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Lot 58: 1808 Signed Doc. by 2 NY Governors

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Lot   58: 1808 Signed Doc. by 2 NY Governors
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>Two Governors On One Document!</b>

<b>MORGAN LEWIS & DE WITT CLINTON, Two Early Governors of New York Take A Hand in Appointing a Notary Public.</b>
Document Signed, by Lewis as Governor and Clinton as Mayor of New York City, appointing and swearing-in Patrick G. Hildreth as a Notary Public; 1 page, 18.5' x 13', Albany, March 19, 1808. Choice; some separation at a fold, reinforced by archival repair tape, is this handsome documentÕs only flaw. As 'Governor...General and Commander in Chief of all of the Militia and Admiral of the Navy' Lewis appoints a Notary Public; on the verso, Clinton has signed a four-line endorsement stating 'Be it remembered that on the 22nd day of April 1806 appeared before me the within named Patrick G. Hildreth and took the Oath prescribed by Law.'

Ever since a notarius took notes during legal actions in ancient Rome, notary publics have been with us, to certify the validity of documents and perform a variety of formal witnessing duties. Here, in the United States, some of the very first notaries were appointed by the President of the United States. But this proved to be cumbersome and the states soon took over - hence this document.

De Witt Clinton and Morgan Lewis were, incidentally, bitter political enemies.