THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, TO THE CONSTABLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, GREETING: YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO SUMMON BENJAMIN HOBBS TO APPEAR BEFORE ME OR SOME OTHER JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR SAID COUNTY, AT THE MRS. E.H. CARROLLS HOTEL ON THE 1ST SATURDAY IN FEBRY 1851, TO ANSWER KESLER & CO. IN A PLEA OF DEBT FOR SEVENTEEN DOLLARS AND 78 CENTS, DUE BY ACCT AND THEN AND THERE MAKE RETURN HOW YOU HAVE EXECUTED THIS WARRANT. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND, THIS 22D DAY OF JANY 1851. F. BECKHAM...
[Jefferson County, Virginia: 1851]. Single sheet, 7" x 5-3/4", printed on blue paper, completed in manuscript. Docketed on verso, Light wear. Side margins trimmed closely but not affecting text. Very Good.
Benjamin Hobbs, a resident of Harper's Ferry, worked as an armorer. He was among the first to warn that John Brown had captured the Harper's Ferry Armory. At Brown's trial, Armstead Ball testified that Hobbs aroused him early in the morning to announce the takeover, and that persons were carrying off government property.
This summons is signed by Fontaine Beckham, Mayor of Harper's Ferry and agent of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at the time of the insurrection. He was shot through the chest during the siege and died almost instantly. Item #24008
Price: $350.00