Promissory Note of Lincoln & Berry to Knapp & Pogue, 14 May 18331
$5236/100
New Salem 14th may 1833one Day after Date I Promise to pay to the order of Knapp & Pogue the sum of fifty too Dollars 36/100. for value Recd[received] of [them?] at the Rate of twelve percent intrust from Date untill finel paymt[payment]
Lincoln &. Berry| 52 36 | ||||||
| 52 36 | 3 67 | |||||
| 5 50 | 52.36 | intrust | $56 03 | |||
| 57 86 | 6 | |||||
| 31 416 | ||||||
| 62 820 |
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12/03/1833
12/03/1833
Knapp, AugustusPogue, Thomas
Lincoln & Berrey note $5236/100
Beardstown 3rd December 1833pay to Wm watkins or order the within amount
Knapp & Pogue2[ docketing
]
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New
[ docketing
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[?]
1Abraham Lincoln signed “Lincoln & Berry” to this note. The remainder of the document
is in the handwriting of several other people.
2Knapp & Pogue signed over this promissory note to William Watkins. When Lincoln &
Berry failed to pay, Watkins sued in the Justice of the Peace Court. The JP court ruled for Watkins and awarded $53. Lincoln appealed the judgment to the Sangamon County Circuit Court, which ruled for Watkins and awarded $57.86 (the amount of the debt plus interest).
Lincoln’s surveying equipment was auctioned off to settle the debt.
Watkins v. Lincoln & Berry, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=140676; Watkins v. Lincoln & Berry, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=140677; Harry E. Pratt, The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln (Springfield, IL: The Abraham Lincoln Association, 1943), 13.
Handwritten Document Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).