Promissory Note of Nathaniel Hay to Abraham Lincoln, 2 March 18551
$200–
Springfield, March 2. 1855On the ninth day of April next I promise to pay A. Lincoln two hundred dollars, with ten per cent interest after due until paid, for value received–2
N Hay1Abraham Lincoln wrote this document and Nathaniel Hay signed it. Another version of this document is extant, written in an unknown hand.
2In April 1849, Hay borrowed $200 from Lincoln. Hay gave Lincoln a promissory note
for $200 at six percent interest for the first six months and ten percent thereafter.
Over a period of six years, Hay repaid Lincoln with small amounts of cash and in-kind
services. Hay also paid Lincoln for legal fees in a number of cases in which Lincoln
was his attorney. On this date, Lincoln and Hay settled the debt. Hay gave Lincoln
this promissory note and a due-bill for the balance of interest due. Hay died intestate on February 4, 1856, and his
brother, Milton Hay, and brother-in-law, Joshua F. Amos, were appointed administrators for his estate. On June 9, Lincoln filed a claim for $240 against Hay’s estate, amounting to the principal of this promissory note
plus interest. Amos paid Lincoln $225 on May 16, 1857, of which Lincoln deposited $200 into his account at
the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company.
Lincoln filed claim against Hay’s estate, 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=141352; Sangamon County Record of Letters and Wills, Microfilm Publication, Roll 66, 1855-1857,
3:130-32, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois Springfield;
Harry E. Pratt, The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln (Springfield, IL: The Abraham Lincoln Association, 1943), 72-73.
Handwritten Document Signed, 1 page(s), Box 5, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).