FINE DOCUMENT SIGNED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, DATED MAY 30, 1787, THE SAME DAY THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION PROPOSED “A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE ESTABLISHED CONSISTING OF A SUPREME LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE & JUDICIARY”: WITH THE OFFICIAL ORNATE EMBOSSED STATE SEAL OF PENNSYLVANIA

FRANKLIN, Benjamin. Manuscript document signed by Benjamin Franklin. Philadelphia, May 30, 1787. Single sheet of vellum (15-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches), manuscript hand, embossed paper seals on recto and verso.

Exceptional May 30, 1787 original manuscript document in a secretarial hand, boldly signed by Benjamin Franklin as President of Pennsylvania, in a magnificent signature of over two inches and with his multi-looped bold flourish. This rare official document, granting the sale of land to Peter Millhouse, is dated only two days after Franklin made his first and much heralded appearance, as a Pennsylvania delegate, to the Constitutional Convention, and is signed by him the same day the Convention, newly convened in Philadelphia, proposed “That a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive & Judiciary.” with original fragile embossed paper Seal of Pennsylvania.

The rare official document, dated May 30, 1787, is boldly signed by Benjamin Franklin as President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, in effect the state’s Governor, beneath the embossed Seal of Pennsylvania. Franklin was then not only the state’s president, but also a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which convened in Philadelphia five days before the date of this document. Franklin, then ill, made his slightly delayed first appearance at the Constitutional Convention on Monday, May 28, two days before the date of this document. He “arrived to take his seat at one of the 14 round tables of East Room of the statehouse. According to some later accounts, it was a grand entrance… Throughout his life, Franklin had, by his thoughts and activities, helped to lay the foundation for the democratic republic that this constitution enshrined” (Isaacson, 446, 458). It was at the conclusion of the Convention in September that Franklin would make his famous speech, commenting on a carving of the sun on the back of Washington’s chair. Franklin observed that during the pitched debates of that summer, he had often been unable to tell “whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.” Franklin is the only Founding Father whose signature appears on all four of the seminal documents in America’s founding: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Treaty of Alliance with France, and the United States Constitution. He held the office of the President of Pennsylvania from October 1785 until October 1787. It is in that capacity that Franklin signed this official document on the same day the Constitutional Convention proposed “a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive & Judiciary.” Franklin had instead long “favored a legislation with only one directly elected house, seeing little reason to place checks on the democratic will of the people… But in its first week the convention decided this was, in fact, too democratic by half’ (Isaacson, 448).

The text, entirely in manuscript, reads: “The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To all to whom these Presents shall Come Greeting. Know ye that in Consideration of the Monies paid by Jonathan Cable into the Receiver Generals [sic] Office of this Commonwealth at the granting of the Warrant herein after mentioned there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto [“the” crossed over] Peter Millhouse—A Certain Tract of land of land called “Milltowns” Situate on the Waters of Elk Sick Crick in Brothers Valley Township—Bedford County Beginning at a Magnolia Tree a Corner of Joseph Mosts [sic] land thence by the same North twenty degrees West forty six perches and two tenths to a Maple South fifty degrees East sixty three perches to a Chestnut Tree and North sixty five degrees East fifty one perches to a post thence by land of Chew and Wilcocks South thirty six degrees East ninety four perches and eight tenths to a Corner White Oak thence by vacant land South sixty five degrees West seventy eight perches and one tenth to a Chestnut Tree and South twenty degrees East thirty five perches and eight tenths to a Red Oak thence by land of Peter Seving and South fifty degrees West ninety four perches to Stones thence by vacant land on land of Peter Miller North seventy degrees West thirty perches to an Hickory and South seventy degrees West ten perches to a Corner post of Solomon Cable’s land thence by the same North thirty seven degrees West One hundred and fifty six perches and an half to the place of Beginning Containing Two hundred and six Acres and three quarters and allowance of Sixty Cent for Roads With the Appurtenances (which said Tract was surveyed in pursuance of a Warrant granted to the said Jonathan Cable dates the 23 November 1784. Who by deed dated 9 May Instant conveyed the same to the said Peter Millhouse in fee To have and to hold the said Tract on parcel of Land with the Appurtenances unto the said Peter Millhouse and his heirs to the use of him the said Peter Millhouse his Heirs and Assigns forever free and clear of all Restrictions and Reservations to Monies Royalties Quit Cents or otherwise excepting and reserving only the fifth part of all Gold and silver Ore for the life of this Commonwealth to be delivered at the Pits Mouth clear of all charges. In Witness whereof this Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esquire President of the Supreme Executive Council hath hereto set his hand and caused the State Seal to be hereto affixed in Council this—thirtieth day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Commonwealth the Eleventh Attest [signed] James Trimble for John Armstrong jun Secty.” Trimble served as Deputy Secretary of Pennsylvania from 1777 until his death in 1836. Peter Millhouse lived in York County during the Revolution and, as this document attests, subsequently bought land in Bedford County. On the upper left corner of document recto is the original fragile, ornate paper Seal of Pennsylvania with six (of eight) intact points to the star, embossed with the less commonly used reverse face of the Seal of Pennsylvania. Upper right corner of document verso with the obverse face of embossed paper Seal of Pennsylvania (circular with rippled border, complete without star points). The obverse and reverse embossed state seals on this document, which contains the date of May 30, 1787, are among the earliest states of the Seal of Pennsylvania, as it was adopted only about 1778, shortly after the beginning of the American Revolution. The seal features a woman with a sword, representing Liberty, trampling Tyranny, represented by a lion, with the entire design being encircled by the legend “Both Can’t Survive.” Upper left corner of document verso docketed in manuscript hand: “Enrolled in the Rolls Office, for the State of Pennsylvania in the Patent Book N.W. Page 164. Witness my hand Seal of Office the 2nd June A.D. 1787 Math. Irwin M.R.” alongside the embossed paper Seal of the Inrollment Office of Pennsylvania, affixed with red wax. Irwin was Master of the Rolls from 1785-1800. In central lower half of document verso, in large manuscript hand: “Patent Peter Millhouses 206 3/4 Acres Bedford Country.” Owner signature to lower right corner of document verso.

Signature large and fine, mild creases at foldlines not touching Franklin’s signature or flourish. A most desirable signed document, quite rare with seals intact, in fine condition.