Manuscript document signed by Peter H. Burnett as Governor of California, appointing William McPherson Hill as a notary public in an unnamed California county Author: Burnett, Peter Hardeman Place: San Jose Publisher: Date: September 3, 1850 Description: Ink manuscript, possibly in the hand of Burnett. Signed Peter H. Burnett as Governor of California, and countersigned by William Van Voorhies as Secretary of State. With blindstamped seal of the State of California. 25x38.3 cm (9¾x15"). Rare document boldly signed by the first Governor of California after the American conquest, assuming the role before California was technically a state, the U.S. Congress not passing the California Statehood Act until September 9, 1850, six days after the present document was signed. Word of that notable event did not reach California until October 18 with the arrival of the Pacific Mail Steamship Oregon. Such a minor detail had not prevented adoption of the Great Seal of the State of California, here impressed on the document, the year before. Peter Hardeman Burnett, whose tenure spanned both territorial governance and statehood, was himself of rather questionable character. He had served in Oregon as a Supreme Judge of the provisional government of Oregon where he advocated for the total exclusion of African Americans from the territory, and he brought those beliefs to California in 1848, where he was appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of California. In this capacity, he ordered the infamous extradition of Archy Lee, a formerly enslaved man living in Sacramento, back to Mississippi. As Governor, Burnett signed into law the so-called Act for the Government and Protection of Indians, which enabled the enslavement of Native Californians and contributed to their genocide. William McPherson Hill, though evidenced here as gaining the high office of notary public, is more famous for his achievements in viticulture. After buying property in the Valley of the Moon in 1851, he is credited with making California’s first really famous Zinfandel as early as 1855, when he and General Vallejo owned the most extensive vineyards in Sonoma County. Lot Amendments Condition: Paper a bit toned, old folds with a few short splits and tiny holes along them; very good. Item number: 343860
Manuscript document signed by Peter H. Burnett as Governor of California, appointing William McPherson Hill as a notary public in an unnamed California county Author: Burnett, Peter Hardeman Place: San Jose Publisher: Date: September 3, 1850 Description: Ink manuscript, possibly in the hand of Burnett. Signed Peter H. Burnett as Governor of California, and countersigned by William Van Voorhies as Secretary of State. With blindstamped seal of the State of California. 25x38.3 cm (9¾x15"). Rare document boldly signed by the first Governor of California after the American conquest, assuming the role before California was technically a state, the U.S. Congress not passing the California Statehood Act until September 9, 1850, six days after the present document was signed. Word of that notable event did not reach California until October 18 with the arrival of the Pacific Mail Steamship Oregon. Such a minor detail had not prevented adoption of the Great Seal of the State of California, here impressed on the document, the year before. Peter Hardeman Burnett, whose tenure spanned both territorial governance and statehood, was himself of rather questionable character. He had served in Oregon as a Supreme Judge of the provisional government of Oregon where he advocated for the total exclusion of African Americans from the territory, and he brought those beliefs to California in 1848, where he was appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of California. In this capacity, he ordered the infamous extradition of Archy Lee, a formerly enslaved man living in Sacramento, back to Mississippi. As Governor, Burnett signed into law the so-called Act for the Government and Protection of Indians, which enabled the enslavement of Native Californians and contributed to their genocide. William McPherson Hill, though evidenced here as gaining the high office of notary public, is more famous for his achievements in viticulture. After buying property in the Valley of the Moon in 1851, he is credited with making California’s first really famous Zinfandel as early as 1855, when he and General Vallejo owned the most extensive vineyards in Sonoma County. Lot Amendments Condition: Paper a bit toned, old folds with a few short splits and tiny holes along them; very good. Item number: 343860
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
