JOHN HANCOCK
PAYS A BOUNTY FOR THE GROWING OF HEMP
TO JOHN ADAMS, NATHAN BROWN, AND EPHRAM WESSON
[& no, it’s not ‘MARIJUANA’, nor is it “THAT” John Adams!]
HANCOCK, JOHN. (1737-1793). President of the Second Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; Governor of Massachusetts, and the first Signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Choice, Partially-Printed Document Boldly signed, “John Hancock,” as Governor, at right lower center of the document. Countersigned by John Avery, Junior, as Secretary. One full page, quarto. May 6, 1791. Very fine condition. Docketed on the verso by Adams as having received the monies. Headed in type: “Commonwealth of Massachusetts / By his Excellency the GOVERNOR”. The document reads:
“YOU are by and with the Advice and Consent of Council, ordered and directed to pay unto: Messrs John Adams, Nathan Brown and Ephram Wesson , the SUM of Sixteen Shillings and one penny in full for the bounty on…Hemp raised, manufactured and certified and agreeable to the Law – to be paid as directed by resolve of the 11th March last – for which this shall be your sufficient Warrant.
Given under my hand at Boston, the 6th Day of May 1791 in the 15th year of AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE….”
During the colonial period, hemp was primarily used for making ropes, sails, and clothing. The strong fibers of the hemp plant made it ideal for these purposes. As a result, hemp production became a major industry in many colonies. Some colonies even passed laws requiring farmers to grow hemp as a way to support the economy. Just a superb Hancock document with a great tongue-in-cheek overtone!
$11,000.00