1768 Principio Company Ironworks MD Rare Document
Colonial America
The Principio Company the First Iron-Works in Maryland Started in England, George Washington's Father, Augustine Washington Sr., Agreed to Organize the Ironworks in 1725
March 11th, 1773-Dated Colonial Period, Maryland Principio (Ironworks) Company, Partially-Printed Document Signed by Thomas Russell, Rare "First" Bill of Exchange of 56.5 Shillings Sterling, drawn on London, (Cecil County), Maryland, Choice Very Fine.
This Sight Bill for the Principio Company grades choice Very Fine with minor edge wear, just a short left Indent side centerfold split and has good corners. It is signed by Thomas Russell, who was one of the original investors in the company. A truly rare and historical item and the better of only two of its kind that we have seen. The Principio Iron Works were started in England in 1719 by Joseph Farmer with British capital and an Ironmaster, John England, who made it one of the most successful in the Colonial Ironworks by the 1740s, producing pig iron for sale in London. Thomas Russell, Jr., who was John England's successor as Ironmaster, produced cannonballs for the Continental Congress and General George Washington's Continental Army during the American Revolution War.
This current, exceedingly rare and historic Document also relates to George Washington's father, Augustine Washington Sr., who in 1725 agreed with the Principio Company of England to organize an ironworks, originally to be located at Accokeek Creek, a tidal tributary of Potomac Creek, itself a tributary of the Potomac River, in Stafford County, Virginia. The ironworks were part of the (larger) Principio Company, whose other holdings included the Accokeek or Potomac Ironworks, located on the land of George Washington's father, Augustine Washington (north of Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia). The Maryland ironworks was developed by the "Ironmaster" John England, originally serving as a source of iron ore. As early as 1726, it may have included a cold blast charcoal furnace. In fact, the Accokeek Creek / Potomac Ironworks served as the Headquarters of the Principio Company, until it was closed sometime in the mid-1750s. As the Colony of Maryland had recently passed new laws in order to encourage development of the early iron industry, a Principio Furnace was also developed in Cecil County, Maryland, about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The original Maryland Ironworks were destroyed by the British during the War of 1812, in 1813.
The site still produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, the Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is only the second example and finest in quality of any Document or Fiscal item for the Principio Company we have encountered and offered. The prior example was EAHA Auction April 25, 2020, Lot 96 graded Fine which sold for $3,000. Extremely Rare.
See Google: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20083200?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
Principio Furnace and village is in Cecil County, Maryland, about 4 miles (6.4 km) Northeast of Havre de Grace, MD.
The Principio Iron Works were started here in 1719 by Joseph Farmer with British capital and an ironmaster, John England, who made it one of the most successful in the colonial ironworks by the 1740s, producing pig iron for sale in London. Thomas Russell, Jr., England's successor, produced cannonballs for the Continental Army during the Revolution.
The works were part of the (larger) Principio Company, whose other holdings included the Accokeek or Potomac Ironworks on the land of George Washington's father, Augustine Washington (north of Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia). This works was developed by the ironmaster England originally as a source of iron ore. As early as 1726, it may have included a cold blast charcoal furnace. Accokeek/Potomac served as the headquarters of the Principio Company until it was closed sometime in the mid-1750s.
The Maryland works were destroyed by the British in 1813.
In 1836, the site and its ruined buildings were purchased by Joseph Whitaker, his brothers George Price Whitaker and Joseph Whitaker II, and partners Thomas Garrett (a prominent abolitionist) and William Chandler. The site still had water power; more importantly, it was crossed by the freshly laid tracks of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. (Chandler was a director of the company.) The investors rebuilt the iron works and resumed production, opening a new blast furnace in 1837 and other improvements over the decades.
A scene of the activity at the furnace, published by a lithographer from Philadelphia, shows two chimneys and wooden railings around their base level atop the two-story bloomery. Two insets depict the open-pit mines where workers load carts with ore.
Before the Civil War, the Whitakers divided their holdings geographically, with Joseph receiving the Pennsylvania properties and George Price the Maryland and Virginia ones. George Price Whitaker and his descendants continued to be involved in the iron and steel business; their holdings became part of the Wheeling Steel Company in 1921, and eventually of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
The site produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1836, the site and its ruined buildings were purchased by Joseph Whitaker, his brothers George Price Whitaker and Joseph Whitaker II, and partners Thomas Garrett (a prominent Abolitionist) and William Chandler. The site still had water power; more importantly, it was crossed by the freshly laid tracks of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. (Chandler was a director of the company.) The investors rebuilt the iron works and resumed production, opening a new blast furnace in 1837 and other improvements over the decades.
A scene of the activity at the furnace, published by a lithographer from Philadelphia, shows two chimneys and wooden railings around their base level atop the two-story bloomery. Two insets depict the open-pit mines where workers load carts with ore.
Before the Civil War, the Whitakers divided their holdings geographically, with Joseph receiving the Pennsylvania properties and George Price the Maryland and Virginia ones. George Price Whitaker and his descendants continued to be involved in the iron and steel business; their holdings became part of the Wheeling Steel Company in 1921, and eventually of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
The site produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
KEYWORDS:
Colonial Iron Works, Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, Maryland Currency, Colonial American Trade, Printing Paper Money, Revolutionary War, George Washington, Continental Congress, Independence Hall, Fiat Currency, Currency Printing, Mount Vernon
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Colonial America
The Principio Company the First Iron-Works in Maryland Started in England, George Washington's Father, Augustine Washington Sr., Agreed to Organize the Ironworks in 1725
March 11th, 1773-Dated Colonial Period, Maryland Principio (Ironworks) Company, Partially-Printed Document Signed by Thomas Russell, Rare "First" Bill of Exchange of 56.5 Shillings Sterling, drawn on London, (Cecil County), Maryland, Choice Very Fine.
This Sight Bill for the Principio Company grades choice Very Fine with minor edge wear, just a short left Indent side centerfold split and has good corners. It is signed by Thomas Russell, who was one of the original investors in the company. A truly rare and historical item and the better of only two of its kind that we have seen. The Principio Iron Works were started in England in 1719 by Joseph Farmer with British capital and an Ironmaster, John England, who made it one of the most successful in the Colonial Ironworks by the 1740s, producing pig iron for sale in London. Thomas Russell, Jr., who was John England's successor as Ironmaster, produced cannonballs for the Continental Congress and General George Washington's Continental Army during the American Revolution War.
This current, exceedingly rare and historic Document also relates to George Washington's father, Augustine Washington Sr., who in 1725 agreed with the Principio Company of England to organize an ironworks, originally to be located at Accokeek Creek, a tidal tributary of Potomac Creek, itself a tributary of the Potomac River, in Stafford County, Virginia. The ironworks were part of the (larger) Principio Company, whose other holdings included the Accokeek or Potomac Ironworks, located on the land of George Washington's father, Augustine Washington (north of Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia). The Maryland ironworks was developed by the "Ironmaster" John England, originally serving as a source of iron ore. As early as 1726, it may have included a cold blast charcoal furnace. In fact, the Accokeek Creek / Potomac Ironworks served as the Headquarters of the Principio Company, until it was closed sometime in the mid-1750s. As the Colony of Maryland had recently passed new laws in order to encourage development of the early iron industry, a Principio Furnace was also developed in Cecil County, Maryland, about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The original Maryland Ironworks were destroyed by the British during the War of 1812, in 1813.
The site still produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, the Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is only the second example and finest in quality of any Document or Fiscal item for the Principio Company we have encountered and offered. The prior example was EAHA Auction April 25, 2020, Lot 96 graded Fine which sold for $3,000. Extremely Rare.
See Google: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20083200?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
Principio Furnace and village is in Cecil County, Maryland, about 4 miles (6.4 km) Northeast of Havre de Grace, MD.
The Principio Iron Works were started here in 1719 by Joseph Farmer with British capital and an ironmaster, John England, who made it one of the most successful in the colonial ironworks by the 1740s, producing pig iron for sale in London. Thomas Russell, Jr., England's successor, produced cannonballs for the Continental Army during the Revolution.
The works were part of the (larger) Principio Company, whose other holdings included the Accokeek or Potomac Ironworks on the land of George Washington's father, Augustine Washington (north of Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia). This works was developed by the ironmaster England originally as a source of iron ore. As early as 1726, it may have included a cold blast charcoal furnace. Accokeek/Potomac served as the headquarters of the Principio Company until it was closed sometime in the mid-1750s.
The Maryland works were destroyed by the British in 1813.
In 1836, the site and its ruined buildings were purchased by Joseph Whitaker, his brothers George Price Whitaker and Joseph Whitaker II, and partners Thomas Garrett (a prominent abolitionist) and William Chandler. The site still had water power; more importantly, it was crossed by the freshly laid tracks of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. (Chandler was a director of the company.) The investors rebuilt the iron works and resumed production, opening a new blast furnace in 1837 and other improvements over the decades.
A scene of the activity at the furnace, published by a lithographer from Philadelphia, shows two chimneys and wooden railings around their base level atop the two-story bloomery. Two insets depict the open-pit mines where workers load carts with ore.
Before the Civil War, the Whitakers divided their holdings geographically, with Joseph receiving the Pennsylvania properties and George Price the Maryland and Virginia ones. George Price Whitaker and his descendants continued to be involved in the iron and steel business; their holdings became part of the Wheeling Steel Company in 1921, and eventually of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
The site produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1836, the site and its ruined buildings were purchased by Joseph Whitaker, his brothers George Price Whitaker and Joseph Whitaker II, and partners Thomas Garrett (a prominent Abolitionist) and William Chandler. The site still had water power; more importantly, it was crossed by the freshly laid tracks of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. (Chandler was a director of the company.) The investors rebuilt the iron works and resumed production, opening a new blast furnace in 1837 and other improvements over the decades.
A scene of the activity at the furnace, published by a lithographer from Philadelphia, shows two chimneys and wooden railings around their base level atop the two-story bloomery. Two insets depict the open-pit mines where workers load carts with ore.
Before the Civil War, the Whitakers divided their holdings geographically, with Joseph receiving the Pennsylvania properties and George Price the Maryland and Virginia ones. George Price Whitaker and his descendants continued to be involved in the iron and steel business; their holdings became part of the Wheeling Steel Company in 1921, and eventually of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
The site produced iron until 1925. Part of the stone furnace still remains on the site. In 1972, Principio Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
KEYWORDS:
Colonial Iron Works, Paper Money, Early Paper Money of America, Maryland Currency, Colonial American Trade, Printing Paper Money, Revolutionary War, George Washington, Continental Congress, Independence Hall, Fiat Currency, Currency Printing, Mount Vernon
