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1785 MESHECH WEARE Signed Document as President of New Hampshire

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
1785 MESHECH WEARE Signed Document as President of New Hampshire
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Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
1785 Meshech Weare Signed Document as President, N.H.
MESHECH WEARE (1713-1786). “President” (Governor) of New Hampshire from 1776 to 1785, Chairman of the Revolutionary War Committee of Safety, and Signer of Colonial Currency.
May 18, 1785-Dated, Ornate Typeset Partially-Printed Document Signed, “M Weare” as (President), 1 page, measuring 15.75” x 12.75”, ordering that Peace be kept in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Fine. This authentic, historic Document has a large 2.75” marvelous paper and wax official embossed Seal of the State of New Hampshire at upper left and is boldly Signed by Meshech Weare at its conclusion in bold deep brown ink, measuring about 3” long. A highly uncommon Document which appoints a number of Justices of the Peace and reads, in part:

"… punish all persons … who shall threaten any others in the Persons or in burning their houses ..and if they shall refute to find such Security, then to cause them to be safely kept in Prison in Portsmouth or Exeter..."

"Know Ye, That you, and each of you, are assigned jointly and severally Justices to keep the Peace in the County of Rockingham within the said State of New-Hampshire... and if they shall refuse to find such Security, then to cause them to be safely kept in the Prison in Portsmouth or Exeter in said County, until they find such security."

Notation on the blank reverse noting two persons having taken the “Oath of Allegience” on May 31, 1785 at Exeter; Nathaniel Peabody and Joseph Gelman.

This Document is in nice condition with expected folds, small pinholes and minor fold wear paper loss, and age. “Printed by Melcher & Osborne, Print. 1785.” All text within ornate typeset outer marginal border designs. The first we have offered of this type and content.
Meshech Weare (1713-1786) was the first “Governor” of New Hampshire under its first Constitution. On January 5, 1776, New Hampshire became the first American state to adopt a formal Constitution. Meshech Weare was a leader in the drafting of this document, which served as the basic instrument of government until the adoption of a second and more permanent Constitution in 1784.

Under this first Constitution, there was no established executive, and the legislature was supreme. In practice, however, executive power was delegated to a Committee of Safety, consisting of eight or ten legislative leaders. This committee had full power to act on behalf of the government while the legislature was not in session.

After a brief interval, Meshech Weare was elected Chairman of the Committee of Safety and served in this capacity through out the Revolution. Because the state had no chief executive, Weare, as Chairman of the Committee of Safety, could be considered the first Governor of New Hampshire.

During 1786-1791, under the second Constitution, the chief executive of New Hampshire was known as the “President” of New Hampshire, but the title was then changed to Governor. Previously, Weare had served in the Colonial House of Representatives of New Hampshire during the mid 1700’s, sometimes as its Speaker.

He was one of the Signers of the July 1762 issue of New Hampshire currency. In the 1780’s Jonathan Blanchard (1738-1788) was a State Senator, Member of the Continental Congress, and Brigadier General of the New Hampshire Militia.