Title:
Josiah Bartlett 1768 Colonial New Hampshire Handwritten Legal Manuscript Fragment - Future Declaration of Independence Signer - PSA/DNA Certified Authentic Handwriting, Certification No. 85952479

Description:
An exceptionally early 1768 colonial New Hampshire handwritten legal manuscript fragment attributed by PSA/DNA to Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), physician, colonial official, future delegate to the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Written in period brown ink on a narrow strip of eighteenth-century paper, the surviving manuscript is dated June 22, 1768 and records the personal appearance of James Procter in connection with the acknowledgment of a legal instrument. The wording is consistent with the formal language used in colonial deeds and other legal acknowledgments.

Because the original document survives only as a fragment and several words extend into losses or are difficult to decipher, the following is a conservative transcription of the legible text:

"Province of [New Hampshire]
Newhamp[shire] June the 22 1768
Then James Procter personally appeared
and owned this Instrument to be his
free act & deed before [me]
[remainder unclear]"

The surviving manuscript is irregularly cut or torn along its lower edge, demonstrating that it once formed part of a substantially larger document. The paper displays expected age toning, minor staining, edge losses, and general evidence of eighteenth-century handling. The reverse is largely blank with a small area of dark discoloration or residue.

Historical Context:
The June 22, 1768 date places this manuscript firmly in colonial America, eight years before Bartlett signed the Declaration of Independence. At the time, Bartlett was a practicing physician in Kingston, New Hampshire, and was already active in public affairs. He had been elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1765 and, significantly for interpreting this legal fragment, was appointed Justice of the Peace in Kingston by Governor John Wentworth in 1767. He remained in that position until 1774, when Wentworth removed him after Bartlett's opposition to the royalist cause became apparent.

The identification of James Procter is particularly noteworthy. An independently documented land deed dated March 17, 1763, records James Procter, a yeoman of Kingston, New Hampshire, conveying six acres directly to Josiah Bartlett, who is identified in that document as a Kingston physician. That surviving deed establishes a documented legal and property relationship between Bartlett and a James Procter in the same community five years before the present manuscript was written.

The language preserved on this fragment appears to record the formal acknowledgment of a legal instrument. The surviving words stating that Procter "personally appeared" and acknowledged an instrument as his "free act & deed" are characteristic of the legal formula by which an individual acknowledged voluntarily executing a deed or comparable document. Given the fragmentary state of the manuscript, however, its precise original document type should not be stated definitively.

The artifact predates Bartlett's emergence as a nationally important revolutionary figure. He later represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress and became one of the colony's three signers of the Declaration of Independence. He returned to Congress in 1778 and participated in work surrounding the Articles of Confederation.

Bartlett subsequently held important judicial and executive positions in New Hampshire while continuing his medical interests. His surviving papers include extensive personal, legal, financial, and political material, making this small 1768 fragment representative of the local civic and legal work that preceded his better-known Revolutionary career.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
The manuscript fragment has been professionally authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA. The PSA label identifies the piece as "HANDWRITTEN / JOSIAH BARTLETT / PSA/DNA CERTIFIED" and designates it "AUTHENTIC HANDWRITING." The certification number displayed on the holder is 85952479.

The elongated clear holder is particularly appropriate for this fragile eighteenth-century manuscript fragment, preserving its irregular original form while allowing examination of both the handwritten face and reverse.

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer's request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional "Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate" signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
A compelling piece of pre-Revolutionary American history, this manuscript preserves authenticated Josiah Bartlett handwriting from June 22, 1768, when the future Declaration signer was serving as a Justice of the Peace in colonial Kingston, New Hampshire. The reference to James Procter is especially interesting because a man of that name is independently documented in a 1763 land transaction directly involving Bartlett. Dating eight years before American independence, the fragment provides a tangible glimpse into Bartlett's local legal and civic activities long before his name was placed on the Declaration of Independence. Its early colonial date, substantive legal content, association with identifiable Kingston residents, and PSA/DNA authentication make it an appealing artifact for collectors of Declaration signers, Colonial America, and Founding Era manuscripts.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.