Autographs
1772 John Morton & Charles Humphreys Signed Pennsylvania Note one Signed & other Voted Against the Declaration of Independence!
JOHN MORTON (1725-1777). Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Chaired the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation, Delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolution providing the swing vote that allowed Pennsylvania to vote in favor of the United States Declaration of Independence. CHARLES HUMPHREYS voted against the Declaration of Independence.
Pennsylvania Colonial Currency Note. April 3, 1772 issue. One Shilling. Plate A. Signed by “John Morton” and “Cha(rles) Humphreys” About Fine. Fr. PA-154. This circulated Colonial note with a easily readable “John Morton” signature being written in brown between the other two. The reverse side with some conservation is even more heavily worn with well executed repairs to centerfold splits. The signature measures a large 1.25” long with a prominent appearance. A rarely encountered low denomination note bearing John Morton’s historic signature. Also Signed by Charles Humphreys (1714-1786) just below Morton, who, as a Representative to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania (1774-1776), actually voted against the Declaration of Independence!
Charles Humphreys (September 19, 1714 – March 11, 1786) was a miller and statesman from Haverford, Pennsylvania. Humphreys served as a Delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1774-76. He voted Against the Declaration of Independence, since he believed it would inevitably escalate the Revolutionary War, and that conflicted with his Quaker beliefs. He withdrew from the Congress soon afterwards. Despite not taking part in the Revolutionary War, his sympathies were with the Patriotic cause and he criticized what he thought was British oppression.