Document signed by James Ewing as Vice-President of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 23 January 1784. 1p, approx. 8 1/8 x 6 1/2 in. Docketed to verso. A pay order directing David Rittenhouse (1732-1796), Esquire, Treasurer of Pennsylvania, to pay John Smiley Esquire, "five pounds five shillings specie in full for his attendance in the Council of Censors...."

James Ewing (1736-1806) was a Revolutionary War soldier whose previous military experience coupled with his fierce support of independence from Great Britain helped garner him a commission as brigadier general on 4 July 1776. Ewing played a pivotal support role in General George Washington's famous operations during the American Revolution, most notably during the crossing of the Delaware River on the night of 26 December 1776. Ewing was tasked with crossing the Delaware at Trenton with a force of 800 Pennsylvania militia, but weather conditions and thick ice prevented his crossing that night. Prior to this pivotal operation, Ewing had been tasked with gathering military intelligence. Washington wrote to Ewing on 12 December 1776, to "spare no pains, nor cost, to gain information of the enemy's movements, and designs." During and after the war, Ewing held high-profile Pennsylvania offices, serving in the General Assembly from 1771-1776, winning a seat on the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and on 7 November 1782 being elected as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, a position in which he remained until November 1784.

 [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe]

Fully separated into 3 nearly-equal sections along old folds. Minor toning at edges.