The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-20
TWO VALUABLE OLD RELICS.
COMMISSION SIGNED ~ WASHING
ToN AND " aRRANr BY MADISON.
Webb . Cernet In the light bra
geoas in i.a:s-rhe Quaint Lam

guage OF Land Warrant ia Ohio.
James T Ware. s,orekeeper ~ the gov
eminent oOBsse.; warehouse AZ ire argen-
THE su.elter, has II a3s possession an heir
loom % inesr3IrAble vAiue 20 him and ~
interest - every American II i the orig
ina commission signed by tae hand ~
George Washington. appointing JOAN
Webb. % Virginia. cornet IL light dva-
Soof>. ~ l. lated March ~ LA
john Webb sss a great great grand
father OF Mr.. Ware. John Webss daugh-
ieg married Mr.. Ware. great SranGGat her.
whose name WAS also Ware. The commits
sion descended froEn generation II genera
iIon unul II fell - The James 7. Ware. of
the present generation ami De- says money
wont bay H.. thoGgh ne has had many
enticing offers for il from carlo hunters.
For many years This piece OF parCAnnent
was folded and ial3 care Illy away 1T "a
muSJy chest. Now il Is framed under
glass ana held IN place with Cioih careful
y pasted on the back nf IL. The ancient
sheepSkin is yellow and spotted with aSe,
but in spite of its los years the hand writ
INK and script are clear and Ieg1ble the
signature Of the first president being par
ucularly plain.
Ihe Parchment.
John Webb's commission as cornet OF
light Dragons Is inscribed on sheet ri
parchment fifteen inches wide and twenty
Inches long. At the top Is large engraving
of the American eagle and the seal of the
United States 80 yellow and crumpled
10 he almost illegibie. Curves ana hour-
isnes surround the inscription In old En-
slsh letters, OF the name. George Wash
ington" across the top of the sheet and Ill
rectly under the eagle. The curves and
dasllSs In the name are so fantastic aud
varied that a considera BILE amount of study
IS necessary 10 decipher the words. Across
the entire lower end is . design euloody
ing all the implements of war Cannons
and helmets. drum, sword and musket
grouped tn the center with fiags hung on
spears draped at each side. Surrounding
this heap are cannon halls. neatly stacked
IN pyramids. a sword. trumpet, Ratchet
and knife caps for cannon charges, a hay
onet and ffes. Two bombs. a bayonct.
powder keg containing "A sack of powder
powder horn. tomahawk a pole with
wreath Of palm and a liberty cap At the
end all the implements for loading. uu-
loading ana cleaning CAnnon-an these
in careful detail are part of the enEraN-
ing at the lower end OF the sheepskin
There are fifteen stars an the blue field
of the flag. for Vermont and Kentucky
had been admitted as states of the Union
t;len The stars are arranged in a circle
engraved design is the signature OF Wash
ington. II was written simply C. Wash
ington' in the strong regular lines with
which many America ns are familiar The
ink has grown brown With years. but the
firm curves Of the letters are perfectly dis
tinct.
This is the wording OF the commission;
The Commission In run.
George Washington, President OF the
s~f r~as. n
To all who shall sec these presents, greet
Know ye. That reposing special Trust
and Confidence III the Patriotism. Nslour.
FideiitieS and Ability of John Webb. have
nominated and by and with the advise and
consent - the senate, DO appoint him a
corne, q ldsht prasoons in tn Service Of
the United States "a take Rank from the
Eighth day ~ May. one Thousand seven
hundred ana ninety-twc- He Is. Therefore.
carefully and diligently 10 discharge the
Duty Of Comet hy doing and performing
all Manner of Things thereuuto belonging.
And | do strictly charge and require ali
Dricers ana Soldiers under his command
10 he Ohedieuf 10 his Orders rs Curnet. Ana
he is 10 observe and follow such orders
ard Directions from time TO time as he
shall receive from me. or the future PreSj-
dent Of the United States OF America. or
he General or other superior Officers set
over him according 10 the Rules Of i9iS
ciplfna II war This Commission 10 con
Hnue IN Force during The pleasure OF the
President Of the United States for the Time
being.
Given under my hand At Philadelphia
this nineteenth day Of March in the Wear
- our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred
and Nlnetv-Thre. and In the Seventies b
states. q WASHINGTON
by command of the President of the
United States Of Ams,tca Vs.,
'.Registered r \ stage. Jr"
A tornets once.
rornet Was the Lowest commissioned
officer In the cavalry and had charge ~ n
Tag called the cornet. The office WIS the
same as ensign In the British army. II
vas long ago abolished here and In Crest
Britain In rank Il was the same as sec
ard lieutenant IN the army OF iosiay THE
Dragons were A sort Of mounted infantry
bat that organization also has disappeared
/, would be difii nj, 20 place money
valuation on The commission from Wash
ing,on His signature alone has sold 50
prices from s9e9 IN tf1 The entire do,ti-
rurni would undoubtedly he Of greater
value
Mr. Ware possesses another h-irIoom
which. although. perhaps. less valuable is
- great interest as \ cUrto T. aas a mill
tarv warrant from President jams Madi-
son 10 Richard Harris. who MAS f3r Years a
sergeant in the Continental service The
warrant carries the signature ~ Madison
and Ihe description of the boundaries ~
- acres ~ land In So1;hern Ohio were
determined hy Two small eins-' and
blackberry tree and similar landmarks.
This is the land AZ described IN the war
rant.
The Land Warrant.
Survey ~ 80 acres ~ land. on military
wsrrant No so 90 feNnr ~ the sal
Richard Harris Tho whole begns for 80
acras OF the waters u ths east fpYH II
Eagle creek beginning ~ sugar tree
black walnut and TAO elmS. northeast cor
u@r o. william Holidays survey No 59I
ard the tseKinHinS corner 20 Motley Tor p a
<.trSeY No -! sS3. running Dlt1 Holidays
lire Passing hts rnfH~r. aHI a-ifb me iigS
q IL.