Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln

Oblong sheet, 8 x 2 1/2 in (203 x 63 mm), accomplished in manuscript by Isaac Lindsay, promising to pay Abraham Lincoln the sum of $600 at 10% annual interest; creasing from old folds; scattered ink stains.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF A PROMISSORY NOTE ISSUED TO LINCOLN WITH HIS ANNOTATIONS.

Extensively docketed on verso with records of Lindsay's repayment, with five entries from 1856-1860 in the hand of Lincoln: "Credit within sixty dollars, being first years interest Augt. 29, 1857. Received sixty dollars second years interest on within- Sept 1, 1858- Credit the within sixty dollars being this years interest Sep. 7. 1859. Received Sixty dollars fourth years interest August 29, 1860. Credit within Sixty dollars, fifth years interest--".

The remaining dockets from September 1861 to May 1864 are in an unknown hand as Lincoln had left Springfield for Washington, D.C., for the presidency. The final update, dated 31 May 1864, is signed by Robert Irwin, a surrogate of Lincoln's.

Lindsay was a bricklayer by trade, and assessor and collector for Springfield in 1856-57. From 1857-64 he served as clerk in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk of Sangamon County. Lincoln lent the money for this promissory note on 28 August 28 1855, secured by a mortgage on the east half of the north forty-three feet of Lot four in Block one of the Old Town Plat, in Springfield. Harry E. Pratt, The Personal Finances of Abraham Lincoln, pp. 76-77.

Provenance:

Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California