{"product_id":"1805-district-of-maine-court-recognizance-signed-by-stephen-longfellow-grandfather-of-poet-henry-wadsworth-longfellow","title":"1805 District of Maine Court Recognizance Signed by Stephen Longfellow, Grandfather of Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"19\" data-end=\"214\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong data-start=\"30\" data-end=\"92\"\u003eoriginal Massachusetts judicial recognizance (appeal bond)\u003c\/strong\u003e printed and manuscript legal document completed in \u003cstrong data-start=\"144\" data-end=\"184\"\u003eCumberland County, District of Maine\u003c\/strong\u003e, dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"192\" data-end=\"213\"\u003eNovember 20, 1805\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"216\" data-end=\"542\"\u003eThe form was executed before \u003cstrong data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"279\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1750–1824)\u003c\/strong\u003e, Justice of the Peace in Cumberland County, who was the \u003cstrong data-start=\"336\" data-end=\"390\"\u003egrandfather of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e. Stephen Longfellow succeeded his father in judicial duties in Gorham and was a prominent early Maine magistrate. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"544\" data-end=\"952\"\u003eThe handwritten pencil note at the bottom (\"Written by Stephen Longfellow, father of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Maine 1805\") is \u003cstrong data-start=\"674\" data-end=\"687\"\u003eincorrect\u003c\/strong\u003e. The document is from 1805, two years before Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807, and the signature is that of \u003cstrong data-start=\"807\" data-end=\"841\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1750–1824)\u003c\/strong\u003e, Henry's grandfather—not his father, \u003cstrong data-start=\"879\" data-end=\"913\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1776–1849)\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"yree25\" data-start=\"954\" data-end=\"971\"\u003eParties Named\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"973\" data-end=\"1286\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"11krvu5\" data-start=\"973\" data-end=\"1033\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"975\" data-end=\"997\"\u003eThomas Hopkins Jr.\u003c\/strong\u003e, of Portland, gentleman (principal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1x081rn\" data-start=\"1034\" data-end=\"1090\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1036\" data-end=\"1059\"\u003eSamuel Whitmore Jr.\u003c\/strong\u003e, of Gorham, gentleman (surety)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1ywo8i8\" data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1168\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1093\" data-end=\"1125\"\u003eBenjamin Smith \u0026amp; Robert Snow\u003c\/strong\u003e, traders of Cumberland County (plaintiffs)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1mi5hpy\" data-start=\"1169\" data-end=\"1239\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1171\" data-end=\"1187\"\u003eTyler Porter\u003c\/strong\u003e, of Pleasant Mountain Gore, York County (appellant)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"11tu3bl\" data-start=\"1240\" data-end=\"1286\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"1242\" data-end=\"1264\"\u003eStephen Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e, Justice of the Peace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1288\" data-end=\"1478\"\u003eThe recognizance binds the parties in the amount of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1340\" data-end=\"1352\"\u003e$16 each\u003c\/strong\u003e to prosecute an appeal before the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1387\" data-end=\"1412\"\u003eCourt of Common Pleas\u003c\/strong\u003e sitting at \u003cstrong data-start=\"1424\" data-end=\"1436\"\u003ePortland\u003c\/strong\u003e, following a judgment rendered at Gorham.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1483\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hlyorq\" data-start=\"1485\" data-end=\"1511\"\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1513\" data-end=\"1694\"\u003eThis document illustrates the administration of justice in the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1576\" data-end=\"1597\"\u003eDistrict of Maine\u003c\/strong\u003e while it was still part of Massachusetts, fifteen years before Maine achieved statehood in 1820.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1696\" data-end=\"2080\"\u003eIts principal historical importance lies in the signature of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1757\" data-end=\"1791\"\u003eStephen Longfellow (1750–1824)\u003c\/strong\u003e, a respected magistrate and patriarch of the Longfellow family. He was the grandfather of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1882\" data-end=\"1912\"\u003eHenry Wadsworth Longfellow\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of America's most celebrated poets, and served as Justice of the Peace in Gorham, where he handled many local civil matters. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2082\" data-end=\"2227\"\u003eWhile not signed by Henry's father, it remains an authentic legal document connected with the Longfellow family and early Maine judicial history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2229\" data-end=\"2232\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hrykuu\" data-start=\"2234\" data-end=\"2246\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2471\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"tguxwk\" data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2316\"\u003eOriginal printed Massachusetts legal form with manuscript entries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"jngdn0\" data-start=\"2317\" data-end=\"2350\"\u003eStrong, legible ink throughout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"xyucc8\" data-start=\"2351\" data-end=\"2380\"\u003eOriginal folds from filing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"18blalu\" data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2436\"\u003eLight toning and minor edge wear consistent with age.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"kxlt0h\" data-start=\"2437\" data-end=\"2471\"\u003eOverall \u003cstrong data-start=\"2447\" data-end=\"2460\"\u003eVery Good\u003c\/strong\u003e condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52581506089242,"sku":null,"price":394.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1760.jpg?v=1784983141","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/products\/1805-district-of-maine-court-recognizance-signed-by-stephen-longfellow-grandfather-of-poet-henry-wadsworth-longfellow","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}