IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR COMPOSING AND TRANSMITTING TELEGRAPH MESSAGES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Pierrpont Humaston, of Newhaven, in the
United States, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INSTRUMENTS FOR COMPOSING AND TRANSMITTING TELEGRAPH MESSAGES."
Sealed the 2nd. May 1856, and dated the 18th December 1855..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Pierrpont Humaston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th December 1855.
I, JOHN PIERRPONT HUMASTON, of Newhaven, in the United States, Civil.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR COMPOSING AND TRANSMITTING TELEGRAPH MESSAGES":
to be as follows:-
This Invention is for certain improvements in electric telegraphs of the
recording kind, and consists, firstly, in a machine which is termed a "tele-;
graphic compositor ;" and, secondly, in the method of transmitting the com-
position over the wires. The use of the machine is to prepare beforehand,.
upon slips of paper or other suitable matter, the matter it is desired. to,
transmit, and this paper is to be passed through the telegraphic machine, and
it therein effects the breaking and the closing of the circuits in accordance:
with the characters or signals to be conveyed, and is in lieu of the hand of the.
operator in the old mode. The chief object sought to be accomplished is to.
increase the quantity of matter which may be sent over a line, and which,

page_text: quantity it is manifest is only limited by the velocity of the electric current
and the capability of the machine by which the circuits are closed and
broken. When an operator by his finger breaks and closes the circuit for the
transmission of a message, the limit is his ability to write the message. This
principle has already been proposed, and consists in punching holes in a strip
of paper in the order and shape necessary to form the required characters on
the recording machine at the opposite end of the line of wires; and my first
improvement is in a machine for rapidly composing any message to be trans-
mitted on this plan. This consists of a set of punches so arranged that by
indicating the letter or character to be made upon a finger-key, ahole or set of
holes and spaces, of the proper shape for that purpose, will at once be punched
through the fillet of paper placed in a direction to receive it.
Figure 6 represents an end section of the punches, and Figure 7 a longitu-
dinal section, the punches being shewn by the letter a. These are flat pieces
of metal of the shape shewn, and cut out on the under sides, so as to leave two
square ends a' and a". The fillet of paper passes in the space b between the two
plates. The alphabet consisting of dots and dashes, a movement of a single punch
from a' in the direction of a will make a dot; two or more punches moving
side by side will make a slot or dash of greater or less length. The number
of punches is such that they can be moved to form the various combinations
of dots and dashes for the alphabet and the nine numerals. The punching of
each letter or number is performed by two operations; the first is effected
by the touch of a key marked with the letter or sign to be made, and which
brings into position as many and such of the punches as are required to be
moved, in order to perforate the paper for that sign; the second moves the
punches and feeds the paper along to be in readiness for the next letter, &c.
This is accomplished by means of a series of links connected with the punches,
a certain number of which are brought into play whenever a key is touched.
These links lie horizontally on the top of the machine, and as shewn at c in
the top view, Figure 3. The punches lie under the box A, and their ends
are attached by a hook to a like hook c, Figure 7. Each link has a spring
under it which tends to force it upward, and is intended to raise the opposite.
end, which is free. Near that end a notch is cut in each, c, Figure 2, so,
that the notches of all shall be in a line, into which line of notches the end of
a broad flat lever fits, shewn by the dotted lines d, Figure 2. If that lever
were moved forward, all the punches would also be driven along, and the
result would be the cutting of a long slot in the paper equal to the entire
length of the punches. If now every alternate link be allowed to rise equal
to the depth of the notches c, then another movement of, the lever 'd would

page_text: Figure 8, and the same as if
These signs are projections
directly over the row of links
move every alternate punch, and the result would be the cutting of a series of
dots, and in this way the movements can be variously combined as may be
required. To effect this two things are required; the first is to bring into
play some mechanism which shall indicate which and how many of the links c
are to be actuated by the lever; the second is the proper feeding of the paper,
because this latter is to be very irregular, a single dot being required for only
one of all the letters, while dashes and dots may be necessary to form the next
one, and thus more or less space is required for each letter. Each sign for
the letters of the alphabet and the numerals is formed upon the face of a
broad wheel, a Diagram of which is seen in
wound around the wheel at B, Figures 1 and 3.
above the general face, and the letter wheel lies
c, as seen in Figure 3, having revolution on an axis. Now, it is so arranged
that the letter wheel will permit only such links to come into play as will
accord with the letter which happens to stand directly over them, since there
are projections on the links which strike against any projections that may be
opposed on the letter wheel: Where these interferè, such links are kept down,
while the others may' rise up and get clear of the lever d, Figure 2, thus
escaping action, while the others will propel the punches necessary for cutting
out the proper character. To bring the proper letter round on the letter
wheel, at C (Figures 1, 2, 3,) is a standard or plate which forms one of the
bearings for the axis of B; in a circle through this a series of holes is made,
as at d', Figure 2, as many holes as there are characters on the letter wheel;
through each hole there is a pin supported in a horizontal direction, as at e,
Figures 1 and 3, a small spiral spring on each tending constantly to force
them through the standard C. Each pin has a cord attached, and leading to
a key of the finger board, as at f, Figures 1 and 2; D, Figure 2, being a key
of said board. A spring e' at the end of the keys overcomes the force of that
on' e, so that all the pins are kept withdrawn until the ends are flush with the
face of C. On pressing down the' end e" of a key, the opposite end is raised,
and slackening the string f allows the pin to which it, leads to project beyond
the face of the standard C. Upon the axis of B there is always a force
tending to turn it round; thus, by means of an arm i on the axis, placed so
as to be in range of the points of the pins e, when the point of one of the latter
projects, the farther revolution of B will be arrested. Wherever the arm i is'
stopped, say, by a pin leading to key D, that letter will be the one on the
wheel standing over the links. It is evident, therefore, that whatever key is
touched, a letter in character will be brought into position to be punched by
the subsequent operation of the machine. The feeding of the paper is next in

page_text: order. This, as before mentioned, must be moved forward after the punching
of each letter to a sufficient distance to bring a fresh blank space before the
punches, and also to give the required space for distinguishing one letter from
another, as well as to space for words and sentences. The feed is performed
by two rollers, one of which is on a fixed axis, and the other is set up against
it by a spring, as seen at o, o', the paper being seen at p. The roller o cari
play loosely. on its shaft, and will move round with the shaft only in one
direction by means of a ratchet o". A small chain or cord 9 passes round tho
shaft, terminating in a spring g' on the opposite side. The cord or chain is
attached to a long lever r, and as this lever vibrates back and forth it turns
the shaft in a like vibratory manner, but the drum o will only be moved by
the thrust of the pawl or ratchet in one direction, and on the returning
vibration of the shaft it will be held firm by another pawl set on the frame,
while the first slips over the ratchet teeth to take a new hold. The paper
will then be fed constantly onward, the length of feed being governed by the
extent of vibration in the lever r. To accomplish this there is on the shaft B'
a graduated wheel or plate revolving with it, and as represented in the face
view at s, Figure 2. The edges, it will be perceived, are notched out to
irregular depths, and there are as many notches as there are sets of characters,
and adjusted with reference to the position of those on the letter wheel.
These notches form a series of stops for the end of the lever r, so that when it
strikes against the one that projects the farthest out the motion will be shorter
and the feed of paper consequently least, and so on to the deepest notch
required for the longest letter or character. The end of the paper fillet p
being pushed through the plates into b, a letter is formed as follows:-Press
down the key representing the required letter or number as D, the proper
pin e will be pushed out, the shaft B' will fly round by the force of a spring
kept in constant tension until arrested by its arm i striking the pin aforesaid.
The proper character on the letter wheel will now be in position to operate on
the
proper links c, which are to be kept in place. At this moment a clamp t
raised, which is used to keep down all of the tails of the links; immediately
all the links will be forced upward by the springs under them; but the
projections upon the letter wheel B will keep those down which are
required to operate the proper punches; the others will rise, and their notches
c" get clear of the end of the lever d. By a pressure of the foot upon a
treadle, a cam wheel I is turned, which first of all permits the lever r to fly
toward the index plate s, and gives the required amount of feed to the paper.
A cam then strikes the tail of the other lever d, aud drives all those punches
which are kept in gear by the notches c". The foot is then raised, and the.

page_text: two levers are restored to their former points. It must be understood that
the key D was kept pressed down during the whole process, and until the
key for the succeeding one is operated, when the process continues as'
before...
It remains now to describe the second process for transmitting the message:
This is done by the machine shewn in Figures 4 and 5, of which Figure 4 is
a side elevation, and 5 a top view. At.a is a standard, having a small drum'
a¹ fitted at the top to rotate. These must be of metal or some conducting
material for electricity. Immediately over this is a small roller 6 fixed to an
arm b', which is hinged to a post, as shewn. This roller is made to press
down upon the drum a¹ by a spring, as shewn. The fillet p of perforated
paper passes along over the drum a', and is so guided that the roller 6 will
travel in the track of the perforation, as seen in Figure 5. The positive and
negative wires are attached to these, one being seen at d, and the other at e.
The paper is to be drawn between the drum and roller with as much speed as
may be found practicable to record by the machine at the opposite end of the
line. Whenever a perforation comes under the roller 6, the circuit of electric
conductors is closed, and so continues until a blank space comes, when it is
broken. This breaking and closing form characters in the usual way, except
as regards speed. The machines are capable of running at a high velocity,
and of course transmitting messages with ȧ corresponding speed. It is neces-
sary to use a roller, as considerable pressure is necessary to insure contact
with the metal beneath when the perforations come, and a point under the
circumstances would tear the paper to pieces.
Instead of punching out or making spaces on paper to be placed in the
transmitting instrument, as before described, I sometimes employ what I term
a type stick. This stick is provided with letters in any convenient shape, and
each letter is capable of being made to protrude by the links or tumblers C
being made to act upon them by the projections on the wheel B, all other
parts operating substantially in the manner herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Pierrpont Humaston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PIERRPONT HUMASTON, of Newhaven, in the United States, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One. thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Pierrpont Humaston, Her special licence that I, the said John Pierr-
pont Humaston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as J,
the said John Pierrpont Humaston; my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, tlie Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR COMPOSING AND TRANSMITTING TELEGRAPH
MESSAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Pierr-
pont Humaston, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
_ NOW, KNOW YE, that I, the said John Pierrpont Humaston; do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is, to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention is for certain improvements in electric telegraphs of the
recording kind, and, consists, firstly, in a machine which is, termed a "tele-
graphic compositor;" and, secondly, in the method of transmitting the
composition over the wires..
The use of the machine is to prepare beforehand, upon slips of paper or
other suitable material, the matter it is desired to transmit, and this paper is
to be passed through the telegraphic machine, and therein effects the breaking
and the closing of the circuits in accordance with the characters or signals to
be conveyed, and is in lieu of the hand of the operator in the old mode. The
chief object sought to be accomplished is to increase the quantity of matter
be sent over a line, and which quantity it is manifest is only limited
by the velocity of the electric current and the capability of the machine by
which the circuits are closed and broken. When an operator by his finger
breaks and closes the circuit for the transmission of a message, the limit is his
ability to write the message.
which
may

page_text: The principle I adopt has already been proposed, and consists in punching
holes in a strip of paper, in the order and shape necessary to form the required
characters on the recording machine at the opposite end of the line of wires;
and my first improvement is in constructing a machine for rapidly composing
any message to be transmitted on this plan. This machine consists of a set of
punches so arranged, that by indicating the letter or character to be made
upon a finger key, a hole or set of holes and spaces, of the proper shape for
that purpose, will at once be punched through the fillet of paper placed in a
direction to receive it.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed represents a front view,
Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan, of this machine; Figure 6.repre-
sents a section of the punches through the line a; x, of Figure 7; and-Figure 7;
à longitudinal view of the same, the punches being indicated by the letters
a, a', a". These punches are flat pieces of metal of the shape shewn, and cut
out on the under sides; so as to leave two square ends a¹ and a". The fillet
of paper passes in the space b; between the two plates.
The alphabet consists of dots and dashes; and a movement of a single punch
from a¹-in the direction of a will make a dot; and two or more punches
moving side by side will make a slot or dash of greater or less length. The
number of punches is such that they can be moved so as to form. the various
combinations of dots and dashes for the alphabet and the-nine numerals. The
punching of each letter or number is performed by two operations; the first is
effected by the touch of a key marked with the letter or sign to be made, and
which brings into position as many and such of the punches as are required to
be moved, in order to perforate the paper for that sign; the second moves. the
punches, and feeds the paper along to be in readiness for the next letter, &c:
This is accomplished by means of a series of links c; connected with the
punches, a certain number of which are brought into play whenever a key
is touched. These links lie horizontally on the top of the machine, and as
shewn at c in the view, Figure 3. The punches lie under the box A, and their
ends are attached by a hook to a like hook c, Figure 7. Each link has a
spring under it, which tends to force it upward, and is intended to raise the
opposite end which is free. Near that end a notch s, Figure 8, is cut in eacb
link c, so that the notches of all shall be in a line; into which line of notches
the end of a broad flat lever fits, shewn by the dotted lines d, Figure 2. If
that lever were moved forward; all the punches would also be driven along,
and the result would be the cutting of a long slot in the paper equal to the
entire length of the combined width of the punches. If now, every alternate
link be allowed to rise equal to the depth of the notches s', then another-move-

page_text: ment of the lever d would move every alternate punch, and the result would
be the cutting of a series of dots, and in this way the movements can be
variously combined as may be required. To effect this, two things are required;
the first is to bring into play some mechanism which shall indicate which and
how many of the links c are to be actuated by the lever; the second is the
proper feeding of the paper, because this latter requires to be very irregular, a
single dot being required for only one of all the letters, while dashes and dots.
may be necessary to form the next one, and thus more or less space is required.
for each letter.
Each sign for the letters of the alphabet and the numerals is formed
upon the face of a broad wheel B, a Diagram of which is seen in Figure 9,
and the same as if wound around the wheel B, Figures 1 and 3. These
signs are projections above the general face, and the letter wheel lies directly
over the row of links c, as seen in Figure 3, and is capable of revolving
on an axis. Now, it is so arranged that the letter wheel will permit only
such links to come into play as will accord with the letter which happens
to stand directly over them, since there are projections P on the links,
which strike against any projections that may be opposed on the letter
wheel. Where these interfere, such links are kept down, while the others
may rise up and get clear of the lever d, Figure 2, thus escaping action,
while the others will propel the punches necessary for cutting out the
proper character. The links have also formed in them notches c" on their
upper edges, which when they rise to get clear of the lever d clasp the
upper part of the yoke C, which spans them, and are prevented by it
from being pushed forward by friction or otherwise. The cutting faces of
the punches, which are thus held at rest, form as it were dies for the moving
punches to cut against in passing between, while slotted plates b', shewn
in Figures 6 and 7, form dies, past which the upper and lower edges of the
moving punches pass in punching out the paper. The following arrango-
ment is adopted to bring the proper letter round on the letter wheel B:-
At D, Figures 1, 2, and 3, is a standard or plate, which forms one of the
bearings for the axis of B; in a circle through this a series of holes is made as
at d', Figure 2, this series comprising as many holes as there are characters on
the letter wheel. Through each hole there is a pin d", supported in a horizontal
direction, as at d", Figures 1 and 3; a small spiral spring d on cach tending
constantly to force them through the standard D. Each pin has a cord c¹¹
attached, and leading to a key lever of the finger board, as at f, Figures 1.
and 2; E, Figures 1 and 2, being a key of the said board. A spring e', at
the end of the keys, overcomes the force of that on ", so that all the pins are

page_text: kept withdrawn, with their ends flush with the face of D, except one which
corresponds to the zero or blank space on the letter wheel, this being so
arranged as always to project when the others are withdrawn, and vice versa.
On pressing down the end of a key, the opposite end is raised, and slackening
the cord callows the pin to which it leads to project beyond the face of the
standard D. Upon the axis of the wheel B, a force tending to turn it round
is produced, by the action of the spring d, which is connected to the lever g',
which is raised by the crank arm g" upon the shaft g. To the lever g¹ is
attached one end of a piece of cat-gut h, which passes round the axis of the
wheel B, and has its other end attached to a spring h', of less elastic power
than the spring g. When the lever g¹, after having been raised by the crank
arm g, is drawn down by the spring g, the cat-gut h being passed round the
axis of the wheel B, it will turn it rapidly round. The wheel is prevented from
rotating in the opposite direction by a piece of cat-gut h", which is passed
round its axis, and has one end attached to the framework of the machine at
, and its other end to a slight spring h, which will yield when the wheel
is moved as before described, and allow the cat-gut h" to slip upon the axis as
it turns; thus by means of an arm i on the axis, placed so as to be in range
of the points of the pins d", when the point of one of the latter projects, the
farther revolution of the wheel B will be arrested. Wherever the arm i is
stopped, say, by a pin leading to key F, that letter will be the one on the
wheel standing over the links. It is evident, therefore, that whatever key is
touched, a letter or character will be brought into position to be punched by
the subsequent operation of the machine.
The feeding of the paper is the next operation to be described. The paper
as before mentioned, must be moved forward after the punching of each letter
to a sufficient distance to bring a fresh blank space before the punches, and
also to give the required space for distinguishing one letter from another, as
well as the spaces between words and sentences. The feed is performed by
two rollers,, one of which is on a fixed axis j', and the other is set up
against it by a spring. The roller can play loosely on its shaft, and may be
made to move round with the shaft only in one direction by means of a paul
and ratchet wheel. A small chain or cord ; passes round the shaft j,
terminating in a spring" on the opposite side. The cord or chain; is attached
to a long lever 1, and as this lever vibrates backward and forward it turns
the shaft in a like vibratory manner; but the drum will only be moved by
the thrust of the paul k or the ratchet in one direction, and on the returning
vibration of the shaft it will be held firm by another paul set on the frame, or
simply by the friction of the roller on which the spring acts, while the first

page_text: paper.
slips over the ratchet teeth to take a new hold: Instead of this ratchet
arrangement, pieces of cat-gut and springs, arranged as described with respect
to the wheel B, may be employed to produce the necessary advance of the
The paper will thus be fed constantly onward, the length of feed being
governed by the extent of vibration in the lever. To accomplish this, there
is on the shaft B' a graduated wheel or plate B", revolving with it, as repre-
sented in the views, Figures 1, 2, and 3. The edges, it will be perceived, are
notched out to irregular depths, and there are as many notches as there are
sets of characters, and the notches are adjusted with reference to the position
of those on the letter wheel. These notches form a series of stops for the
end of the lever, so that when it strikes, against the one that projects the
farthest out, the motion will be shorter, and the feed of paper consequently
least, and so on to the deepest notch required for the longest letter or character.
The end of the paper fillet being pushed through the plates into b, Fig. 7, a
letter is formed as follows:-Press down the key representing the required
letter or number, as F, the proper pin will be pushed out, the shaft B' will
fly round by the force of the spring g until arrested by its arm i striking tho
pin aforesaid. The proper character on the letter wheel will now be in
position to operate on the proper links c, which are to be kept in place. At
this moment a clamp k¹ is raised; this clamp is used to keep down all the
tails of the links; immediately all the links will be forced upward by the springs
under them, but the projections upon the letter wheel B will keep those down
which are required to operate the proper punches, the others will rise and their
notches s¹ get clear of the end of the lever d. By a pressure of the foot upon
a treadle k or a cam l is turned, which first of all permits the lever ¹¹¹ to
fly toward the index plate B", and gives the required amount of feed. to the
paper. A. cam then strikes the tail of the other lever d, and drives all thoso
punches which are kept in gear with the notches s'. The foot is then raised,
and the two levers are restored to their former points. It must be understood
that the key F was kept pressed down during the whole process, and until the
key for the succeeding one is operated, when the process continues as before..
It remains now to describe the second process for transmitting the message.
This is done by the machine shewn in Figures 4 and 5, of which Figure 4 is
a side elevation, and Figure 5 a top view. At a' is a standard, having a small
drum a' fitted at the top to rotate. These must be of metal or some conducting
material for electricity. Immediately over this is a small roller b, fixed to an
arm b', which is hinged to a post, as shewn. This roller is made to press
down upon the drum by a spring, as shewn. The fillet p of perforated paper
passes along over the drum, and is so guided that the roller b will travel in tho

page_text: track of the perforation, as seen in Figure 5. The positive and negative wires
are attached to these, one being seen at d, and the other at e. The paper is
to be drawn between the drum and roller with as much speed as may be found
practicable to record by the machine at the opposite end of the line: Whenever
a perforation comes under the roller b, the circuit of electric conductors is
closed, and so continues until a blank space comes, when it is broken. This
breaking and closing form characters in the usual way, except as regards
speed. This process may also be reversed by employing a strip of conducting
material in lieu of the paper, or by rendering the characters stamped-upon a
strip of paper conducting, by the application of a suitable substance to the
paper by means of the punches, and connecting the wires accordingly. The
machines are capable of running at a high velocity, and of course trans-
mitting messages with a corresponding speed. It is preferred to use a roller,
as considerable pressure is necessary to ensure contact with the metal beneath
when the perforations come, and a point under the circumstances would be
liable to tear the paper to pieces.
Instead of punching out or making spaces on paper to be placed in
the transmitting instrument, as before described, I sometimes employ what
I term a type stick, shewn in Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13. Figure 10
is a plan, Figure 11 a view, of the type ends and channel of the stick ;
Figure 12, a transverse section of the stick; and Figure 13, views of the
type, both in and out of the stick. This stick is provided with types a in
any convenient shape, with which it is filled before it is used, and each type
is capable of being pushed back by the links or tumblers 6 being made to act
upon them by the projections on the wheel B of the machine, all other parts
operating substantially in the manner already described. The types which
are left protruding form the telegraphic composition. The type stick has
formed on it, at the back, teeth c, into which take the teeth of a pinion d,
driven in any suitable manner, and by means of these teeth and the pinion
the type stick is moved along, so as to bring successive portions of it in front
of the links or tumblers or pieces connected thereto. When a message has
been prepared by the instrument in this type stick, the stick with its types
arranged may be at once applied to the telegraphic instrument instead of the
paper. In the former case, the projecting types being formed either of con-
ducting or non-conducting material, and the poles being arranged so as to
complete the circuit as they pass the roller or point, and the communication
is made as before described.
The foregoing methods of composing and transmitting telegraphic messages
is adapted to the electro-magnetic register or recording instrument as used

page_text: by Morse, or the electro-chemical decomposition process of Davy, Bakewell,
and Bain, or any mode which requires the intermittent opening and closing
of the circuit to form the signs for letters, figures, &c.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,--
First, the general arrangement and construction, together with the method
of action, of the machine, herein-before described, and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed, for composing letters, figures, and messages for
transmission by electricity.
Second, the transmitting of electro-telegraphic messages by the. machine
herein-before described for that purpose.
And, third; the method, herein-before described, of preparng a type stick,
or of setting up types, for composing messages to be transmitted by electric
telegraphs.
In witness whereof, I; the said John Pierrpont Humaston, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. P. HUMASTON. (L.S.)