22

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Signed Autograph Document

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:20,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Signed Autograph Document
Autographs

Exceptional George Washington Signed Autograph Document Entirely Written In Washington’s Hand and Signed a total of Five Times !

GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-December 14, 1799). 1st President of the United States.
CHARLES WASHINGTON (1738-1799). Youngest Brother of George Washington, a son of Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington.

August 3rd, 1770, Autograph Document Signed, “G. Washington” being completely written in George Washington’s Own Hand, Also Signed, “George Washington” using his full name within the written text portions, an additional Four Times, Framed, Very Fine. It is also Signed, “Chas. Washington” as witness, among others. This agreement is nicely written in brown ink that is very clear and easily readable, being a bit light overall and rating about a 7 to 8 out of 10. It has had expert professional conservation. This letter is 1 page, measuring 8” x 12” being an Agreement in which Washington is promised one-third of the land due to George Muse (1720-1790) of Caroline County, for his service as an officer during the French and Indian War. This remarkable Document reads, in full:
“Articles of agreement made and concluded upon this third day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy, between George Muse of the County of Caroline & Colony of Virginia Gent". of the one part, & George Washington of the County of Fairfax Colony aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth that the said George Muse hath this day agreed, and doth for himself his Heirs Exrs. Adm". and assigns firmly engage, to let the said George Washington his Heirs or assigns have one full third part of all land which he the said Muse now is, or hereafter shall be entitled to under Gov', Dinwiddies Proclamation of the 19th of Felb. in the y’ 1754. & that he his Heirs Executors, or Admrs, will at any time when thereunto required by the said George Washington his heirs or assigns make over and convey in a full clear and ample manner as his or their Right Title and Intere[st] thereto - In consideration whereof the said George Washington doth hereby agree for himself his Heirs [illegible] at all the cost and charges which shall arise in Surveying and securing the said Muses share of the above grant (the expense of seating and settling the same excepted) and permit him the said Muse his Heirs & d[itt]. to have hold & enjoy the other two thirds of the said share free from any expense or cost except as before excepted. In witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hand and seals the day and year above written, & have each the other passd a Bond for the due and faithful [perlforman[ce] [thereof] [illegible] these presents. -
Signed & Sealed in - presence of -- Fielding Lewis - James Hunter - Chas. Washington --- Geo. Muse {seal} -- Go: Washington {seal}”
_________
In this Agreement, Washington discusses the costs of surveying, disposition etc. and further concluding that Muse shall "have hold & enjoy the other two thirds of the said share free from any expense or cost except as before excepted ... " In addition to George Washington, this document is boldly Signed by his brother Charles Washington, George Muse, [Colonel] Fielding Lewis and James Hunter, whose Works supplied Washington's mill operations. Bright red wax seal remnants are present beside the two principals' Signatures, Washington and Muse. Some paper loss at edges and fold separations are professionally repaired and reinforced together with restoration of a small portion of single signature within text to even legibility. It is Beautifully Framed for display, with custom suede matte, with gilt fillets beside full-length color portrait of the first President, and a printed full transcript. All this is housed under special UV Plexiglas, within a superb (very expensive) ornate frame, overall measuring to 26” x 27” and ready to prominently hang on display.
Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia issued a Proclamation granting 200,000 acres of land on the Ohio River to be divided among the troops who fought in the French and Indian War. The claims of the officers and soldiers to those lands met with innumerable obstacles for many years, first from England, and then from the authorities in Virginia. On Aug 3, 1770 George Washington penned and executed this agreement with George Muse. This being his best effort to secure the land that they might be entitled to as bounty under Governor Dinwiddie's proclamation.
Muse was an officer serving under Washington in 1754. He was found Guilty of Cowardice at Fort Necessity, and was discharged in disgrace. Knowing that he had a somewhat “tenuous” claim for any bounty land, Muse here contracted with Washington, in order to use his influence with the government to obtain his bounty land grant. Historians have implied that Washington acted on Muse' behalf with no thought of compensation, but this original source document indicates a very different story. Indeed, Washington wanted one third of the land for his services. Ultimately, Washington would regret becoming entangled with Muse, whom he knew prior to the war. One month after this deed was recorded Washington received a letter from Muse, apparently written in a drunken state, complaining about his share. Disgusted, Washington warned him that his claim did not ''stand on so solid a basis as you may imagine... as your coming in for any, much less a full share may still be a disputed point... " Pointedly, he also added that he regretted assisting, "'so ungrateful and dirty a fellow as you are.. ." [John C. Fitzpatrick, editor, The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799]. Overall, this is a remarkable and historic George Washington written document with a great story, Signed “George Washington” four separate times within the written text, and once more with the familiar “Go: Washington” at its conclusion.