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Notary History Part II by Mike B
Notary History Part II
Notaries and the Conquests of Columbus: 15th Century
Notaries accompanied Columbus on his voyages to ensure to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that all discovered treasures were accounted for. In turn, Notaries during this time enjoyed a special relationship to the truth. They witnessed noteworthy acts, from the spectacular — like when Columbus first beheld the New World in 1492 by landing on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas — to the humble and mundane: the promise of a dowry, an apprenticeship, or a loan. It then fell to Notaries to shape the messy specifics of each event into the proper form to be committed truthfully to the page. Not just any written language would do. Manuals with specific itineraries of meaning were used in Europe and the colonial Americas to guide these men in regularizing the endless diversity of people’s actions and language into the approved formula. Notaries were thus truth’s alchemists, mixing the singular into the formulaic in accordance with prescribed recipes to produce the written, duly witnessed, and certified truth. The marks of this stylized, notarial truth are everywhere in the archives of Europe and the Americas, in documents that aggressively demand the reader’s belief in the Notary’s word. Even the most routine transactions are full of formulaic professions of the Notary’s faithfulness and appeal to the notion that he was there — present at the scene, a trustworthy eyewitness — properly equipped to register what mattered. From this dedication to truth was born the modern notarial certificate.
Notaries in Early America: 1600-1800
In Colonial America, only those of high moral character were appointed as public Notaries to certify and keep documents safe. Their fundamental contributions to colonial life and the founding and development of the United States are largely seen as the reason American business became a huge success. For example in colonial times, Notaries were invaluable to trans-Atlantic commerce, as parties on both sides depended on them to be honest third parties in reporting damage or loss to a ship’s cargo. While Notaries were held in very high regard during this time, life for Notaries in early America was anything but easy. A Notary’s work supported government, commerce and private life, all of which were filled with conflict between the colonies of the New World and the empires of the Netherlands, England, Spain and France. Many Notaries were faced with huge challenges of authority and relevance during the era of rapid political and cultural change. Some were even killed for their involvement in authenticating official documents and recordkeeping as conflicting factions fought for control of the New World. Others saw their fortunes and celebrity either increase, or decline depending on the ever-changing power structure. The most intriguing story of a Notary’s early struggle lies in the life of Adriaen Janse van Ilpendam, a Dutch immigrant to “New Amsterdam,” whose career as a Notary led him to an uncertain existence after the English took over, renamed the region “New York,” and replaced English with Dutch as the region’s official language. As a result, van Ilpendam took his own life in 1686, as his place in society had all but evaporated. Despite the early struggles of Notaries, their certificates and seal of office remained prima facie evidence that an official act occurred and was authentic.
John Coolidge and President Calvin Coolidge: 1872-1933
John Coolidge was born in 1845 and was 78 years old when he came to fame as a Notary Public in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. He had owned the village store, was a town leader in Plymouth, was a member of the state legislature and had been a state senator. His family had been among the original settlers of the town after the Revolutionary War. His son was Calvin Coolidge, born in 1872. After attending the town’s one room schoolhouse, the younger Coolidge went on to the local academy where he was encouraged to go to college, the first one in his family to attend. He became involved in the Republican Party and was elected Vice President under Warren G. Harding in 1921. When Harding died in 1923, Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th President of the United States by his father – the only president to ever be sworn in by a Notary. Coolidge is a very important President with respect to Notaries. The public trust that Coolidge earned is reflected by his having held 10 elected positions – a number far greater than that of any other President in our history. His lesson for Notaries was that, unlike other Presidents, he consistently demonstrated the courage to say “no” when warranted. This is something that Notaries, as public officials, are also expected to do. An important basis for his high ideals and ethical integrity came from his commitment to the founding principles of our country, including the defense of property and personal rights. In fact, Coolidge and Abraham Lincoln were the only two presidents to have been experts on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
About the Author
Michael Brightener is an article and blog writer from Austin, Texas. For information on becoming a notary, visit the National Notary Association, an educational resource for
Notary Courses.
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