Lot 552: TN Territorial Governor William Blount Signed Document, 1795

Original document signed by William Blount (1749-1800, served 1790-1796), the Governor of the Territory of the United States south of the river Ohio, dated July 2, 1795, Knoxville, Tennessee. A warrant numbered 284, addressed to David Henley Esquire, Agent to the Department of War, for payment to William Rickard, the Pay Master pro tem. to the Troops in the Territory, in the amount of three hundred and twenty-two dollars, “for the pay of a Detachment of Mounted Infantry of Mero District, Colonel Robert Hays’ Regiment, under the command of Cornel (sp) Benjamin McIntosh from the thirteenth March to the twenty seventh March 1794, agreeably to pay roll and your repost therin of this date, for which this shall be your warrant. Given at Knoxville under my hand the 22nd day of July 1795.” Corner-mounted beneath a maroon matte, framed, and housed under glass. Letter: 12 1/2 in. H x 7 3/4 in. W. Framed: 15 1/2 in. H x 10 3/4 in. W. Note: In February 1790, North Carolina ceded its western land holdings to the United States. A few months later, the area became the newly created Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio (the Southwest Territory). President George Washington appointed Blount territorial governor. In 1795, Blount called a meeting of the territorial legislature to request a referendum for statehood, and Tennessee officially became a state on June 1, 1796. (Source: The Tennessee Encyclopedia). Additional note: A similar document was sold in Case Auctions Summer 2026 auction, Lot 487.

CONDITION: Document with three fold lines, paper separation at the top and third folds, and toning. Document has slightly shifted from behind the mat, near the middle of the frame on the right side.