By Matthew Urtz
(Wampsville, NY – May 2015) As television shows like “Antiques Roadshow” and “American Pickers” have become popular, people have started to evaluate their family heirlooms (and in some cases junk) wondering if there is any value to it. Sometimes yes and sometimes no, but sometimes the story behind the item can be more interesting than the item itself. This is the case with a document located at the Hamilton Public Library.
Late last year Joan Prindle informed me that the Hamilton Historic Commission had a document signed by George Washington. Intrigued, I asked to see it, because how often do you get the chance to view an original document tied to a founding father of our country? The document was donated in the 1930s by J. Frank McGregory, a former Colgate professor. The document (pictured) is about four inches by six inches and states:
“Head Quarters,
Bergen County, (N.J.)
Sep. 10th, 1780
Permission is granted to Mr. Patterson with his Negro man Tom, to pass and repass the picket at Ramapo.
George Washington”
I was amazed that in Madison County we had a Revolutionary War era document signed by George Washington! Joan expressed concern about the safety of such an important document and wondered if we could work out a long-term loan with a facility that could care for it. I reached out to Mount Vernon, and Mark Santangelo, chief librarian and archivist at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington was interested. He requested document images for evaluation.
A few weeks later Mark called. They had completed an evaluation of the document and were interested in a long-term loan, but not for the reason I thought. This document is actually a forgery, but the library in Mt. Vernon wants to use it in a display about forgeries of Washington’s signature. This particular forgery was made by Robert Spring, a British man who lived in the mid-to-late 19th century. He made hundreds of forgeries similar to this document, only changing the last name of the owner. The forgery was so popular that some joked, “Washington created the first important traffic jam in US history.”
At first I was somewhat upset, thinking we had this wonderful document signed by one of our forefathers, something that a former resident received and donated locally. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought this is a story unto itself. We had a document that, while tied to Washington, had its own unique story.
It is part of what makes history fun–find out the story behind a document, building, person or artifact. I hope if you get a minute you take the time to go to your local museum or library and see what they have to offer. The story may surprise you.
For more information on Madison County history feel free to contact me either via phone @ 315-366-2453 or email matthew.urtz@madisoncounty.ny.gov. Do not forget to become a fan of Madison County, NY History on Facebook, and check out our county webpage at www.madisoncounty.ny.gov.
Matthew Urtz is Madison County Historian.