The bearers here of Philips Mkins Master of the Shift due Philadelphia, Joseph Schuron Mate, Edward power, Rober Emer, Nathaniel Barnet, William Smith, delen Carrel, dos Wilson and Lewis Archer, Scamen, and William Fudge Sohne Edwards Apprisilices, Citizens of the United Mater America, having occasion to pass into Jouigor about their Lunfull affairs; There are to prays all other it may concern to permit the said Philife Atkins, Jore, Johnson, Edward Dervis, Robert Coner, Nathaniel Barnes Williane Smith, Sohn Carrel, Lohn Welson, Lewis Arch

In faith when of I have caused the Seal. the department of State for the said Unitie states to be hermits affixed. Done at. Philadelphia this with day of april in t Year of our Lord 4793, and of the dicefunde of these states, the seventeenth

Mh. Jefferson senton of he

Courtesy: National Archives

Exhibit 8. Copy of passport issued by Thomas Jefferson to Philip Atkins and

vessel was stopped on the high seas, the U.S. captain would produce the matching lower portion of the passport and the ship would be allowed to continue without further interference. (Exhibit 7)

The National Archives has a copy of a passport issued on April 10, 1793, to the captain and members of the crew of the Sussex by the Federal Government in Philadelphia and signed by Thomas Jefferson, then the Secretary of State. (Exhibit 8) Similar documents were probably issued by the Federal Government from the time the United States legally became a country.

Passports were used for travel within the colonies while under British authority and continued to be issued after the formation of the original 13 States. One of first known passports issued in the American colonies prior to the formation of the U.S. Government was written on July 19, 1773, under British authority by Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of the English colony of Connecticut in New England. The passport permitted his son to take a "journey to the Provinces of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Lands within the Limits and Bounds of the Patent to the Governor and Company of said Colony. . . ." (Exhibit 9) Thirty-two years later, another Governor, Jonathan Trumbull, son of the former Governor of the English colony of Connecticut, also issued passports. (Exhibit 10)

President George Washington on January 9, 1793, issued a highly unusual passport to an alien for use in the United States. Jean Pierre Blanchard, a French balloonist, was the recipient of the passport when he made what is claimed to be the first free balloon ascent in the United States at Philadelphia. (For earliest recorded U.S. citizen passport, see page 83.) Although the original passport is lost, a copy of the text, taken from a rare copy of Blanchard's diary of the flight, notes that the passport recommended: "to all citizens of the United States, and others that in his passage, descent, return or journeying elsewhere, they oppose no hindrance or molestation to the said Mr. Blanchard." 15 Mr. Blanchard landed in New Jersey about 15 miles from Philadelphia, where several citizens, after recognizing Washington's signature on the passport, folded the balloon for him, offered him food and drink, and assisted him in his journey back to Philadelphia. This passport is important because it overcame the language barrier between Blanchard, who was French, and the English-speaking spectators. (Exhibits 11, 11a, and 11b)

Passports were frequently issued for travel within the United States in the early years of the Republic. The Governor of Georgia in 1789 issued a passport for safe conduct for persons traveling

15 Jean Pierre Blanchard, Official Report, 1793, p. 14. (Original in collection of New York Public Library.)

By the Honorable Jonathan Frumbull Esquin Governor of the English Colony of Connecticut in New-England in America.

So all whom it dother may Conuera, Freating

Exhibit 9. Travel permit issued by Jonathan Trumbull, British Governor of

Connecticut, 1773

[SEAL]

His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Governor &
Commander in Chief in and over the State of
Connecticut in America

To all Persons, of whatsoever Nation, People, or Country, who may see these Presents, Hereby Certifies & Makes Known.—That Benjamin Silliman Esq" the Bearer of this Instrument, is a native Citizen of the United States of America, born in the Town of Trumbull, in the State of Connecticut,-of very respectable parentage, has had a liberal Education at our College of Yale in sa State; and now is a Member of the same College, in the Character of their Professor of Chemistry & Natural History.—The said M Silliman, at the Request, & with the Permission of the Faculty of the said College, is enterprizing a voyage to Europe, for the laudable purpose of Improvement in the particular Objects of his Professorship, and for his advancement in other Branches of general Science

The said Professor Silliman is therefore Hereby Recommended to all Nations & Countries to & through which He may have occasion to travel, for His safe Protection & Passport among all their People. — And He is hereby commended particularly to the kind notice, attention & assistance of all Literary & Scientific men, in the several Countries & Places, where he may visit or Reside.

In Faith & Testimony whereof, and in confirmation of the above Instrument, I have hereunto sett my Hand, & affixed my Seal of Office, at Lebanon in sa State of Connecticut, this 26th Day of March in the Year of our Lord 1805 and of the Independence of the United States of America, the Twenty Ninth.

JONA TRUMBULL

Exhibit 10.

Passport issued by Governor Jonathan Trumbull, son of former British Governor, Connecticut, 1805. From The American Passport by Gaillard Hunt

Exhibit 11. Passport issued by George Washington to Mr. Blanchard, French balloonist, 1793 (3 pages)