18th Century Graffiti Found
Photo of signature on ceiling beam of the Victorian room in the Osborn Cannonball House Museum believed to be that of David Osborn.
While removing a damaged ceiling of a room at the Osborn Cannonball House Museum at 1840 Front Street in Scotch Plains, an unexpected 18th century surprise was revealed: 18th century graffiti!
The discovery was made by one of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood’s Board members, Jess Mongold, who has been a Historical Society member since 2017. Jess had the good sense to look up at the now exposed 18th century hand-hewn beams, which had been hidden possibly for hundreds of years, and notice a slightly-faded signature. On closer inspection, she realized the signature said “David Osborn” and the date ‘78 (1778) was written in the style of 18th century penmanship. The signature appears to have been made in a chalk-like material.
David Osborn, who would have been 17 in 1778, and his 12 siblings grew up in the house which was built by their father Jonathan Osborn. At one point in the house’s history, David was the owner of the house as well.
But this is more than the graffiti of a random 18th century teenager in an arbitrary 18th century house. David’s family was well-respected and very active with the planning of the early Scotch Plains town, and many community meetings were held at the home. David Osborn, too, was a significant figure in the history of Scotch Plains. He was the first Town Clerk of Westfield (of which Scotch Plains was a part in the 18th century) and the first postmaster of Scotch Plains. He was also instrumental in the founding of the first library in the area.
In order to authenticate the signature, Jess got in touch with The Westfield Historical Society Archives department, who were very helpful in the process. They happened to have in their archives close to 20 documents with the signature of David Osborn. It turns out David had to sign an Oath of Office each year as Town Clerk so there were many examples of his handwriting.
The Historical Society then had to find a handwriting expert to verify that the signature on the beam was genuine and matched the documents signed by David. When they found a firm with the name of “Osborn Associates” they felt it was more than a coincidence. (Not a known relative of the 18th century Osborns, but who knows?) That’s how they found Kelsey L. Osborn, a 5th generation associate of Osborn Associates, her uncle’s firm in Middlesex, NJ. Since 1910, Osborn Associates has been in the field of forensic document examination and they are handwriting and signature identification experts.
Although Kelsey acknowledged that comparing the signature on paper to one on an old wooden beam is not the ideal situation for comparison, after much painstaking study, she concluded that the signature has “indications, with evidence, to suggest that it is genuine.”
When it came time to close up the ceiling, the signature was hidden, again, for who knows how long this time; however, thanks to photographer Michael Berry of Berry Photo in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, who took many professional photos of the beam, the museum will have proof that the signature exists. The museum will also have another interesting anecdote to share with visitors about a 17 year old who, like many teenagers today, was a little mischievous some 247 years ago.
The Osborn Cannonball House at 1840 Front Street in Scotch Plains, which is operated by The Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, is always looking for volunteers and is open for tours the first Sunday of each month (except Jan. & Feb) and by appointment at (908) 322-6700, Ext. 230 or Info@HistoricalSocietySPFNJ.org.
