{"product_id":"1800-stephen-longfellow-signed-court-writ-father-of-henry-wadsworth-longfellow-early-maine-legal-manuscript","title":"1800 Stephen Longfellow Signed Court Writ – Father of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Early Maine Legal Manuscript","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"3701\" data-end=\"4073\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eOriginal Commonwealth of Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas writ issued in \u003cstrong data-start=\"3777\" data-end=\"3818\"\u003eCumberland County (District of Maine)\u003c\/strong\u003e on \u003cstrong data-start=\"3822\" data-end=\"3844\"\u003eSeptember 25, 1800\u003c\/strong\u003e, bearing the signature of \u003cstrong data-start=\"3871\" data-end=\"3905\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1776–1849)\u003c\/strong\u003e, distinguished Portland attorney, future U.S. Congressman, and father of celebrated American poet \u003cstrong data-start=\"4004\" data-end=\"4034\"\u003eHenry Wadsworth Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4075\" data-end=\"4555\"\u003eThe action was brought by \u003cstrong data-start=\"4101\" data-end=\"4120\"\u003eWilliam Woodman\u003c\/strong\u003e, a Portland hatter, against \u003cstrong data-start=\"4149\" data-end=\"4169\"\u003eSamuel M. Quincy\u003c\/strong\u003e, also a hatter, seeking recovery arising from an agreement to furnish two suits of clothing—a \"freedom suit\" and a \"common suit.\" The complaint alleges that only one suit had been delivered and that the second, valued at \u003cstrong data-start=\"4391\" data-end=\"4398\"\u003e$42\u003c\/strong\u003e, remained unpaid. The reverse records the sheriff's return, fees, and the final notation \u003cstrong data-start=\"4488\" data-end=\"4525\"\u003e\"Judgment for forty-two Dollars,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e signed by Stephen Longfellow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4557\" data-end=\"4846\"\u003eExecuted just seven years before the birth of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, this manuscript documents the earliest phase of Stephen Longfellow's distinguished legal career and offers an appealing combination of literary association, early American commerce, and Federal-period legal history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4848\" data-end=\"5321\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4848\" data-end=\"4857\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 25, 1800 (Sheriff's Return: October 3, 1800)\u003cbr data-start=\"4912\" data-end=\"4915\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4915\" data-end=\"4928\"\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cumberland County, District of Maine (then part of Massachusetts)\u003cbr data-start=\"4994\" data-end=\"4997\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4997\" data-end=\"5015\"\u003eDocument Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Court of Common Pleas writ of attachment with sheriff's return and judgment\u003cbr data-start=\"5091\" data-end=\"5094\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"5094\" data-end=\"5108\"\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good, with original folds, light age toning, period docketing, and clear manuscript throughout. An excellent early Maine legal document with direct Longfellow family association and strong historical appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1c1l3dy\" data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"903\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eDocument Summary\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"905\" data-end=\"968\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"905\" data-end=\"915\"\u003eCourt:\u003c\/strong\u003e Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Court of Common Pleas\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"1012\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"981\"\u003eCounty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cumberland (District of Maine)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1014\" data-end=\"1049\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1014\" data-end=\"1030\"\u003eDate Issued:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 25, 1800\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1088\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1051\" data-end=\"1072\"\u003eSheriff's Return:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 3, 1800\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1090\" data-end=\"1104\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1090\" data-end=\"1104\"\u003ePlaintiff:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1142\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"c9vhk7\" data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1142\"\u003eWilliam Woodman of Portland, Hatter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1158\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1158\"\u003eDefendant:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1159\" data-end=\"1225\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1r55htb\" data-start=\"1159\" data-end=\"1225\"\u003eSamuel M. Quincy (described as a hatter residing in York County)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1227\" data-end=\"1358\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1227\" data-end=\"1237\"\u003eClaim:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe lawsuit concerns an unpaid obligation arising from clothing. The declaration states that Quincy promised to provide:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1360\" data-end=\"1404\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"gvt4px\" data-start=\"1360\" data-end=\"1382\"\u003eone \u003cstrong data-start=\"1366\" data-end=\"1382\"\u003efreedom suit\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1yfyz8a\" data-start=\"1383\" data-end=\"1404\"\u003eone \u003cstrong data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1404\"\u003ecommon suit\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1406\" data-end=\"1554\"\u003eOnly one suit had reportedly been furnished, while the \"freedom suit\" remained unpaid, valued at \u003cstrong data-start=\"1503\" data-end=\"1510\"\u003e$42\u003c\/strong\u003e, for which judgment was ultimately entered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1670\"\u003eThe writ commands the sheriff to attach Quincy's property sufficient to satisfy damages of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1647\" data-end=\"1654\"\u003e$60\u003c\/strong\u003e, pending trial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1675\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"165ox5x\" data-start=\"1677\" data-end=\"1687\"\u003eReverse\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1689\" data-end=\"1710\"\u003eThe reverse contains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"1784\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1qzt11v\" data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"1730\"\u003eSheriff's return\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1mxupa8\" data-start=\"1731\" data-end=\"1745\"\u003eService fees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1nyuprn\" data-start=\"1746\" data-end=\"1763\"\u003eTravel expenses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"4zzb6c\" data-start=\"1764\" data-end=\"1784\"\u003eJudgment notation:\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"1786\" data-end=\"1824\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1788\" data-end=\"1824\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1788\" data-end=\"1824\"\u003e\"Judgment for forty-two Dollars\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1826\" data-end=\"1878\"\u003efollowed by the signature of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1855\" data-end=\"1877\"\u003eStephen Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1880\" data-end=\"1883\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1353kst\" data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1909\"\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1911\" data-end=\"2026\"\u003eThis document illustrates commercial litigation in early Federal-era Maine while it remained part of Massachusetts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2028\" data-end=\"2140\"\u003eIt is particularly desirable because it is associated with \u003cstrong data-start=\"2087\" data-end=\"2121\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1776–1849)\u003c\/strong\u003e, who later became:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2142\" data-end=\"2379\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"k4e6kh\" data-start=\"2142\" data-end=\"2173\"\u003ea prominent Portland attorney\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"hw8xlj\" data-start=\"2174\" data-end=\"2217\"\u003emember of the Massachusetts General Court\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"i1vc2u\" data-start=\"2218\" data-end=\"2255\"\u003edelegate to the Hartford Convention\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1btxoc2\" data-start=\"2256\" data-end=\"2297\"\u003eU.S. Congressman from Maine (1823–1825)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"bprkwg\" data-start=\"2298\" data-end=\"2379\"\u003efather of \u003cstrong data-start=\"2310\" data-end=\"2340\"\u003eHenry Wadsworth Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2726\"\u003eThe case also provides an interesting glimpse into the clothing trade around 1800. The distinction between a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2490\" data-end=\"2508\"\u003e\"freedom suit\"\u003c\/strong\u003e and a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2515\" data-end=\"2532\"\u003e\"common suit\"\u003c\/strong\u003e reflects period clothing terminology, with \"freedom suit\" referring to clothing furnished under a contractual obligation, often to apprentices or indentured servants upon completion of service.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52581512413466,"sku":null,"price":852.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1761.jpg?v=1784983650","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/products\/1800-stephen-longfellow-signed-court-writ-father-of-henry-wadsworth-longfellow-early-maine-legal-manuscript","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}