American politician (1760-1833) who succeeded Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury under Washington and Adams, and went on to serve as governor of Connecticut. LS signed “Oliv: Wolcott,” one page both sides, 8 x 9.75, November 29, 1792. Letter to "William Ellery Esquire, late Continental loan-officer for the State of Rhode Island," in part: "The Secretary of the Treasury has directed me to reply to your letter of the 31st of October…I find, that it has not been the usage of the Treasury to deliver up, on the Settlement of accounts, the bonds which have been taken to secure the fidelity of public officers. As reasons in support of this practice, it may be observed, that it is a supposable case, that what was intended as a final settlement and acquittance, may have been made on a partial or erroneous representation of the manner in which the trust was executed, in which case it is clear, that the bond would not be discharged. It may also be necessary, that the officers of the Treasury should be able to produce bonds which have been discharged, in vindication of their own conduct, if it should be called in question. The nature of your office, as well as the manner in which it was executed, will however fully exempt you or your sureties from any inconvenience…I have for your satisfaction and for that of your sureties enclosed triplicate certificates from the Register, as evidence that all your accounts as Loan Officer are closed in the books of the Treasury, by a final settlement." The second integral page, docketed in another hand, is present but completely detached. In very good condition, with chipping to the edges, and small repairs to splits along folds. After signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Ellery was appointed commissioner of the Rhode Island Continental Loan Office in 1786. Interestingly, Wolcott's father, Oliver Wolcott, Sr., also signed the Declaration.
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