Noteworthy pair of autograph manuscripts in the hand of Millard Fillmore, who signs his name a total of five times throughout, with both manuscripts relating to the genealogy of his father, Nathaniel Fillmore. The first, penned by Fillmore as a 19-year-old law clerk, is a one-page chronological listing of his father’s family, 8 x 12.75, January 29, 1819, signed within the text, “Millard Fillmore” and at the conclusion, “Written by Millard Fillmore, Sempronius, Cayuga county state of N. York,” reads in part: “By the remembering of some important event and recording the Epoch when it occur’d we are capable of judging of the velocity of time and the effect it has upon the Human frame and the mutual frailty—A record of the births of Nathaniel Fillmore’s family—Nathaniel Fillmore was born April 19th 1771, Phebe Millard the consort of Nathaniel Fillmore was born August 12th 1781, Olive Fillmore was born December 16th 1797, Millard Fillmore was born Jan’y 7th 1800.”
The second, more detailed manuscript was penned by Fillmore five-and-a-half months after leaving the presidency on August 23, 1853, 10 total pages (the majority bound with original upper pink ribbon), 7.75 x 9.75, is signed three times in full: within the header, “Genealogy of Nathaniel Fillmore grand son of John Fillmore of Connecticut & his descendants, By Millard Fillmore of Buffalo, N.Y.”; within the text on the sixth page, “Millard Fillmore,” who notes the names and professions of his children, Millard and Mary; and in the docket on the reverse of last page: “Genealogy of Nath’l Fillmore’s Descendants, By Millard Fillmore, Sept. 8, 1853,” with Fillmore signing with his initials below: “Sent substance to Dr. Ashbel Woodward. M. F.” In overall very good to fine condition, with partial separations to fragile folds of earlier document, and wear to upper left corner of some pages of the later document.
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