To Alexander Hamilton from John Stephens, 25 September 1794
From John Stephens
New York, September 25, 1794. “As I have not recieved an Answer to my letter of the 16th Inst,1 requesting of you to send me a Certificate which would enable me to Cancel my Mortgage which I suppose is owing to your Multiplicity of business, therefore to give you as Little trouble as possible, I have got a Certificate made out & sent … for the purpose of your signing it.…”2
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Letter not found.
2. In this transaction Stephens was the mortgagor of property in New York City, and H was representing the mortgagee. The “Certificate” enclosed by Stephens, known as a “satisfaction piece,” indicated that Stevens, having fulfilled the terms of the mortgage, was released from further obligation.