Thomas McKean
[Philadelphia, PA], December 1, 1797
T. McKean Signed Hibernian Society Membership Doc for Rev. War Veteran
Document

A membership certificate for Philadelphia's Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland, signed by its first society president Thomas McKean (1734-1817). 1p, measuring 13.25" x 17.25" (sight), [Philadelphia], dated December 1, 1797. Signed "Tho M:Kean" at lower right. Countersigned by society secretary Mathew Carey (1760-1839), as "Matthew Carey" at lower center. Issued on December 1, 1797. The massive circular engraving above the membership information has yellow accents. An embossed red wax seal is located at lower left. Isolated restoration to areas of minor loss and closed tears found at the top. Expected wear including even overall toning and minor to moderate foxing mostly affecting the edges. The seal is considerably worn. Else good to very good.

The engraving depicts a three-masted sailing vessel carrying Irish immigrants to America, flanked by the allegorical figures of Concordia, Hope, and Columbia. The artist thus perfectly encompasses the mission statement of the Hibernian Society: to welcome, help, and support recently arriving Irish immigrants.

In part:
"These are to Certify that Mr. Nathaniel Holmes has been admitted a Member of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland, established in the city of Philadelphia, and incorporated agreeably to Law; and he having paid the Sums required by the Rules and Regulations of the Said Society, is entitled to Membership during Life?"

The predecessor organization of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland was The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, which was active between 1771-1790. The name change to the Hibernian Society (Hibernia was the Classical Latin name for Ireland) occurred with the founding of the Philadelphia chapter in the spring of 1790. There was a dedicated core of founding members including the society's first president, Thomas McKean, and its first secretary, Mathew Carey.

Hibernian Society members were required to be of Irish heritage, or could even be Irish immigrants themselves. They tended to be craftsmen, merchants, or other professionals, and were politically inclined to be Democratic-Republican. Thomas McKean's parents were Irish Protestants from Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland who had emigrated as children to the American colonies.

Nathaniel Holmes (1757-1834) was similarly eligible for membership. He was born in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland and emigrated to the Cape May, New Jersey / Philadelphia area in the early 1770s. During the Revolutionary War, Holmes belonged to the Cape May militia, and he also served in the Pennsylvania Navy and as a privateer. His military service from ca. 1776-1782 included a stint as a prisoner of war aboard the notorious British hulk "Jersey." Holmes was a leader of the Cape May First Baptist Church and was also a slaveholder.

Thomas McKean served as President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Immigrants from Ireland from 1790 to 1800. During this period, he was also Chief Justice of Pennsylvania (from July 1777 to December 1799), and later went on to serve as 2nd Governor of Pennsylvania (from December 1799 to December 1808.) McKean was described by one biographer as a prolific officeholder. A career public servant, McKean held various positions as a lawyer, judge, assemblyman, state representative, and congressional delegate in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. McKean was one of three Continental Congress Delaware delegates to sign the Declaration of Independence (alongside Caesar Rodney and George Read), and he also represented Delaware by signing the Articles of Confederation (in addition to John Dickinson and Nicholas Van Dyke.)

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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Document 13 1/4 x 17 1/4 in. (33.7 x 43.8 cm.), Frame: 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm.)