Francis Lewis, Signer of the Declaration from New York

One page (9 1/8 x 7 3/8 in; 230 x 188 mm), New York, 11 July 1748, being an invoice, with integral address leaf (now detached); some creasing and early reinforcement to folds.

The Rosenbach Galleries, Philadelphia (original label present)

COMMERCE BETWEEN TWO FUTURE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES Lewis directs to his Boston colleague an “Invoice of 6. bbls of Coffe[e] ship’d on board the Schooner Patience & Mary Francis Brehnam Mastr for Boston Consign’d to Mr Thomas Fayerweather, Mercht on his own Account & Risque vizt,” adding at the foot of the page, “Above you have Invoice and Inclosed Bill of Lading for six bbls. Coffe[e] which I wish safe to hand we have a nother parcell will be sold at Vendire in a day or two. out of which it does not exeed yr Limits, shall compleat your order.”

Francis Lewis (1713–1802) of New York was a merchant who became active in politics. As a member of the Committee of Sixty, he helped enforce the boycott of British goods. He served in the New York Provincial Congress prior to the Continental Congress. In addition to the Declaration of Independence, he signed the Articles of Confederation and also served on the Admiralty Board. Thomas Fayerweather was known to be successful in evading British revenue officers.