1791 US Congress, Egbert Benson of New York, Stampless Signed + "Free" Inked Franked Cover, with Franklin (Bishop) Mark, to Samuel Jones, NY

January 24 Franklin Mark (24 IA) cover/wrapper with Egbert Benson's signed free frank in lower left front corner and light FREE stamped in upper right hand corner, addressed to Samuel Jones, Esquire, NY.  Reverse docketing reads "Letter from Egbert Benson, 22 JanY, 1791." Fair wrapper has staining and splitting at seams as pictured.  No letter contents.

Egbert Benson (1746-1833), born in NYC; Member of the Council of Safety, 1777 and 1778; NY State Assembly, 1777-1781; Continental Congress, 1784, 1787 & 1788; First Attorney General of New York, 1777-1788; In U.S. Congress, 1789-1793 and 1813; Associate Judge of the NY Supreme Court, 1784-1801; Member of the NY State Constitutional Convention in 1788, which ratified the U.S. Constitution; First President of the NY Historical Society, 1804-1816.

As a representative in the Second Continental Congress he drew bills organizing the executive department of the United States.

Egbert Benson and Alexander Hamilton were NY's two delegates to the Annapolis Convention of 1786.  He introduced with Alexander Hamilton the resolution for a constitutional convention.  He introduced the resolution for a New York ratifying convention in 1788. He also was an early member of the anti-slavery New York Manumission Society