We are offering a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania document, dated the 29th of September, 1834, issued and signed by Governor George Wolf, appointing Allen McKean Justice of the Peace “in the district numbered five, composed of the Townships of Canton, Burlington, Troy, Franklin and Granville, in the County of Bradford”. The document states that Allen McKean will hold the commission [of judgeship] “so long as you shall behave yourself well”. The document is also signed by James Findley, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Evidence of the recording of the document is hand-written along the side and signed by the Recorder. Some information on Gov. Wolf – he is known as the Father of the Public School System, as he established a general system of common schools in his state. He also signed a law that banned public executions in the state after the hanging of murderer Charles Getter that had been viewed by up to 20,000 people. The document has the Pennsylvania State Seal that had been impressed into a circle of red wax. The state seal has different images on both sides, so one side of the seal was pressed into the wax of which the impression shows on the reverse of the document. Then a second layer of wax was applied, and the opposite side of the seal was impressed into it, the image of which can be seen on the front of the document. The wax was then covered with star-shaped paper for protection, but image is still visible. CONDITION – See images; on the back of the document there are tape repairs along the folds which had separated.
