Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 20 x 15.5, December 19, 1800. Four-language ship’s pass issued to “Joseph Hudson, master or commander of the Schooner called Martha…lying at present in the port of Charleston, bound for Morant Bay and laden with Provisions & Staves." Prominently signed at center in ink by President John Adams, and countersigned by Secretary of State John Marshall. The original white paper seal affixed to the left side remains fully intact. In very good to fine condition, with edge tears and fold separations repaired with archival tape on the reverse, not affecting either of the bold signatures.
This December 19, 1800 sea letter was signed by President John Adams and Secretary of State John Marshall, who would soon be appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The pass was issued for the schooner Martha, owned and captained by Joseph Hudson. The 98-ton sailboat was in the Port of Charleston, South Carolina loaded with provisions & staves (general supplies & wooden posts or planks), and bound for Morant Bay, Jamaica, in the Caribbean Sea.
United States ships carried four-language sea letters in the 18th and 19th centuries to show ownership, nationality, cargo, and destination. Hopefully, the document, which was used once for a single voyage, would provide some safety on dangerous seas. In addition to Adams and Marshall, this document was signed by Port Collector James Simons, and Charleston Notary Public Abraham Crouch.
The December 20, 1800 issue of the Charleston City Gazette newspaper shows that the U.S. Customs office in Charleston cleared Capt. Hudson and the schooner Martha to leave for Morant Bay. Customs records printed in the newspaper also show that the captain and ship had left from Charleston for Cadiz, Spain in April 1800.
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