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State of Maine

To all who shall see these Presents,

Greeting:

[to the left of the following paragraph is a circle with the word "Seal." underlined inside it and "Albion K. Parris" written under it]

Know ye, That Albion K Parris, our Governor, reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, ability and learning of Ezekiel Whitman, of Portland, in the County of Cumberland, Esquire, hath nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of our Council, appointed the said Ezekiel Whitman, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of the State of Maine:

WE, therefore, do hereby authorize and empower him to fulfil [fulfill] the duties of that office according to law; and to have and to hold the same, together with all the powers, privileges and emoluments thereto of right appertaining, unto him the said Ezekiel Whitman, during his good behavior, but not beyond the age of seventy years.

In Testimony whereof, WE have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and our Seal to be hereunto affixed. Witness our governor, at the Council Chamber, in Portland, the first day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, and of the Independence of the United States the forty sixth.

By the Governor:

Ashur Ware, Secretary of State.

Qualified, May 20, 1822

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State of Maine

Cumberland ss Portland May 20th 1822

Then personally appeared Ezekiel Whtiman of Portland in said County of Cumberland Esq., and took and subscribed the oaths and declarations prescribed by the Constitution of this State and a Law of the United States, to qualify him to discharge and execute the duties of the Office of Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas within & for the State aforesaid to which he is appointed and Commissioned. Before Horatio Southgate, Authorized by Ded: Potestatum[?]

Sept[?] 20 1828 Recorded by Secretary of State