Hooper, William, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

1 page (12 3/8 x 7 1/4 in.; 315 x 184 mm) plus integral address leaf, addressed in his hand, docketed in Hewes' hand; seal tear mended affecting 6 letters which are supplied in manuscript.

John Gilliam Wood (Christie's NY, 22 April 1983, lot 56)

see cataloguing
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An extraordinary addition to a Signers collection, mentioning John Penn and their "long journey" to Halifax North Carolina where Hooper, Penn, and Hewes (all three Signers) would be authorized to vote for independence, the first delegates so authorized by any colony.

William Hooper and John Penn left Philadelphia for North Carolina in March 1776 to attend its Fourth Provincial Congress meeting in Halifax on the 4 April. In this letter, Hooper writes from Elkton, Maryland, about 30 miles south of Chester, Pennsylvania, on his way to Halifax, likely on the 15th or 22nd March. On 12 April, the Provincial Congress, including Hooper and Penn, unanimously adopted the resolution empowering its delegates to the Continental Congress to declare independence, thereby becoming the first colony to authorize its delegates to do so.

It is probable that Hooper stayed at Mary Withy's Inn, a boardinghouse some 15 miles south of Independence Hall in Chester Pennsylvania, for his letter begins: "My dear friend, with my usual care (you'll say) I left my Watch at Mrs. Withy's in Chester where it still remains. Whether I hung it on a Chair at my Bedside, or omitted to bring it from the Privy, I am not very certain.  Be so kind as to write her & desire her to send it to you."

Both Hooper and Hewes were apparently recuperating from an illness: "I wish I may be equal to the long journey I have undertaken, I find no dis[agree]able change yeat, I have some appetite & Mr. [Pe]nn with his usual flow of conversation will assist to keep up my spirits. Remember me kindly to my Congress friends and assure them that purely from Indisposition I failed to bid them a formal adieu. My best wishes attend them. Let me earnestly recommend to you to pay greater attention to your Health than you at present do & to use more exercise. My warmest wishes are for your perfect recovery."

Hooper letters written in the year of the Declaration are exceedingly rare, only a handful have ever been sold at auction.