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1770 Colonial North Carolina Governor "ABNER NASH" Personal Issue Partly-Printed Private Promissory Note

ABNER NASH. (August 8, 1740 " December 2, 1786) was the Second Governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina between 1781 and 1782, and represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1786

North Carolina. August 2, 1770-Dated Colonial & Pre-Revolutionary War Era. Rare Partly-Printed Private Promissory Note. Five Pounds. Issued by and made to future North Carolina Governor Abner Nash. Very Fine. This Exceedingly Rare, possibly Unique original, Partly-Printed, North Carolina Promissory Note measures 6.5" x 4" being printed by and then made out to Abner Nash (1740-1786), Lawyer, Revolutionary War Patriot, represented New Bern in the Rebel "Provincial Congress" assembled from 1774, and in 1776 was a member of the committee that drafted the state's new constitution. He became a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 (serving as the first Speaker of that house) and the State Senate in 1779 and the Second Governor of the State of North Carolina serving from 1781-1782, and later also served in the Continental Congress from 1782-1786.

This promissory note is dated August 2, 1770 having been signed and given to Nash by William Head of Grassy Creek, Granville County, North Carolina. Since this note is Preprinted, with Abner Nash's name printed within the text, it is documenting his private a business transaction. At the time this note was signed, Abner Nash was a resident of New Bern, North Carolina. There are a few short edge separations, yet boldly printed in black upon fine quality period laid paper. Endorsement written on the blank reverse. A remarkable colonial North Carolina financial document of the future Governor and Continental Congress Representative. Exceedingly rare.

Additional Information:

Abner Nash (August 8, 1740 " December 2, 1786) was the second Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1781 and 1782, and represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1786.

Nash was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He read law and was admitted to the bar in Virginia. He also began his political career there, serving in the House of Burgesses from 1761 to 1765, before moving to New Bern, North Carolina. He married the widow of former colonial governor Arthur Dobbs.

Nash was an active supporter of the revolutionary cause. He represented New Bern in the rebel "Provincial Congress" assembled from 1774, and in 1776 was a member of the committee that drafted the state's new constitution. He became a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 (serving as the first Speaker of that house) and the State Senate in 1779.

He was elected Governor by the legislature in 1781. During his brief tenure as Governor, North Carolina saw some of its worst conflicts as a battleground in the American Revolutionary War. Unlike his brother Francis, his temper and poor health were poorly suited to the needs of war. This brought him into difficulty with the legislature. The assembly appointed Richard Caswell as Commander-in-chief of the militia, even though the constitution assigned this responsibility to the Governor. Then in December of 1781 they named a Council Extraordinary that further encroached on his office. Consequently, Nash resigned and went home in the spring of 1782. Thomas Burke was named to replace him.

Later in 1782, North Carolina eased political tensions by sending Nash as a Delegate to the Continental Congress. He would serve there the rest of his life, as he died at a session in New York City. Abner was originally buried in St. Paul's Churchyard in Manhattan, but his body was later returned for burial in a private, family plot in Craven County, North Carolina.

His son, Frederick Nash, was also a lawyer and political leader. He would serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

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