Hancock, John (1737-1793) [Massachusetts state pardon for Scripture Frost for counterfeiting coin]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01988 Author/Creator: Hancock, John (1737-1793) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Document signed Date: 13 November 1787 Pagination: 2 p.+ dock. 30 x 19 cm Order a Copy
Frost was sentenced to stand in pillory for 1 hour and to 2 years hard labor. Conditionally pardoned excepting that Frost pay a 25 Pound ($40) fine. Signed and sealed by John Hancock as governor. Written by Secretary to the Governor John Avery, Jr. Includes pieces of Continental currency.
[SEAL] Commonwealth of Massachusetts--
John Hancock
To all the Sheriffs of the several Counties within this Commonwealth
aforesaid & all other Officers & faithfull [sic] subjects to whom these
presents shall come, Greeting
Whereas Scripture Frost of Shirely in the County of Middlesex was
at our Supreme Judicial Court holden at Cambridge in and for our
said Court Ordered that the Said Scripture Frost be adjudged to
stand one hour in the pillory and to be confined to the Castle at hard
labor for two years; & Whereas the said Scripture Frost has humbly
supplicated the grace and favor of this Commonwealth for the
remittance of the saud Sentence so far as relates to the aforesaid
Sentence--
I do therefore by and with the advice of Council remit to
the Said Sentence above mentioned -- provide nevertheless & this
pardon is on this express condition that the Said Scripture Frost
shall and do within forty days next coming pay to the Sheriff of the
County of Middlesex a fine of Twenty five pounds to the use of the
Commonwealth, & shall also pay all legal costs which have arrisen
[sic] in the protection against him for the offence [sic] whereof the
Stands convicted, and also all costs that shall arise on his
imprisonment to the time of this endangerment on this pardon & in
future of his voluntary compliance with the condition aforesaid
within the term of time above mentioned; the Sheriffs and Officers
aforesaid and all whom it may concern enjoined to See the Sentence
aforesaid executed, according to the expression & terms aforesaid--
In testimony whereof I have caused the public Seal of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid to be hereunto affixed_
Witness His Excellency John Hancock Esq. Governor &
Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth aforesaid.
Dated at Boston this thirteenth day of November Anno Domini
One thousand seven hundred & eighty seven in the year of the
Independence of the United States of America.
By his Excellency's Command
with the advice & consent of Council --
John Avery junr. Secretary
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