Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Bond of Charles R. Matheny as Clerk of the Sangamon County Commissioner’s Court, 18 June 18381

Know all men by these presents that we Charles R Matheny William Butler Abner Y Ellis, A. Lincoln are held and firmly bound unto the County Commissioners of the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois for the use of any person or persons injured or for the use of the said County if injured in the penal sum of one thousand dollars the payment of which will and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns, jointly severally and firmly by these presents. Signed Sealed and dated this 15 ^th day 18 day of June AD 1838

The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bounden Charles R Matheny has been duly elected clerk of the said County Commissioners Court.2

Now if he the said Charles R Matheny shall faithfully perform the duties of said office as required by Law, then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and effect
C R Matheny seal William Butler seal Abner Y Ellis seal A. Lincoln seal
State of Illinois
Sangamon County

[ docketing ]
C R Matheny
Bond
Clerk Co[County] Court

1Abraham Lincoln filled in the blank with his name within the body of the bond and signed his own name.

2In 1837, the legislature changed the clerk of the county commissioners courts from an appointed position to elected. Every clerk was required to post a $1,000 bond. Charles R. Matheny, who had previously been appointed to the post, was elected when the law went into effect. He held the position until his death in 1839.
“An Act Establishing the Courts of County Commissioners,” 22 March 1819, Laws of Illinois (1819), 175; An Act Making the Clerks of the County Commissioners Courts and County Treasurers, Elective by the People; Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Sangamon County (Chicago: Munsell, 1912), 2:1421-22.