An 1863 bond sold by the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.

The engraving depicts a typical steam locomotive of the time. Bonds were often sold to finance construction of the railroads.

Transcript:

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$500

Know all men by these Presents,

That there is due from

The County of Washington

In the State of Tennessee

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State of Tennessee,

No. 37 County of Washington, No. 37

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$500

To the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad Company,

Or Bearer,

Five Hundred Dollars,

Lawful money of the United States, with interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semiannually on the 1st day of January and July, in each year, at the BANK OF AMERICA, in the City of New York, on the presentation and surrender of the Coupons, duly signed by the Clerk of the County Court of said County, and hereto annexed. The principal is re-imbursable on the presentation of this Bond at the Bank of America in said city, at the expiration of thirty years from the date hereof. For the performance of all of which the taxable property of said County of washington is irrevocably pledged. As these obligations are created in pursuance, and under the provisions of an Act of General Assembly of said State, entitled: “An Act to incorporate the Nashville, Franklin, and Columbia Railroad Company,” passed February 28th, 1852, all of the pertinent sections of which act are hereto referred to for further information.

In Witness Whereof, I Lewis A. Markwood, Chairman of the County Court of said County, have hereunto signed my name and caused the same to be countersigned by the Clerk of said County Court, and the Seal of said County to be affixed, at Jonesborough, on this first day of January, 1853.

W. H. Smith, Clerk Lewis A. Markwood, Chairman

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Cancelled April 12, 1876, CW Meek, Ch. Co. Court (6 times)

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The Trustee of the County of Washington in the State of Tennessee Will Pay the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad Company, or Bearer, Fifteen Dollars at the Bank of America in the City of New York, on the first day of [date changes on each stamp: July 1877 to January 1883), being the semi-annual interest then falling due on Bond No. 37

$15. W.H.Smith, Clerk