NEW YORK SUPREME COURT, DEBT ON STATE, ABIGAIL M. CAMPBELL V. GABRIEL WILLETT. READS IN PART: "NATHANIEL PENDLETON ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF IN THIS CAUSE, MAKETH OATH THAT ON THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY INSTANT, THIS DEPONENT FILED A DECLARATION IN DEBT ON STATUTE IN THIS CAUSE FOR THE ABOVE NAMED PLAINTIFF AGAINST THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT AND ENTERED THE COMMON RULE THEREUPON IN THE BOOK, FOR ENTERING COMMON RULES KEPT IN THE OFFICE OF JAMES FAIRLIE ESQUIRE, CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT... WITH A NOTICE BY THIS DEPONENT AS ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF DIRECTED TO THE SAID DEFENDANT AND DATED THE SAID FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT IN WRITING REQUIRING HIM TO TAKE NOTICE THAT A RULE HAD THAT DAY BEEN ENTERED IN THE OFFICE OF JAMES FAIRLIE ESQUIRE CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT AT NEW YORK...

New York, 1798. Broadside, 7-4/5" x 12-3/4". Framed in double sided glass with black matting and frame. Frame measures 14" x 18-3/4". Legal pleading on recto, completely in ink manuscript; docketed on verso. The document has expertly reinforced separations at two folds. Loss of several letters from one short tear. Lightly toned. Signed by Nathaniel Pendleton as plaintiff's attorney and Robert Benson as Clerk taking oath. Good+.

Nathaniel Pendleton [1756-1821] who served in the Continental Army from 1775-1783, was Georgia's Attorney General 1785-1786, delegate from Georgia to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, elected to the Continental Congress in 1789, Chief Justice of Georgia's Superior Court 1789-1796, a lawyer in New York by 1796, and later Judge in the Dutchess County Court.
Witnessed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Benson [1739-1823] with his signature. He served as aide-de-camp to Governor George Clinton in the Revolution, secretary of the New York City Committee of One Hundred and the Provincial Congress of New York during the Revolution, Clerk of the New York State Senate, and Clerk of the New York Common Council.
Major James Fairlie [c.1757-1830] was a distinguished officer in the Revolution and Major General Baron Steuben's aide-de-camp. He was clerk of the New York State Supreme Court from 1797-1830, a New York City Alderman, and a founding member of the New York Society of Cincinnati. The New York Evening Post published Society President Richard Varick's Eulogy of Fairlie in its 11 October 1839 issue. (Inventory #: 40369)