Autographs
May 1786 Order to Draft a Bill for the Emission of Paper Money in Rhode Island Docketed as: "Committee to Draught a Bill for the Emission of Paper."
BENJAMIN BOURNE (1755-1808). Judge of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island (1796-1801) Appointed by George Washington, and for the First Circuit (1801-1802) Appointed by John Adams, U.S. Congressman, and previously Justice of the Peace in Providence, Rhode Island.
May 5, 1786-Dated, Historic Paper Money related Autograph Document Signed, "Benj. Bourne Ck" as Clerk, in the Lower House of Rhode Island. This Document, measuring 10.25" x 8.5" is handwritten by Benjamin Bourne as the Clerk of Rhode Island, while he was also simultaneously serving as the Justice of the Peace for Providence County. This Document ordering a Committee to Draft a Bill to Issue Paper Currency in the State of Rhode Island. It is written in brown ink on lightly toned paper with minor separating at the outside folds. Transcribed in full, it reads:



"Whereas the good Citizens of the State experience many Evils from the Want of medium for the purpose of Trade & Commerce and paying their just Debts, Wherefor to Relieve the Dissatisfied and to remedy the aforesaid mischief, it is Voted to Resolve that a Paper Currency be emitted in the State. That Mess. [Misters] Eliyah Cobb,... Robinson, Andrew Waterman, Seth Hunt, Jonathan Hazard, John Gardner, Robert Law, Samuel Allen, Thaniel Gootus, Thomas Holden, and Henry Goodwin be a Committee to Draught a Bill for the Emission of a Paper Currency on the most Eligible plan and to report as soon as may be voted. - Benj. Bourne Ck". Its docket reads: "Committee to Draught a Bill for the Emission of Paper."



Three of the named "Committee" Members would also later become paid "Signers" on the May 1786 Session issue of Rhode Island Currency. Along with this issue of Bills of Credit came a new Rhode Island law that merchants must accept these bills at face value or be fined! Because most merchants did not have faith in the long term value of paper money, they did not comply. As a result, these bills soon became devalued whereby food and merchandise then remained on the store shelves at inflated prices. Commerce nearly stopped altogether until the law was repealed in December 1786.

In May 1786 an emission of 100,000 in Legal Tender Bills of Credit equal to lawful silver money was authorized. Issued pursuant to Acts of May, June and August of 1786 for the 4% amortization of seven year realty loans, referred to as the Tenth Rhode Island Bank. Printed In Newport by Solomon Southwich and Henry Barber on cream or bluish paper. There are three border cuts and the state seal on the front. On some denominations the state seal has a plow and another design in it. The reverse was typeset while denominations of 2s6d and lower were blank. There are three signers on 30s and above and two signers on the other denominations. Legal tender status of these bills was repealed by an Act of September 1789, when the value of these notes had depreciated to a mere 10% of their original issue value. Denominations issued were: 6d, 9d, 1s, 2s6d, 3s, 5s, 6s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s and 3.
Benjamin Bourne (September 9, 1755 " September 17, 1808) was an American jurist and politician from Bristol, Rhode Island. He represented Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as a judge in both the federal district and federal appellate courts.



Borurne was born in Bristol and graduated from Harvard College in 1775. He read law to enter the Bar and began practice in Providence. During the Revolutionary War, he served as ensign, then quartermaster of the Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment of the Rhode Island Militia from January 1776 to January 1777.



After the war, Bourne began his political life as a member of the Rhode Island general assembly in 1789 and 1790. In 1799, Bourne was appointed to a committee to revise the state's militia laws. From 1783 to 1784, Bourne collected excise tax for Providence County. Then, between 1785 and 1789, he served as Justice of the Peace in Providence County. Bourne served on the federalist (pro-Constitution) committee which negotiated an end to William West's armed anti-federalist (Country Party) protest on July 4, 1788. In 1789, with the Reverend James Manning, Bourne petitioned Congress regarding relief from import duties imposed upon Rhode Island as a foreign nation.



After Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, Bourne was elected as Pro-Administration to the First through Third Congresses and as a Federalist to the Fourth and Fifth Congresses. He resigned before the fifth Congress began, however.



Upon returning to Rhode Island, Bourne received a recess appointment from President George Washington on October 13, 1796, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated by Henry Marchant. Bourne was formally nominated on December 21, 1796, and was confirmed by the United States Senate, and received his commission, the following day.



On February 18, 1801, Bourne was nominated by President John Adams to a new seat on the United States Circuit Court for the First Circuit. He was confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission, on February 20, 1801. Bourne's judicial service ended on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the Circuit court.



Bourne died in Bristol, and is buried in the Juniper Hill Cemetery there.