I Theophilus Beekman one of the Alder-men of the City of New York do Certify that the Certificate under my Hand dated the fourth of August 1796 purporting that I have known George Wood a Subscribing Witness to a Power of Att^y for Nine Years and known him to be an Honest Man, as far as Relates to the Name of Theo^s Beekman Al^d. & Justice of the Peace together with the Words "Sworn to 4^th of August 1796 by the above and [strikethrough: before] me" are of my proper Hand Writing, and that the Body of the Certificate is not of my Hand Writing, nor do I know any thing of the Facts therein stated, and I am well convinced that I never Signed the Same Certificate as now Exhibited to me, and that I am satisfied in my own Mind, the same is a Forgery — Theo^s Beekman New York Nov^r: 11: 1796—