One page, small 4to (318 x 203 mm), old folds, very minor spotting, wear along edges.

In full: "Know all men by these presents that We John M Cabaniss as principal and E T. Cabaniss & Z P Cabaniss, & A Lincoln [and] James L Hill as his Sureties all of the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois are held and firmly bound unto the County Commissioners of the County of Sangamon and their Successors in office for the use of the People of the State of Illinois in the penal Sum of One Thousand Dollars lawful money of the United States for the payment of which well and truly to be made. We bind ourselves our heirs, Executors and administrators jointly and Severally, firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and Seals at Springfield this 5th day of August AD 1847. The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the said John M Cabaniss was on the Second day of August AD 1847. Elected a Constable in and for the Springfield District in said County for the Term of Two years from the said day of the Election. Now if the said John M Cabaniss shall faithfully discharge the duties of his office of Constable, and shall justly and fairly account for and pay over all monies that may come to his hands under any process or otherwise by virtue of his office, Then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue." Abraham Lincoln filled in his own name in a blank in the body of the text and signed his name at the bottom. The other sureties also filled in their names in the blanks and signed their names.

John Mathew Cabaniss (1784-1848) was born in Lunenbourg County, Virginia, and would go on to serve as a Captain of Kentucky Volunteers during the War of 1812, notably in the siege of Fort Meigs and the Battle of New Orleans. He arrived in Springfield in 1834 and was elected to the city's Board of Trustees four years later. The present bond was executed following Cabaniss's election as Springfield Constable.

REFERENCES:
Thomas F. Schwartz, "Lincoln's Published Writings: A History and Supplement,” Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association 9 (1987), 43