Washington, George. A Society of the Cincinnati document signed, being a membership certificate for Henry Heath

Property from Joseph Rubinfine, American Historical Autographs

WASHINGTON, GEORGE

DOCUMENT SIGNED ("GO: WASHINGTON") AS PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI, BEING A MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE FOR HENRY HETH, ESQ.

Engraved broadside on vellum (13 3/4 x 20 3/8 in.; 355 x 517 mm), accomplished in a calligraphic clerical hand, Philadelphia, 5 March 1787, conferring membership in the Society of the Cincinnati to Henry Heth, Esq, countersigned by the Secretary of the Society ("HKnox"), engraved vignettes by Auguste L. Belle after Jean-Jacques Andre LeVeau depicting America in knight's armor trampling upon the British standard and the American eagle casting the British lion and Britannia out to sea with thunderbolts, the vignettes incorporating depictions of both sides of the medal of the Order of the Cincinnati within roundels; evidently cleaned and pressed at some point, some fading, including to Washington's signature, lightly soiled, stain to upper left. 

A copy of a Society of Cincinnati membership certificate

Henry Heth was a Virginia businessman, who is perhaps best remembered for his Black Heath coal mines in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Henry served in the Revolutionary War, and his son, also named Henry, would go on to serve in the War of 1812.

The Order of the Cincinnati was conceived of by Henry Knox who wished to establish a fraternal organization for all officers who had served in the War for Independence and "any of their eldest male posterity." The Order was founded in early May 1783 at the headquarters of General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben at Verplanck House in Fishkill, New York. The three guiding principles of the organization were: First, "An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of human nature, for which they have fought and bled. …" Second, "An unalterable determination to promote and cherish between the respective States, that union and national honor so essentially necessary to their happiness, and the future dignity of the American empire." Third, "To render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the officers. This spirit will dictate brotherly kindness in all things, and particularly, extend to the most substantial acts of beneficence, according to the ability of the Society, towards those officers and their families, who unfortunately may be under the necessity of receiving it."

The concept of using Cincinnatus as an emblem of the Order was particularly resonant with Americans since the life of this mid-fifth century Roman nobleman and farmer closely paralleled that of many who had served, with George Washington in the vanguard. Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was called upon to repel two hostile tribes that threatened Rome. He issued his orders, which were efficiently carried out, and vanquished the enemy. Although elected a dictator for six months and voted a triumph by the Senate, Cincinnatus stepped down just after fifteen days and returned to private life on his farm. Similarly, at the conclusion of hostilities, Washington returned to his plantation at Mount Vernon.