Partly-printed war-dated DS as president, one page, 16 x 10, April 12, 1861. President Lincoln appoints John S. Keyes to be a Marshal of the United States for the District of Massachusetts. Signed at the conclusion in black ink, “Abraham Lincoln,” and countersigned by Secretary of State William Seward. Interestingly, the reverse bears Keyes’s signed oath of office and allegiance to “solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States, so help me God.” Also on the reverse is the April 19, 1861, endorsement from the District Judge of Massachusetts stating Keyes took his oath. In fine condition, with intersecting folds, some scattered light toning, with a few heavier spots near top, mild rippling around seal, light show-through from oath and endorsement on reverse, and a bit of light mirroring of seal.
Almost immediately after his inauguration, Lincoln was confronted with surprise information: Major Robert Anderson was reporting that only six weeks of rations remained at Fort Sumter. As the situation grew more dire, Lincoln informed the governor of South Carolina, as he refused to recognize the newly formed Confederate States of America, that he would attempt to resupply the troops at Fort Sumter. This action resulted in an ultimatum from the Confederacy…surrender the fort. Anderson refused to surrender to the commander of Confederate forces in Charleston, Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, and beginning at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, the Confederates bombarded the fort from artillery batteries surrounding the harbor. The Civil War had begun.
Throughout his life John Shepard Keyes served as a lawyer, a Massachusetts state senator, a sheriff of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, a United States marshal, a judge of the District Court of Eastern Middlesex, and a life-long resident of Concord, Massachusetts. As a Marshall Keyes served as a bodyguard during Lincoln’s inauguration and was present at Gettysburg for the delivery of the Gettysburg Address. A highly desirable document, not only for the notability of its recipient, but for its date, one of the darkest days in American history. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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