Notarizing an African-American as a Free Black in 1799 de Biddle, Clement (1740-1815)

One page autographed document signed by Clement Biddle who was a Notary Public in Philadelphia. Biddle was a Quaker who led a group to stop the "Paxton Boys" in 1764. He with his brother Owen were among the signers of the "non-importantion resolutions" to deal with the Stamp Act. Though a Quaker he joined the Quaker Volunteers and was made a deputy quarter-master, after the Battle of Trenton, George Washington ordered him to receive the swords of the Hessians. He was at Princeton, Germantown, Brandywine, Monmouth and Valley Forge. He was involved with the Constitution and in the same year Washington appointed him U.S. Marshall of Pennsylvania. He again returned to service during the Whiskey Rebellion. Here in 1799 he is a Notary Public and with the signature of George Houston [who marks an "x"] he accepts that John Williams is "a free black man" who also signs with an "x". Clement Biddle's bold signature is a the bottom of this folio page document.