1779 - JOHN JAY DOCUMENT SIGNED APPOINTMENT
AS PRESIDENT OF CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

A Scarce Memento of the Continental Congress signed by John Jay. He was in Office as President only Nine Months before being sent to Spain to Raise money and gain European support for the Colonies. Jay was the consummate American Factotum.

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[Please note that the darkened areas are not stains or discolorations, they are the result of
natural wrinkles  in the vellum (parchment) which throw out shadows during scanning]

JOHN JAY (1745 -1829)

Statesman, Diplomat, Jurist, Second youngest Delegate to the Continental Congress, John Jay authored New York State's Constitution, became its first Chief Justice, then returned to the Continental Congress as President, was Ambassador to Spain, negotiated the Peace Treaty of Paris with Great Britain that ended the Revolution, was appointed Secretary of State, co-authored the Federalist Papers with Madison and Hamilton, became first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Negotiated "Jay's Treaty" with Great Britain and finally served two terms as Governor of the State of New York.

Historical Note

Jay was born in New York City and graduated with highest honors from King's College (now Columbia Univ.) in 1764. In 1768 he was admitted to the bar and for a time was a partner of Robert R. Livingston. His marriage to Sarah Livingston allied him with that influential family. In pre-Revolutionary activities he reflected the views of the conservative colonial merchant class, opposing British actions but not favoring independence. Once the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, however, he energetically supported the patriot cause. As a Delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses he wrote a famous address to the people of Great Britain. Returning in 1777 to the Provincial Congress of New York, he guided the drafting of the first New York state constitution. Jay was then appointed Chief Justice of New York but left that post in December 1778 to become President of the Continental Congress. Nine months Later he was sent as Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain to secure financial aid. In 1781 he was appointed one of the Commissioners to negotiate peace with Great Britain and joined Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Jay declined further diplomatic appointments in Europe and returned to America to find that Congress had appointed him Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Secretary of State), a post he held (1784–89) for the duration of the government under the Articles of Confederation. Although he was able to secure minor treaties, he found it impossible under the Articles of Confederation to make progress in the settlement of major disputes with Great Britain and Spain, a situation that caused him to become one of the strongest advocates of a more powerful central government. He contributed five articles to The Federalist Papers, dealing chiefly with the Constitution in relation to foreign affairs. Under Washington's new government Jay became the First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1789–95). In 1793 he concurred in Justice Wilson's opinion in Chisholm v. Georgia which led to the passing of the Eleventh Amendment. When the still unsettled controversies of the Peace Treaty with Great Britain threatened to involve the United States in war, Jay was again drafted for a mission to England in 1794, where he concluded what is known as Jay's Treaty. Returning home Jay found he had been elected Governor of New York due to the efforts of his friend and fellow Federalist, Alexander Hamilton; he served two terms (1795–1801). Despite intense pressure and party machinations, Jay was a popular Governor and stood for Political, Judicial and Penal Reform, as well as the abolition of slavery. He declined re-election and also re-nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court and retired to his farm at Bedford in Westchester county for the remaining 28 years of his life.

One page Document – Signed and Dated: April 10, 1779
Text as Follows:

The United States of America in Congress Assembled

To John Boyd, Gentleman Greeting. We Reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity Do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be a Lieutenant in the Third Pennsylvania Regiment in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such from the 20th day of May A.D. 1777. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Lieutenant by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, as Lieutenant. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, a Committee of the States, or Commander in Chief for the time being of the Army of the United States, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the rules and disciplines of War, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue inforce until revoked by this, or a future Congress, the Committee of Congress before mentioned, or a Committee of the States.

Witness his Excellency John Jay Esquire President of the Congress of the United States of America, at Philadelphia the tenth day of April 1779, and in the Third Year of our Independence
Entered in the War Office
And Examined by the Board                                                                  John Jay [signature]
Attest Peter Scull [signature], Secretary of the Board of War

The attestation is by Peter Scull who was the Secretary of the Board of War (War Department), his brother was the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania and Peter went on to represent America as a delegate to France during the War. John Boyd's (the subject of this commission) first recorded service is from July of 1776 when he was the paymaster for Colonel Aeneas M'Coy's battalion which was posted to Pittsburgh at the disposal of the Commission on Indian Affairs to protect the western frontier. In December of 1776 he was appointed paymaster for Colonel Mackay's Third Pennsylvania Battalion and one of a handful of men who were authorized by Congress as "Signers of Money", meaning they had the authority to issue "Continental Script", essentially create paper money, with which to pay for troops and supplies. He later was a Founder of the Pennsylvania Society.

John Jay had an incomparable career that had a significant impact upon the formulation and development of the American Judiciary as well as American Foreign Policy. The second youngest representative to the First Continental Congress, Jay had a history of being given historic posts and missions despite his modesty. On April 12th, 1779, just two days after signing Boyd's commission, Jay writes to Washington enclosing four Lieutenants commissions and the Papers on General Benedict Arnold's Court Martial. Here is a wonderful opportunity to have a scarce piece of American Revolutionary War History signed by one of the great architects of America.

Document Specifications:  Fine Document on Vellum, signed by "John Jay" as President of the Continental Congress and dated "Philadelphia April 10, 1779". Page measures approximately 11" wide x 6½" tall (280 x 165 mm). Four vertical and one horizontal original file folds, some heavy, with one slightly touching the "J" in "John", some wrinkling of vellum (parchment) which is normal. Commission of John Boyd as Lieutenant in the Third Pennsylvania Regiment, approved by Peter Scull, Secretary of the Board of War. Due to his short term in office, this is a rare Continental Congress Document signed by the President John Jay.

 Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.