During The Constitutional Convention, Massachusetts Lists Men Who Could “Represent The Commonwealth In Congress”; The Prestigious Lists Includes John Hancock And Samuel Adams

AARON WOOD (1720-1791). Wood was a Massachusetts elected official, serving in the state House of Representatives and the General Court. AD. 1pg. 8 ¼” x 9”. June 26, 1787. In Senate [likely Boston]. An autograph manuscript in the handwriting of Massachusetts politician Aaron Wood. Written during the Constitutional Convention, the state was considering who they could send to the new Federal Congress. Wood wrote: “The Committee of both Houses Appointed to consider and report the Number of Persons which it will be expedient to Chuse [sic] as Delegates to represent the Commonwealth in Congress, and also to consider the Federal ability of those Gentlemen who have been Elected Delegates to Congress within Six Years last Past – Ask have to report as their opinion, That four persons will be a sufficient number to represent this Commonwealth in Congress: And that his Excellency John Hancock Esqr, The Honble Samuel Adams Esqr, Honl Artemas Ward, Honl James Lovell, Honl John Lovell, Honl Jona Jackson, Honl Timo Danelson, Honl Stephen Higgenshon, Honl James Sullivan, Honl Tristam Dalton, Honl Francis Dana, Honl Theodore Sedgwick, Honl Nathan Dana Esqrs are of federal ability to be elected Members of Congress the present year.” The four Massachusetts representatives to the Constitutional Convention were Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King and Caleb Strong. The first two Massachusetts Senators, first elected in 1788, were Tristam Dalton (mentioned in the document) and George Cabot. The first eight Massachusetts Congressmen were Fisher Ames, Elbridge Gerry, Benjamin Goodhue, Jonathan Grout, George Leonard, George Partridge, Theodore Sedgwick (mentioned in the document) and George Thatcher. The document is missing the lower left corner but it has been professionally repaired. An interesting foundational document.