MAJOR GENERAL HENRY DEARBORN - STOCK CERTIFICATE SIGNED 12/01/1821 - HFSID 250701

AS PRESIDENT OF A REPUBLICAN INSTITUTION
 
HENRY DEARBORN. Partly Printed DS: "H. Dearborn" as President of A Republican Institution, 2p, 10x8, front and verso. Boston, 1821 December 1. Stock certificate number 277. In full: "Be It Known, That Mr. Thomas Whitman of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the sole proprietor of One Share, viz: No. Two hundred seventy seven in A Republican Institution in the Town of Boston, subject to the By-Laws, and such Rules and Regulations as may be adopted by the members at any meeting legally holden for that purpose, which Share is transferable by endorsement to be made agreeably to the 16th Article of the By-Laws." Countersigned: "Thaddeus Page" as Recording Secretary. Transfer signed by Whitman in 1826 on verso. Vignette of U.S. Seal at top center. A Republican Institution was founded in 1819 as "a forum to promote political thought and discussion despite differences in political affiliation for the good of the nation as a whole". It is believed to still be in existence today. Physician HENRY DEARBORN had organized a militia company in anticipation of war with England and upon hearing of the battle of Lexington, led his men to Bunker Hill in time to engage the enemy. He then accompanied General Benedict Arnold to Canada and in the storming of Quebec, was taken prisoner, but was later released. He distinguished himself in the Battles of Stillwater, Saratoga and Monmouth and served on General Washington's staff during the siege of Yorktown. He later served as Jefferson's Secretary of War (1801-1809) and Collector for the Port of Boston until he again saw service as a Major General in the War of 1812. The year after he signed this document, Dearborn was named Minister to Portugal by President Monroe. 2-inch diameter embossed pink seal affixed at left, light blue ribbon threaded vertically through paper beneath seal. The document has been folded and the ribbon has transferred its impression in two places on the document, 1 touches "orn" in Dearborn. Creased. Shaded right blank edge. Folds, one vertical touching the "D" in Dearborn. Sporadically shaded on verso.