I William Bleecker do hereby Certify that sometime in the months of June or July One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety six appeared before me Barney Merkel, and obtained from me a Certificate purporting that Nicholas Bayard or Theophilus Beckman were Aldermen of the City of New York, to which Certificate I did affix my signature and Seal of Office - And the said Barney Markel being arrested in the City of New York upon suspicion of some fraudulent Acts: and I being requested by M. Simmons of Philadelphia to examine the said Merkel in his Custody, do Certify from my own Recollection and the said Merkels Confession that he is the identical person who obtained from me the Certificate above mentioned

W^m Bleecker [undecipherable]

New York 10^th.. Nov^r.. 1790