Share #244: Tracing Thomas McKean’s Historic Ownership in the Library Company of Philadelphia
History often lives in the margins of ledger books and the transfers of forgotten certificates. In its ongoing monthly Shareholder Spotlight series, the Library Company of Philadelphia has turned its attention to Share #244, illuminating the life of its second owner, Thomas McKean, a figure in American law and politics whose relationship with the institution spans the revolutionary era.
Founded by a group of tradesmen in 1731, the Library Company has relied on its shareholders as a financial lifeline for nearly three centuries. Share #244 itself entered the institutional fold on April 6, 1769, originally issued to Josiah Hewes. Hewes held the certificate briefly before acquiring a different share, #265, and selling #244 to Thomas McKean on April 11, 1770, according to institutional records.
From Delaware Politics to Continental Congress
At the time he secured the share, McKean was carving out a career as a lawyer, judge, and politician moving fluidly between Delaware and Pennsylvania. He was serving as an Assemblyman in the Delaware Assembly—eventually rising to become the body’s Speaker. Living in Philadelphia for six of those years while representing a Delaware constituency earned him a reputation for uncommon political trust, with biographers noting it as a singular proof of confidence from his constituents.
McKean’s legislative footprint expanded rapidly. He represented Delaware in the first Continental Congress in 1774, the second Continental Congress in 1775, and during the adoption of the 1781 Articles of Confederation. When the decisive vote on the Declaration of Independence arrived in 1776, McKean proved instrumental by urging his fellow Delaware delegate, Cesar Rodney, to travel to Philadelphia to cast his vote.
McKean Signature Omission Creates Political Problems
Despite his fervent support for independence, historical ambiguity surrounds McKean’s physical signature. His name was notably absent from the January 18, 1777 printed version of the Declaration—Mary Katharine Goddard’s printing included only Cesar Rodney and George Read as signers for Delaware. The omission created political problems for McKean later in life, prompting him to check the document in 1814 where his signature is visible in the later copperplate engraving of the original Declaration.
McKean’s influence extended deep into the judiciary and executive branches of the nascent republic. He assumed the role of Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1777, maintaining the bench for over two decades. By 1781, he was elected President of Congress, placing him at the helm of the American government when the British forces suffered defeat at the Battle of Yorktown.
Following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, McKean continued his judicial service before winning election as Governor of Pennsylvania in 1799, serving three terms until 1812.
Family Lineage and the Future of Share #244
The operational life of Share #244 remained within the McKean family for generations. On August 3, 1816, Thomas transferred the share to his son, Joseph B. McKean. Institutional correspondence from 1796 highlights how the elder McKean utilized his shareholder privileges, writing to Librarian Zachariah Poulson to grant permission for another son, Robert, to borrow a volume of the British Encyclopedia while accepting full personal responsibility for the item.
Following Joseph’s death, the certificate passed through estate administration to his widow, Hannah McKean, in September 1827. Across its long history, the share has recorded fourteen distinct owners. Today, the historic certificate is once again available through the Library Company, offering modern patrons a direct link to the foundational shareholders who built the library.
