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Autographs/K: Quaker Affirmations, Signed Four Times By Colonial Governor William Keith

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Autographs/K: Quaker Affirmations, Signed Four Times By Colonial Governor William Keith
WILLIAM KEITH, Colonial Governor of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Rare manuscript Document Signed, "W Keith" four times as Governor, 4 pages, November 27, 1725, 12.5" x 8", Fine. A set of four documents, the first being a summary, and the other three being individual affidavits signed by one man and two women, guaranteeing the good behavior of a new arrival to Philadelphia from South Wales, one Samuel Powell. William Keith signs each page. The first page notes that John Morgan, Lydia Harry, and Mary Lewis appeared before Keith; also present were "Nathan Cowman, John Whiteside, & John Gillyat marriners belonging to the Ship Sizargh of Whitehaven, now lying in the Port of Philadelphia...who are persons unto me well known...." The three affidavits are signed by Quakers, each document noting that the guarantor is "one of the People called Quakers who conscientiously scruple to take an oath, upon his [or her] solemn affirmation allowed to Quakers instead of an Oath in this Governm...." The four pages are backed with parchment, to which the heavy wax seal is affixed. The documents are toned, with some spotting; a split at center fold affects one signature; the parchment is yellowed and stained. Keith's signatures are very large, signed in light brown ink. William Keith was a Scottish baronet who became governor in 1717. He dealt fairly with the Indians, encouraged the Germans to settle, assisted in founding a sound medium of paper currency for the province, and acknowledged the Quakers' right to affirmation, rather than swearing oaths, as evidenced in these documents. He was at odds with the proprietary powers, however, and was dismissed from his post in 1726. Back in London, he was sometimes asked for advice on colonial matters, but in 1734 found himself in debtor's prison, where he died in 1749.