Details
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, President. Autograph legal document signed ("Stuart & Lincoln"), Sangamon County, 3 October 1837. 1 page, folio, 302 x 193 mm. (11 7/8 x 7 1/8 in.), a small piece at left-hand edge cleanly detached (repairable), lightly browned.
AN UNUSUALLY EARLY LEGAL DOCUMENT, WRITTEN SIX MONTHS AFTER LINCOLN COMMENCED THE PRACTICE OF LAW
A previously unknown legal document of considerable interest for its very early date. In the autobiographical notes prepared by Lincoln in 1860 for his presidential campaign, Lincoln explained simply that "in the autumn of 1836 he obtained a law licence, and on April 15, 1837 removed to Springfield, and commenced the practice [of law], his old friend Stuart taking him into partnership" Collected Works, ed. R.P. Basler, 4:65). The present unpublished legal document concerns the case of Hill vs. McNabb. McNabb, who owed money to Hill, had apparently fled the state to escape creditors; Hill, apparently aware that McNabb had left property in the hands of others, here attempts to recover his debt by a garnishment of the assets of the two other men. "This day personally appeared Samuel Hill, who after being duly sworn, deposes and says that Robert McNabb is justly indebted to him in the sum of" $207.72 3/4 "lawful money...upon four several promissary notes, one of which was at first execution in favour of the said Hill, and the other three in favour of one Nelson Alley and since assigned by him to the said Hill; that the said McNabb has departed from this state with the intention of having his effects and personal estate removed without the limits of this state; and that said McNabb has some personal property now in the county of Sangamon...." Beneath the affadavit, Lincoln requests that "The clerk of the Sangamon Circuit Court will issue a writ of attachment...together with a garnishee for Thomas Elmore and Elijah Elmore, returned to the next term of said court...."
AN UNUSUALLY EARLY LEGAL DOCUMENT, WRITTEN SIX MONTHS AFTER LINCOLN COMMENCED THE PRACTICE OF LAW
A previously unknown legal document of considerable interest for its very early date. In the autobiographical notes prepared by Lincoln in 1860 for his presidential campaign, Lincoln explained simply that "in the autumn of 1836 he obtained a law licence, and on April 15, 1837 removed to Springfield, and commenced the practice [of law], his old friend Stuart taking him into partnership" Collected Works, ed. R.P. Basler, 4:65). The present unpublished legal document concerns the case of Hill vs. McNabb. McNabb, who owed money to Hill, had apparently fled the state to escape creditors; Hill, apparently aware that McNabb had left property in the hands of others, here attempts to recover his debt by a garnishment of the assets of the two other men. "This day personally appeared Samuel Hill, who after being duly sworn, deposes and says that Robert McNabb is justly indebted to him in the sum of" $207.72 3/4 "lawful money...upon four several promissary notes, one of which was at first execution in favour of the said Hill, and the other three in favour of one Nelson Alley and since assigned by him to the said Hill; that the said McNabb has departed from this state with the intention of having his effects and personal estate removed without the limits of this state; and that said McNabb has some personal property now in the county of Sangamon...." Beneath the affadavit, Lincoln requests that "The clerk of the Sangamon Circuit Court will issue a writ of attachment...together with a garnishee for Thomas Elmore and Elijah Elmore, returned to the next term of said court...."