Autographs
Joseph Reed, Jr. and Major General John Barker Signed Covenant Document to John Mullowny - Revolutionary War Figures
Major General JOHN BARKER (1746-1818). American Revolutionary War Soldier, Pennsylvania Militia Major General, Twice serving as the Mayor of Philadelphia.
JOSEPH REED, JR. (1772-1846). Attorney General of PA. (at the time of this document), Son of the Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Joseph Reed, Sr. (1741-85).
November 13, 1810-Dated, 2 page, Manuscript Document Legal Agreement Signed, "Joseph Reed," Attorney General, Philadelphia, PA, also Signed, "John Barker," twice as Witness and Alderman (Justice), Choice Very Fine. Docket reads: "Covenant - Joseph Reed Esq. with John Mullowny", nicely written in dark brown ink on wove period paper having excellent signatures and overall eye appeal. Here, Reed covenants to bind himself (via a $5,000 bond) to a mortgage on property sold by John Mullowny to a John Kaighn. John Mullowny (1769-1830) was the famed American Drummer Boy with the Philadelphia militia, who pounded out "Yankee Doodle" with so much courage and force that the waning courage of the militia was restored at the Battle of Monmouth. Later Mullowney became a U.S. Navy Captain, and later the U.S. Consul in Tangiers. Apparently, when the property was originally conveyed, Reed agreed to bind himself financially on the sale, but it seems that the original paperwork didn't specify this point and Mullowny wanted to get that commitment in writing via the execution of this legal document.
John Mullowny (1769-30) (also spelled Mullowney) who was the famed Drummer Boy at the Battle of Monmouth, US Navy Captain, and later the US Consul in Tangiers. Reed. Jr. was born in Philadelphia.
His father was Joseph Reed, Sr. (1741-85) was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Continental Congressman, Washington's Aide-de-Camp at the start of the war, and President of the Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council. Joseph, Jr. graduated from Princeton in 1792 and became a lawyer, to the PA Supreme Court, from 1810-11 he served as Attorney-General of Pennsylvania. He then served as Recorder of Philadelphia from 1810-29 and in the 1820s he published, "The Laws of Pennsylvania."
Major General John Barker, who signs as a witness and alderman (Justice) was twice Mayor of Philadelphia. A tailor by trade, Barker served in the Revolutionary War and remained active in the military through 1808, when he retired as Major General of the First Brigade, First Division, PA Militia. He served twice as sheriff of Philadelphia, from (1794-97 and from 1803-07). He was appointed an Alderman of the city of Philadelphia in 1800 and signs this document in that capacity. He served as Mayor in 1808, 1809, and 1812. During the War of 1812 he served on the city's Committee of Defense. He died in Philadelphia at age 72.
John Mullowny came to America with his Irish Catholic parents in the 1760s, settling in the Philadelphia area. According to some historical accounts, on June 28, 1778, during the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth, at a critical juncture when the Continental troops were retreating, General Washington rode up and down Mercer's Brigade of Philadelphia militia, trying to rally them. At this juncture, John Mullowny, who was a Drummer Boy with the Philadelphia militia, pounded out "Yankee Doodle" with so much courage and force that the waning courage of the militia was restored. The American Troops revived, forcing the British to retreat." After the war, Mullowny became a merchant in the West Indies trade, and had one of his ships seized by the French in 1793 during our "Quasi War" with France. Mullowny later became a Lt. in the U.S. Navy under Commodore John Barry, and in June of 1799 was given Command of the Navy Ship "Montezuma" which a 20-gun converted merchant ship, becoming part of Barry's West Indies fleet. In 1800 he was promoted to Captain (Mullowny was the Third Officer in U.S. History, after the U.S. Constitution was adopted, to be promoted from Lt. to Captain. He was preceded only by Lt. (Capt.) John Rodgers, and Lt. (Capt.) Edward Preble. As Captain, Mullowny then Commanded the 24-gun Ship "USS Ganges." In August 1800 off Cuba, Mullowny, while in command of the Ganges, captured two U.S. owned Slave Ships, containing a total of 135 African men, women, and children, almost all were entirely naked, in violation of Federal law prohibiting American vessels from engaging in the Slave Trade. Mullowny escorted the Slave Ships to Philadelphia and unloaded them at the Lazaretto, where the Slaves were housed, clothed, fed, and given medical care. A Federal judge freed the Slaves, and gave them all the surname "Ganges." The judge also asked the Pennsylvania Abolition Society to assume custody of them. The society eventually arranged for them to be indentured as servants to various families in and around Philadelphia. After leaving the US Navy, Mullowny became a merchant and brick maker in Philadelphia. He founded "Washington Pottery" which he advertised as "Washington Ware." Today, Washington Ware (especially pitchers) are prized by pottery collectors. Mullowny continued in this business until President Monroe appointed him U.S. Consul in the Canary Islands (1816-20). He afterwards was appointed U.S. Consul at Tangiers in Morocco, serving from 1820 until his death.