Zenger, John Peter

Folio (16 3/8 x 12 5/8 in.; 415 x 322 mm.), on paper, written in a clerical hand, signed “Peter Zenger” as witness to a declaration made by Johann David Wolff concerning the latter’s claims on monies and debts in Saxony and dated "New York, November 2, 1731". Also witnessed by Thomas Richardson and Thomas Brown, signed by Robert Lurting as mayor of New York and by four aldermen, ordering “the Seal of the City of New York to be affixed,” and notarized by clerk William Sharpas, with embossed paper seal of the city and silk ties, red laces and wax seal, mounted on cardboard; slightly browned, with a few stains and offsets, attachment more generally soiled and worn at edges.
[with]: a one-page ancillary document, in German, being a specification of the debt and a copy of the deed.

ROBERT LURTING Esqr. Mayor of the City of New, in the Province of New York in America and the Aldermen of the said City, To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting; Know ye that John David Wolff of the City of New York aforesaid, Taylor Personally appeared before us, and Notified unto us, that he the said John David Wolff, had left sundry Sums of Money, as well upon Loan, as Part of his Patrimony in his Native Country, as by Account hereunto annexed, may appear, as also that he was Desirous to have the said Money remitted to him here, and that in order to recover the Same he had Constituted and appointed his true and lawful Attornies, for him and in his Name, and for his use to ask, Demand, Sue for, and recover, all such Sum and Sum and Sums of Money which are due owing and Payable, and any Manner of Ways detained from him by his Brother John Christoph: Wolff of the City of Nossen Taylor, and his Step Brother, John Michael Rensberg, and his Guardian George Schlecht of Augustberg in the Marquisate of Meissen in the Electoral Saxon Dominions of his Polish Majesty giving unto his said Attornies by these Presents his full and whole Power and Authorit in and about the Premises, to ask for and Receive, and on Receipt to make Seal and Deliver Acquitances or other Sufficient Discharges for him and in his Name. And in Case his said Brothers and Guardian should refuse to pay and Deliver unto his said Attornies all such Sum and Sums of Money as they stand justly charged with, to substitute one or more Attornies under them with the same Power and Authority and again to revoke at Pleasure, as Occasion shall be, and generally all and every other Act and Acts Thing and Things, Device and Devices in the Law whatsoever, needful and necessary to be done for the Recovery of the aforesaid Sums of Money, for him and in his Name to do and perform, as fully and amply, and to all Intents and Purposes, as if he himself were Personally present, or as if the Matter required more especial Authority than is herein given. Ratifying allowing and holding for Firm all what his said Attornies shall Lawfully do in and about the Premises, for Performance of which he bindeth all his Goods and Chattles, Always reserving unto himself full Power and Authority to revoke and annull this present Power at Will. In witness hereunto Subscribed. In testimony of the Truth whereof, We the said Mayor and Aldermen have herunto caused the Seal of the City of New York to be affixed this Second Day of November in the fifth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. Annoque Domini, 1731.
Peter Zenger
Johann David Wolff
Tho: Richardson
Thomas Brown
By Order of the Mayor and Aldermen
Robt: Lurting Mayor
John Cruger
Jn Gelder
Fred: Philipse
Antho. Rutgers
Will Sharpas Cl.