Charge for Refining Salt Petre - Gun Powder - signed by Oliver Ellsworth and Jesse Root - American Revolution Autograph Document

Charge for refining salt petre (gun powder); signed by Jesse Root and Oliver Ellsworth. Fantastic piece!

Oliver Ellsworth, a prominent American statesman, lawyer, and influential figure in the establishment of the U.S. federal government, was born in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1745. He attended Yale and Princeton (then the College of New Jersey) before becoming a leading attorney. Ellsworth played a pivotal role at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where he was a key author of the “Great Compromise” (or Connecticut Compromise), which resolved the debate over state representation by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation per state in the Senate. Although he left the convention early and did not sign the Constitution, he strongly advocated for its ratification, writing essays under the pseudonym “A Landholder”.

As one of Connecticut’s first U.S. senators, Ellsworth became the Federalist leader in the chamber and a key ally of Alexander Hamilton. His most enduring legislative achievement was being the principal author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system, a blueprint that largely endures today. In 1796, President George Washington nominated him as the third Chief Justice of the United States. During his brief tenure on the Supreme Court, he sought to implement the practice of the Court delivering a single, unified opinion rather than separate opinions from each justice. However, his service was cut short by ill health, exacerbated by a diplomatic mission to France in 1799 where he negotiated an end to the undeclared Quasi-War. This led to his resignation in 1800. John Adams later described Ellsworth as “the firmest pillar” of the federal government during its early years.

Jesse Root, born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1736, was a prominent American minister, lawyer, and significant figure in Connecticut politics and the American Revolution. He graduated from Yale and pursued both legal and religious careers. During the Revolutionary War, Root distinguished himself by rising to the rank of Adjutant-General of the Connecticut Line. He also actively participated in the war effort politically, serving on the Connecticut Council of Safety and as a delegate to the Continental Congress for Connecticut from 1778 to 1782.

After the war, Root held various judicial and legislative positions. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and played a crucial role in the state’s constitutional convention. His most notable judicial role was as the chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1796 to 1807. As a respected legal mind, Root made significant contributions to early American law and government, leaving a lasting legacy. Jesse Root passed away in 1822, leaving behind a remarkable history of dedicated public service.

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