American Historical Ephemera & Photography

1 page, 12 3/4 x 7 3/4 in., creasing along folds, light toning and soil, small hole at convergence of horizontal and diagonal fold lines. Document attached to mat with archival tape but not enclosed in a frame.

William Henry Harrison appoints Spencer Wiley as ensign in the 3rd Regiment of the Militia of the Indiana Territory. Affixed with embossed paper seal in lower left corner and countersigned by Secretary of the Indiana Territory John Gibson. Verso with oath taken by Spencer Wiley and endorsement by Justice of the Peace Moses Wiley indicating his witness to the foregoing oath as well as the oath of allegiance to the United States, 24 January 1812.

William Henry Harrison signed this commission approximately one month after his important victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe. He would go on to serve during the War of 1812 and as the ninth president of the United States.

[With:] POSEY, Thomas (1750-1818). Partly printed document signed by Thomas Posey as 2nd Governor of the Indiana Territory, Jeffersonville, 4 June 1813. 1p, approx. 12 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. (sight), 17 1/2 x 13 in. (framed). Toning, creases at folds, unexamined outside frame.

Posey appoints Spencer Wiley to another advancement in rank, this time as Captain of the 3rd Regiment of the Militia of the Indiana Territory, though initial instance of the rank seems to have been rewritten atop a previous entry. "William Henry Harrison" has been crossed out at the top of the document and replaced with the new governor's name, as Harrison had at this point accepted a wartime appointment to lead the Army of the Northwest during the War of 1812. Affixed with embossed paper seal in lower left corner and countersigned by Secretary of the Indiana Territory John Gibson. Verso with endorsement of James Hartpence indicating his witness to the "oath of office perscribed [sic] by law, Likewise the oath of allegiance to the United States to support the Constitution."  Document is housed under glass in wood frame.