Thomas Marshall, Revolutionary War Officer, Signs Legal Document for Lawsuit Involving Colonial Newspaper Ventures

1800 MASON COUNTY, KENTUCKY DOCUMENT - CAPT THOMAS MARSHALL - Handwritten deposition of William H. Beaumont of Mason Co., KY pertaining to a lawsuit pending in Washington Co., PA. Thomas Marshall signs, "T. Marshall" as clerk on page three. Most of the document text appears to be in Marshall's hand. Folds reinforced with archival tape. Seal intact.

Thomas Marshall (1761-1817) - Revolutionary War Officer; clerk Shenandoah Co., Virginia, 1781-84; first clerk of Mason Co., KY; member of the first Kentucky constitutional convention. This is possibly the Thomas Marshall mentioned in Western Adventure by John McClung regarding a "remarkable" escape from Indians on his second trip to Kentucky in 1790 (included). He was the younger brother of Chief Justice John Marshall (1755-1835).

The subjects of the lawsuit, John Colerick, William Hunter and William H. Beaumont were business partners in a number of Colonial newspaper ventures in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. On August 17, 1795, for example, they established The Washington Telegraph and Washington Advertiser. The Mirror was established Sept. 16, 1797 by Hunter and Beaumont. They also established The Palladium at Frankfort, on Aug. 19, 1798. Some research about Marshall included.

Offered is a 12 ¾” x 7 ¾” 2 1/3 pp, legal deposition in a lawsuit filed by Hunter against Beaumont:

“The deposition of William H. Beaumont of full age taken at the courthouse in the Town of Washington County of Mason State of Kentucky the 17th day of October 1800 by virtue of a commission for that purpose from the Circuit Court of Pennsylvania for the County of Washington in a suit which John Colerick is Plaintiff and Wm. Hunter Defendant, being duly sworn to answer interrogatories, say first whilst he was in Partnership with Colerick & Hunter a note was drawn & executed by David Duncan payable to Colerick, Hunter & Beaumont for a sum of money something exceeding two hundred dollars which note, the date he cannot positively recollect, he knows to be the subject of the suit now depending between John Colerick and William Hunter that prior to the actual dissolution of co-partnership but subsequent to an agreement being made for its taking effect, William Hunter was preparing for a journey to Kentucky. Shortly before his departure, John Colerick called upon him at the house of the defendant and in his presence requested him to take charge of the note & collect the money for him if possible.

“To the second interrogatory, this defendant says that at the time of the dissolution of the partnership an allowance was made for bad debts, this note being there due was…included. Moreover accounts had been received of Duncan’s situation and at that time, the debt was considered rather, in fact, tardy.

“To this interrogatory, he sayeth that John Colerick wished Hunter to receive the money for him if it could be got at by fair means…not to commence suit assigning as a reason in words nearly to this effect or to this purpose that…Such a measure would be impolite on your part as it might create…enemies and I cannot expect it of you.

“To the fourth interrogatory he deposeth that the note in question at the time of Wm Hunter going to Kentucky was acknowledged by all the parties as the sole property of John Colerick that from the date of the agreement for a separation, Hunter had no interest whatever in the note and acted in this business merely at the agreement of Colerick that at the time Colerick registered Hunter to take charge of the note… but of this deponent’s recollection and belief, it is as in the hands of Atrolow Baird, Esq there on a Journey to Kentucky and deposited in the hands by Colerick for collection and Hunter expected to meet with Baird on his decending the Ohio and receive it from him and farther this deponent saith not. W.H. Beaumont”

Toning, folds and splits reinforced with archival tape. Some bleed through. Seal intact with some residue on facing page.

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