{"product_id":"rare-1813-washington-boyd-signed-u-s-marshal-deed-early-washington-city-general-post-office-great-hotel-property-thomas-fenwick-district-of-columbia","title":"Rare 1813 Washington Boyd Signed U.S. Marshal Deed – Early Washington City – General Post Office \/ \"Great Hotel\" Property – Thomas Fenwick – District of Columbia","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional original manuscript deed executed on \u003cstrong\u003e29 September 1813\u003c\/strong\u003e and signed by \u003cstrong\u003eWashington Boyd\u003c\/strong\u003e, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, conveying valuable Washington City real estate sold under federal judicial execution.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eActing pursuant to a writ issued by the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, Marshal Boyd conveys property formerly owned by William Fitzgerald to purchaser Thomas Fenwick following a public sale. The deed notably describes the premises as including the \u003cstrong\u003e\"General Post Office (formerly known by the name of the Great Hotel),\"\u003c\/strong\u003e one of the most recognizable early public buildings in the developing Federal City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is witnessed by \u003cstrong\u003eJames M. Varnum\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol\u003c\/strong\u003e, bears its original embossed paper seal, and retains the recording endorsement showing it was entered into the Washington County land records on \u003cstrong\u003e22 March 1814\u003c\/strong\u003e (Liber A, folios 253–255).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDocuments signed by early United States Marshals are scarce, while surviving manuscript deeds documenting the development of Washington City during the Madison administration are highly desirable. This piece combines federal judicial history, early Washington real estate, and architectural history into a single original manuscript.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHighlights\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal manuscript deed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSigned by U.S. Marshal \u003cstrong\u003eWashington Boyd\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWashington City, District of Columbia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDated September 29, 1813\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFederal judicial execution sale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReferences the \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral Post Office (formerly the Great Hotel)\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWitnessed by James M. Varnum and William Thornton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal embossed seal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecorded March 22, 1814\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge folio, approximately four pages with endorsements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverall Assessment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt possesses substantially more historical appeal than a routine land deed because it ties together:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarly federal government administration,\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWashington City's formative real estate history,\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe General Post Office\/Great Hotel,\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA U.S. Marshal's official signature,\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete recording history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe deed conveys property purchased by \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Fenwick\u003c\/strong\u003e after Boyd, acting as U.S. Marshal, sold the real estate of \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Fitzgerald\u003c\/strong\u003e pursuant to an execution issued by the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document was:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExecuted:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 29, 1813\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecorded:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 22, 1814\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRecorded in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Washington County land records, Liber A, folios 253–255 (as noted on the reverse)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWitnessed by:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames M. Varnum\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Thornton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse endorsement records receipt and recording by the clerk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is considerably more desirable than an ordinary county deed because it documents a \u003cstrong\u003eUnited States Marshal's judicial sale\u003c\/strong\u003e in the early Federal City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe text identifies:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWashington Boyd as \u003cstrong\u003eMarshal of the District of Columbia\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSale under execution of the Circuit Court\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePurchase by Thomas Fenwick\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProperty known as the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Great Hotel\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe improvements attached to the property\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deed specifically references the:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"General Post Office (formerly known by the name of the Great Hotel)\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis connects the property directly with one of the earliest commercial buildings in Washington City during the Jefferson\/Madison era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eThe document also fits into the documented legal history surrounding \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Fenwick\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose property transactions later became evidence in nineteenth-century federal freedom litigation. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eImportant Individuals\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWashington Boyd (signature)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWashington Boyd served as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eU.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOfficer responsible for federal judicial sales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFederal official under Presidents Jefferson and Madison\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthentic signatures of Boyd appear infrequently on the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eJames M. Varnum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the witnesses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Justice of the Peace and Washington attorney who appears in numerous early Washington legal records. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWilliam Thornton\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLikely the witness identified on the deed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf confirmed to be \u003cstrong\u003eDr. William Thornton (1759–1828)\u003c\/strong\u003e—the first Architect of the U.S. Capitol and Superintendent of the Patent Office—this would substantially increase the historical importance. The handwriting appears consistent with \"William Thornton,\" but I would want comparison with known examples before stating this definitively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttractive dark iron-gall ink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent large signature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal embossed seal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecording endorsements intact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNormal fold wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeperations at folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor edge losses at folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVery displayable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximate grade:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery Good\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52615928119578,"sku":null,"price":4198.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1977.jpg?v=1785448397","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/products\/rare-1813-washington-boyd-signed-u-s-marshal-deed-early-washington-city-general-post-office-great-hotel-property-thomas-fenwick-district-of-columbia","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}