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MOSES GILL Governor of Mass. (1799–1800) 3x Signed Treasury Office Pay Form

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,400.00 - 1,800.00 USD
MOSES GILL Governor of Mass. (1799–1800) 3x Signed Treasury Office Pay Form
Federal Period
Unique Massachusetts Treasury Office “Bearer” Payment Form to Moses Gill and Signed Thrice by Gill on the Verso
MOSES GILL (1734-1800). Acting Governor of Massachusetts (1799–1800) and its first to die while in office. In 1774 Member Provincial Assembly dissolved by Governor Thomas Gage in punishment for the Boston Tea Party, Member Provincial Congress until its Constitution was adopted in 1780. Active at the Siege of Boston, delegated with General Artemas Ward to meet George Washington in Springfield and escort him to the Army camps outside Boston, and Opponent to Slavery.
Not Listed in Anderson. Rarity-10 (Unique to our best knowledge). May 25, 1789-Dated Federal Period, Highly unusual Completely Hand-Drawn Manuscript Document Pay Order to Moses Gill, Signed Thrice, “Moses Gill” as endorsed on its verso, Choice Very Fine. Unique, Hand-Drawn Treasury Office Form and Unknown in its design, officially Signed by the State of Massachusett Treasurer “Alex Hodgden, Treas.”. Made to Moses Gill, one page, measuring about 7.5” x 3.75”, trimmed close at right, designed with a fancy red script border design at left and red outlines with serial number. It reads, in full:

“Treasury Office -- Boston, 25 May 1789 -- These Certify that the Sum of Two hundred and Eleven pounds Four shillings discharged in this Office by Thomas Cushing Esq., Executor to the Hon’ble Thomas Cushing Esq. is due to the Hon’ble Moses Gill Esq to be paid to him or his order on Demand when in Cash unappropriated. - (Signed) Alex Hodgden, Treas.”

The first and only example of this design we have ever seen and offered. Manuscript cancel across the Treasurers name, Signed Thrice with notations on the reverse “Moses Gill” showing receipt of partial payments dating November 6, 1789; January 16, 1790 and February 5th, 1790 being then paid “in full”.
Moses Gill (January 18, 1734 – May 20, 1800) was a Massachusetts politician who briefly served as the State's Acting Governor. He is the State's only acting Governor to die in office. A successful Businessman and the brother of the historic Boston Printer John Gill (1732-1785). He became one of the leading settlers of Princeton, Massachusetts, entering politics shortly before the American Revolutionary War. In 1774 Moses Gill entered politics, winning election to the Mass. Provincial Assembly.

The assembly was dissolved by Governor Thomas Gage under the terms of the Massachusetts Government Act (a punishment of Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party), but its members met shortly afterwards and reconstituted themselves as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

Gill served on this body's executive council, which functioned as the de facto executive of the state until its constitution was adopted in 1780. When the American Revolutionary War broke in April 1775, Gill became involved in the early military organization of the Siege of Boston, heading the provincial congress' supply committee.

He was also delegated, along with General Artemas Ward, to meet George Washington in Springfield and escort him to the army camps outside Boston.

Because of his prominence in Worcester County Gill was appointed to the county's district court when it was reorganized after the revolution began. In this role he sat on the panel that heard the preliminary cases in 1781 involving Quock Walker, an African American seeking a declaration of his freedom. Gill's panel decided in Walker's favor, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court eventually confirmed the judgments on appeal, declaring that Slavery was incompatible with the state constitution

He served on the Massachusetts Provincial Congress's executive committee until the state adopted its constitution in 1780, after which he continued to serve on the state's Governor's Council.

Elected Lieutenant Governor in 1794, he served in that office under Governors Samuel Adams and Increase Sumner until the latter died shortly after winning reelection in 1799. Gill served an apparently undistinguished term as acting governor until his own death in 1800, ten days before his successor, Caleb Strong, assumed office.

Gill was a significant benefactor and founder of Leicester Academy, and supported the congregational church in Princeton, where the family had a large estate.

Moses Gill was born on January 18, 1734 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the oldest neighborhood in Boston. Gill became a merchant in Boston where he lived with his wife Sarah Prince, the daughter of Thomas Prince, pastor of Boston's Old South Church, from whom they inherited a large tract of land in what is now Princeton, Massachusetts. In 1771 Sarah died, and Gill remarried to Rebecca Boylston whose family was well known in Boston. Gill continued to spend a great amount of time in Princeton where he was a member of the Congregational Church of Princeton.

Gill had retired from his business in 1767, and began his political career seven years later with his election to the provincial assembly. Shortly after his election, Britain abrogated the assembly as punishment for the Boston Tea Party; however, the members continued to meet as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Gill, already a member of the Sons of Liberty, continued to be involved when the Revolutionary War broke out in early 1775. During the Siege of Boston, Gill served as the head of the provincial congress' supply committee. Gill also had the honor of escorting George Washington from Springfield to the army camps outside of Boston.

In 1780 when Massachusetts adopted its constitution, Gill was elected to the state senate and began serving on the Governor's Council. Gill was also chosen to serve on the Worcester County district court. After a failed run for election to the United States House of Representatives in 1789, Gill continued serving in Massachusetts. In 1794 he was elected lieutenant governor; a post to which he was reelected annually. Gill served first under Samuel Adams and then under Increase Sumner who died early in his term. Gill became acting governor and completed Sumner's term in office. Although Gill was considered as a candidate for election the following year, he was not popular. Before hearing that he had not received the office, Gill died while still in office on May 20, 1800.

Throughout his life, Gill was a philanthropist, donating to his church and community including the donation of land which became the town center of Princeton. Gill, Massachusetts was named in honor of Moses Gill and all his contributions to the state of Massachusetts.