Robert Morris Signed North American Land Company

Important financier who signed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution (1734-1806). Partly-printed DS, signed “Rob't Morris,” one page, 12.5 x 9.75, April 18, 1795. Document certifying that "Dr. Enoch Edwards is entitled to one Shares in the entire Property of the North American Land Company, the Dividend whereof shall not be less than Six Dollars on each Share Annually." Boldly signed at the conclusion by Morris as the company's president and countersigned by James Marshall as secretary. In very good condition, signature and document in better condition than most of the ones that have come to market.

ROBERT MORRIS (1734 - 1806). Often called "The Financier of the American Revolution. Morris signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. His downfall after the revolution came through land speculation. Morris first gained attention when he headed two of the Continental Congress' most important committees (1776-1778), one to obtain war materials, and the other to instruct overseas diplomats. He was one of the best known merchants in the colonies, and thus his business experience led to his appointment as superintendent of finance in 1781.

Morris set the company up with the aid of John Nicholson and James Greenleaf offered 30,000 shares at $100.00 per share and they guaranteed investors a six-percent annual dividend. North American Land Company's holdings were scattered over America approcahing 6,000,000 acres between Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. Revenues from installment sales and share sales did not come in quickly enough to meet the loan and tax.

The North American Land Company finally collapsed, forcing Morris into bankruptcy. In February 1798, Morris was placed in Prune Street Debtors' Prison, where he remained until August 1801. Morris was released due to the enactment of the first Federal Bankruptcy Law (April 4, 1800, exactly six years after he signed this document), which allowed the assets of indebted merchants and brokers to be seized and sold in order to pay the bankrupt's debts.

James Marshall was the brother of John Marshall, the first Chief of the Supreme Court. Marshall also served in Alexander Hamilton's Regiment, he was a commercial agent in France during the Reign of Terror in France and as an agent of George Washington, he also negotiated the release of Lafayette from prison in Austria.

Enoch Edwards (1751 – April 18, 1802, Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American physician and a leading Patriot during the American Revolution. Born in Byberry Township, Pennsylvania, Edwards was a member of the Provincial Congress in Carpenters' Hall on June 18, 1776, which led to the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776. He was also a signatory of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution. During the war he served as attending physician for George Washington,was a close friend of both Benjamin Rush and Thomas Jefferson, and kept up correspondence with James Monroe and John Quincy Adams.

Auction Notepad