[JOHN BROWN] Mayor of Harpers Ferry Signed Document

Partly printed court summons completed in manuscript and signed by Fontaine Beckham, as sheriff. Jefferson County, Virginia, 13 May 1847. 1 page. Docketed to verso and again signed by Beckham.

A court summons signed by Fontaine Beckham (1788-1859), who is best remembered as the mayor of Harpers Ferry during John Brown's raid. Beckham was one of the seven people who died during the raid, he was killed by Edwin Coppock, a Quaker abolitionist. Coppock would be hanged in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia) for his participation in the raid.

Though a slave owner, Beckham's last will and testament did instruct that several of his slaves be freed following his death.

In this document, Beckham is acting as sheriff or possibly court magistrate for Jefferson County, twice signing a court summons for Joseph McRee to answer a debt of $5.67.

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