continental Congress, Choice Fine.
This is a rather remarkable and rare, original Manuscript Document Signed, “Andrew Allen,” who was member of Continental Congress and a British “Loyalist” who was opposed to American Independence from Britain. This 12” x 7.5” document is an indictment of Aquila White for an assault. It is dated “July Sessions 1774” and is boldly Signed by Allen as the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. In 1776 he was a Delegate in the Continental Congress, but resigned because he was opposed to Independence. He traveled to New York where he was to advise the Committee of Safety on the city's defense. When the British drove Washington's army out and occupied New York, Allen fled to the British lines, fearing for his personal safety. He took the necessary oaths of allegiance to the King, and then went to England. After he was attainted of treason by Act of Assembly, and Andrew Allen's landed estate was confiscated by the American Congress.

This document is also Signed by Thomas Smith, who was also a Delegate to the Continental Congress. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Smith served as a deputy colonel of militia. He was a Delegate to Pennsylvania's Constitutional Convention in 1776, and elected as a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1776 until 1780. Smith was then chosen to be a Delegate to the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1782.

Andrew Allen’s signature is bold and clear of any fold line, while Smith’s has a light fold through the top portion and a small fold wear hole to the right, just missing his signature. It measures 8” x 12” and is well written on laid, rag-content laid period watermarked paper with slight tone heavier at the olds, plus two very small intersection of fold holes from wear. This is a very rare document bearing two elusive signatures and one truly remarkable Revolutionary War related story!
Andrew Allen was a son of Chief-Justice William Allen, attended the Academy and College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania) from 1751 to 1759; his student notebooks are housed in the University Archives. After graduating from the College of Philadelphia, he studied law first with his father and then at the Temple in London. After his return, Allen was admitted to the Philadelphia bar. Allen became Provincial Attorney-General in 1769. He also held a number of local offices, including service as Philadelphia Recorder and member of the City Council. In 1776 he was a delegate in the Continental Congress, but resigned because he was opposed to independence. He travelled to New York where he was to advise the Committee of Safety on the city's defense. When the British drove Washington's army out and occupied New York, Allen fled to the British lines, fearing for his personal safety. He took the necessary oaths of allegiance to the king and then went to England. After he was attainted of treason by Act of Assembly, Andrew Allen's landed estate was confiscated by the American Congress. Allen served as a trustee of the College and Academy of Philadelphia from 1775 until he fled the city as a Loyalist. Allen participated in a number of other cultural institutions in Philadelphia, and helped found the First City Troop, but he died in London in 1825.

Thomas Smith (1745 – March 31, 1809) was a Politician and Jurist from Pennsylvania. Smith was born near Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He attended the University of Edinburgh, and then migrated to the United States, where he settled in Bedford, Pennsylvania on February 9, 1769. He became a deputy surveyor that same year. Smith then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing as a lawyer in 1772. He became a deputy register of wills and prothonotary in 1773, and a Justice of the Peace in 1774. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Smith served as a deputy colonel of militia. He was a delegate to Pennsylvania's Constitutional Convention in 1776, and elected as a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1776 until 1780. Smith was then chosen to be a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1782. He was later a judge of the court of common pleas in 1791, and finally on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1794 until 1809. Smith died in Philadelphia and was buried in Christ Church Burial Ground.