Signer of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina (1749-1779) and a member of the Continental Congress. Born in Prince George’s Parish, Winyah, South Carolina, Lynch received a privileged gentleman’s education in England at Eton and Cambridge, and studied law at the Middle Temple in London. After returning to America in 1772, he became a prosperous planter and became heavily involved in politics, serving in his state’s provincial congresses, constitutional committee, and general assembly. From 1775 he served as a captain in the Revolutionary War, resigning his commission with his election as a delegate to the Continental Congress in February 1776. Five months later, at the age of twenty-six, he was the second youngest (behind Edward Rutledge, by three months) of the fifty-six men to put their names to the Declaration of Independence. By the end of the year, a lingering fever contracted during his military service worsened, and Lynch was forced to decline another term. In 1779, his health worsening, Lynch set off for the south of France with his wife, hoping that the climate would benefit his ailing health. On the first leg of the trip, en route to the West Indies, the ship was lost, its ultimate fate-and that of its passengers, including Lynch-unknown. Virtually nonexistent war-dated ALS signed “Thomas Lynch,” one page, 8 x 10.25, March 1, 1776. Letter written from Charlestown to George Laurence Eaton, Esquire. In full: “I am happy to extend to you the enclosed letter on his Excellys. account. I shall explain to my Father the visit and the reason. With great esteem I have the honor to be your friend.” Reverse bears an address panel in Lynch’s hand to “George Laurence Eaton Esquire, Charlestown,” with “The politeness of James Coggsehall, Esq,” written in the lower left of the address panel. In fair to good condition, with approximately 150-year-old fabric and glue repairs on the reverse of previously separated intersecting folds and tears, with some of the repairs passing through text and signature but not affecting the legibility, scattered toning and soiling, a few small holes including one to the center affecting a portion of a single letter of text, paper loss to each edge, and light show-through from address on reverse.
Accompanied by two condition reports from the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, one from 2008 listing the proposed treatment, and one from 2009 describing the treatment the letter received. Also accompanied by an earlier report of the laboratory examination of the letter by Federal Forensic Associates, Inc., done in 1991.
Lynch is widely considered the most elusive Signer, and the way in which he came to lay his name to the document, equally rare. He was serving in the South Carolina militia in 1776 while his father, Thomas Lynch, Sr, was serving in the First Continental Congress. The latter, designated as one of the 56 signers, became paralyzed after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in February of 1776, leading to the younger Lynch’s summons from the South Carolina Second Provincial Congress to join his father in Philadelphia as delegate. This made the two the first and only father and son to serve the Continental Congress. The 26 year old Lynch, Jr became the 52nd Declaration signer.
His father died in December of 1776, and he himself followed not long afterwards. Battling a malingering fever contracted from his service in the militia in 1775, Lynch and his wife embarked on a trip to France via the West Indies in 1779, seeking medical attention. Their ship was lost at sea, and neither were heard from again. Due to division amongst his three sisters, fire, and two wars, Lynch’s papers were scattered or destroyed, only a scarce few ever to surface. This floridly penned letter is one of the resilient survivors, possessing an unmatched desirability amongst Declaration collectors. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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