Benjamin WARING (d. 1811) Manuscript Document Signed “B. Waring” as Treasurer of South Carolina, and signed on verso “J. Ch. Tho. Cartaret“, 1 page, 149 x 186 mm. (6 7/8 x 7 1/4 in.), Columbia, 5 July 1791, regarding tax collection, in full: “Recd. from John Byman Esq. Tax Collor. for Lexington County thirty six pounds 2/2 on acco. of the Taxes for 1789— also recd. four hundred & Eighty one pounds 1/11 in Special Indents for Taxes of 1788—“.

Waring served as an officer under Francis Marion during the American Revolution, elected as the first Treasurer of South Carolina in 1791, and later became Surveyor General of the state. In addition to his civic duties, he was an astute businessman, having established one of the first mills in America that manufactured cottonseed oil, and turned cotton into cloth. He also owned and operated a paper mill and a tannery. Waring was one of the founding members of first the Presbyterian, then the Trinity Church in Columbia. He was prosecuted by the State of South Carolina in 1809 for failing to comply with his duties as per his bond of employment as Treasurer. He argued unsuccessfully that upon his election to the position, there existed no laws, policies or procedures that rendered him accountable for discrepancies.

Edge wear, two tape repairs on verso, very slight paper loss at some fold over signature, usual folds, overall very good condition.

(EXA 5226) SOLD