Author: Solomon, Doctor Samuel; Murrow, Thomas; Bird, John, architect; Still, Peter; Strong, Alexander Hale; Dawson, Joseph; Henderson, John; Clare, John; Philip, William, Earl of Sefton.
Title: [4 Indentures Leasing Land to the Notorious Quack Samuel Solomon of Gilead House. ] Release of Land in Upper Stanhope Street & Hayton Street in Toxteth Park Near Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and Assignment of Terms Affecting the Same. The Earl of Sefton & Others to Doctor Solomon & Trustees.
Description: [Liverpool], June 16, 1818. 1818. - Original vellum document, consisting of 2 attached sheets with scalloped top edges. An indenture 24 inches high by 30 inches wide and the assigns 22 inches high by 30 inches wide, as usual folded down to 9 inches by 10-1/2 inches. 84 lines of text handsomely calligraphed over the two sheets. Within the initial "T" is the British emblem encircled by the words: "Honi soit qui mal y pense", a motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter which translated means "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it". The document has 2 George III embossed revenue stamps with a metal band, one for three pounds and the other for one pound. There are also 2 Royal Cyphers.

On the rear fold of the document is a sketch of property showing several divisions including "Embleton Street 12 yards wide Dr Solomons land & Cottage". Upper Stanhope Street ("20 yards wide") is on the south and Hayton Street ("6 yards wide") is on the north. To the west of Solomon's land is land of Bland and another party. Further to the west is a 12 yard plot of land sold to Rowland Owen and "Release dated 23rd & 24th December 1818". This parcel appears to have the signature of Sefton over its description. Another entry on the indenture dated August 11th & 12th 1820 conveys property to Robert Rawlinson and Thomas [ Hesketh? ] by the trustees of the will of Samuel Solomon. The conveyance is signed by two of Solomon's sons, Abraham, an oculist in Birmingham, and John, an amateur boxer and non-practicing lawyer. It is also signed by Ebenezer Daniell, the manager of Solomon's Cordial Balm firm. Further, in 1828 there is notice of "59 yards including half of Hayton Street" being conveyed to James Watts of Toxteth Park. It was later conveyed to a [M J Hicks ?] in October 1832. Both of these later conveyances are accompanied by minimal sketches.

The document is signed by the Earl of Sefton, a party of the first part, Peter Still and Alexander Strong of Lincoln's Inn, parties of the second part, Joseph Dawson of Liverpool party of the third part, John Henderson of Toxteth party of the fourth part, John Clare of Liverpool party of the fifth part. The lessees are described as "Samuel Solomon of Gilead House near Liverpool, Doctor of Physic" and his Trustees "John Bird of Liverpool aforesaid Architect" and "Thomas Murrow of Liverpool".

In addition to the June 16 indenture there are 3 others:

1) A 15 inch high by 24 inch wide indenture on parchment dated June 15 1818 and titled "The Earl of Sefton to Doctor Solomon & Trustee / Lease for a year". The trustee is identified as John Bird of Liverpool, Architect and it is signed by Sefton.

2) A 16 inch high by 23-1/2 inch wide indenture on parchment dated June 15 1818 and titled "The Earl of Sefton to Doctor Solomon & Trustee / Lease for a year". The trustee is identified as John Bird of Liverpool, Architect and it is signed by Sefton.

3) A 17 inch high by 23 inch wide indenture on parchment dated August 17, 1818 and titled "Peter Brown to Dr. Solomon and Trustee / Lease for a year". The trustee is identified as John Bird of Liverpool, Architect and it is signed by Peter Brown. The indentures are folded down to approximately 8-1/4 by 6 inches.

Each of these 3 indentures on parchment has a George III embossed revenue stamp of one pound fifteen shillings, a royal cypher, the stamp of James Walker of Bermondsey, parchment dealer and the British emblem within the initial "t" encircled by the words: "Honi soit qui mal y pense".

The 3 indentures by the Earl of Sefton are of particular interest for this reason - parliamentary elections were being held from June 17 to July 18, 1818 and, being an Irish peer, Sefton was eligible to run for a seat. Dr. Solomon, who by this time had become quite wealthy, was the chief organizer of the Earl's campaign. Solomon spared no expense on his behalf in Liverpool which was famous for lively electioneering. It was to no avail as Sefton lost his election to George Canning. It seems quite possible that these leases, given their dates within 2 days of the campaign, served as a kind of reward for Solomon's future efforts.

"Doctor" Samuel Solomon (c. 1768 - May 21, 1819) was born in Cork and moved to Dublin, influenced by his uncle Isaac Solomon who worked as a druggist there. Around 1789 he and his uncle went into business in Liverpool's dockland area. In 1796 he began marketing his "Cordial Balm of Gilead" which he claimed would cure one of ulcers of the lung, kidneys and liver, sexual dysfunction, hypochondria, female complaints etc. His claim to have been a Doctor of Medicine is suspect. Solomon became very wealthy from the sales of his expensive tincture made from a mixture of brandy and turpentine flavored with herbs as well as from real estate investments. Fine .

Keywords: PATENT MEDICINE; HISTORY; 19TH CENTURY; NINETEENTH CENTURY; DOCTOR SAMUEL SOLOMON; QUACK; QUACK MEDICINE; REAL PROPERTY; INDENTURE; WILLIAM PHILIP EARL OF SEFTON; LIVERPOOL; JOHN HENDERSON; JOSEPH DAWSON; ALEXANDER HALE STRONG; PETER STILL; JOHN BIRD ARCH

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