(Texas) — Caldwell, Matthew, Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence | Signed by "the Paul Revere of Texas"

Property from the Texana Collection of Howard Wilcox

(Texas) — Caldwell, Matthew, Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence

Manuscript document signed twice ("Mathew Caldwell") certifying his electionas sheriff of Gonzales County

One page (320 x 217 mm), Gonzales, Texas, 17 November 1838, countersigned by B. D. McClure, J. D. Clements, and Stephen Smith, file docket on verso; marginal chipping, dampstained.

"Matthew Caldwell has been Elected Sheriff." A post-Revolution legal document: "Know all men by these Presents that we Matthew Caldwell … J D Clements, & Stephen Smith as Securities are held and firmly bound unto Sam Houston President of the Republic of Texas and his Successors in office, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars for the payment of which will and truly be made. … The condition of the obligation in Such that whereas the above bound, Matthew Caldwell has been Elected Sheriff of the County of Gonzales, aforesaid for the fractional time of the term which C Smith was Elected for, who is now Dec[eased]. Now of the said Matthew Caldwell, Shall will and truly perform all and Singular the duties as required by Laws of him as Sheriff … then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue given under our hands and seals."

Below this certification, Caldwell has also signed an oath, swearing "that I will honestly truly and faithfully discharge discharge the duties of Sheriff for this County of Gonzales all and Singular that may be required of me, by Law, as Sheriff without favour or partiality to the best of my skill and ability so help me god."

Matthew Caldwell, a frontier ranger, was the first to warn Texans of the Mexican advance after the fall of the Alamo. He also signed the Declaration of Independence and served with distinction as a soldier.

PROVENANCE:

"The Texas Independence Collection" (Sotheby's New York, 18 June 2004, lot 45)