BENJAMIN LINCOLN (1733-1810). Major General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, as George Washington's Second in Command he formally accepted the British Surrender at Yorktown in 1781; Appointed by President Washington as the first Collector of Customs of the Port of Boston in 1789; holding this post until 1809.

THOMAS MELVILL (1751-1832). Boston Tea Party Participant, Revolutionary War Artillery Officer, Longtime Surveyor and Inspector of the Port of Boston, and Grandfather of Novelist Herman Melville.
A Pair of exceptional quality Printed Customs Certificates, each measuring 10 x 5.5 inches, issued for this District of Massachusetts, Port of Boston and Charlestown, certifying imports of French claret wine, both also Countersigned "Melvill, Inspector" by THOMAS MELVILL, each Choice Crisp About Uncirculated, with an official Embossed American Heraldic Eagle Customs Stamp at the upper left corner within a decorative black box.

1. The first Certificate, dated July 31, 1807, certifies one case of claret imported aboard this American vessel Betsy, from Bordeaux.

2. This second Certificate,, dated August 17, 1807, certifies one hogshead of fifty seven gallons of claret imported aboard this American vessel Packet Lyon, also from Bordeaux.

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As a young man, Melvill took part in this Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, one of a small number of participants whose identity is actually documented, and he later served as an artillery officer during this Revolutionary War before spending decades in Boston's Customs service, 25 years as surveyor for this federal customs district beginning in 1789.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, who knew Melvill personally, immortalized Melvill in his poem "The Last Leaf," inspired by seeing this old Revolutionary War veteran still walking Boston's streets in his colonial era cocked hat decades after this war had ended. Melvill was also this grandfather of novelist Herman Melville, whose mother added this final "e" to this family name only after her husband's death.

Both certificates are also Signed, "B Lincoln, Collector,” General Benjamin Lincoln, the Revolutionary War officer who accepted British General Cornwallis's sword at his surrender at Yorktown in 1781 on George Washington's behalf as his second. Melvill's countersignature, a surviving Boston Tea Party participant's signature appearing on this ordinary wine merchant's paperwork some thirty-four years later, that ties this pair of Documents directly to Boston's own Revolutionary memory.
[Federal Period, Early Republic, Massachusetts] [Thomas Melvill, Maritime Trade, Customs History] [Manuscripts, Documents, Customs Records, Autographs]