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Document Spotlight-Stolen Certificate Paper and Counterfeits

Transcriber Lgr157 recently brought us a document that describes a crime drama unfolding in the early republic. The series of letters refers to a Captain Phelon, who has allegedly absconded with a quantity of certificate paper (think currency paper). The first letter describes the allegation, and reports a sighting of Phelon in New Hampshire. The second confirms that Phelon passed through Concord, Massachusetts headed toward Lake Champlain (which would seem to confirm the New Hampshire sighting). The third letter reports that Phelon seems to have headed for Canada; this seems to mean that Phelon cannot be apprehended and returned to the United States, but the writer wonders whether Phelon could be detained long enough to have the property recovered.

Read the original documents here, here, and here.

It is not too late–there are many more documents awaiting transcription. Take a moment to register (http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/register.php) and choose a document to begin your adventure. You will be doing important work by adding to the historical record, and you never know what you will read!