Oversized Ship’s Passport Signed by James Madison as President and James Monroe as Secretary of State
The ship was going from the United States to France amidst the Napoleonic Wars, making it a dangerous crossing
Document Signed by both, Madison as President and Monroe as Secretary of State, large folio, Washington, November 29, 1811. A four language ship’s passport for commander Timothy Pilsbury of the Ship Abigail out of Newburyport, MA, bound for Bordeaux, burthen of 87 tons, carrying fish and other articles. It is countersigned by...
Document Signed by both, Madison as President and Monroe as Secretary of State, large folio, Washington, November 29, 1811. A four language ship’s passport for commander Timothy Pilsbury of the Ship Abigail out of Newburyport, MA, bound for Bordeaux, burthen of 87 tons, carrying fish and other articles. It is countersigned by the Collector of the Port of Newburyport, Joseph Marquand.
These passports, given to ships rather than individuals, were used for foreign trade, and are among the most attractive of presidential signed documents. The War of 1812 was just a year away at the time this document was issued, and trade was still dangerous.
It is likely that Timothy Pilsbury was the man of that name who was born and resided in Newburyport and became a sailor. During the War of 1812, he commanded the privateer Yankee, and after the war engaged in shipping. Later in life he removed to Texas where he became one of its first Congressmen.
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