July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799) First President of the United States and commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Manuscript Document Signed “G. Washington” City of New York, September 26, 1789, 11” x 10-1/2.” Document has a bold headline, “George Washington President of the United States of America” and continues with an appointment, in part, “Know Ye that reposing a special trust and confidence in the integrity, ability and (minor paper loss) of Nathaniel Ramsay of Maryland ... do appoint him Marshall (minor paper loss affects “Mar”) of and for the Maryland district and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of that office ... and to have and to hold the office with all the Powers, Privileges and Emoluments to the same ... for the term of four years ...” The Washington signature is large (3-1/4”), no ink gaps, retaining +/- 85% of its original dark color. The document is neat and clean save for the two small folding holes mentioned. A full and near perfect paper seal is retained. Presented in a modern frame with plaque and Washington engraving. Nathaniel Ramsay (1741-1817) was an American lawyer from Cecil County Maryland, was a delegate to the Maryland Convention (the revolutionary assembly) in 1775, in 1776 he joined the Continental Army as a captain in Colonel Smallwood's 1st Maryland Regiment, and went north in time to see action in the Battle of Long Island in August. In December he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and placed in command of the 3rd Maryland Regiment. He led them in the defense of Philadelphia in 1777. At the Battle of Monmouth, in June 1778, Ramsay was asked by General Washington to stop the British advance after General Lee's initial retreat, and gain time for Washington to rally his other troops. He did so, but his regiment took heavy casualties. Ramsay himself was seriously wounded, left for dead, and taken prisoner. By the time he was exchanged, his regiment had gone south with General Nathaniel Greene's forces. He returned to Maryland, and retired from the army on January 1, 1781, and resumed the practice of law in Cecil County. Ramsay moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1783, and practiced law there. He represented Maryland in the Congress of the Confederation in New York in 1786 and 1787. After the establishment of the Federal government in 1789, President Washington appointed him the first U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland, with his offices in Baltimore. He held this post from 1790 to 1798.
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