Historic Letter Tied To Shot Heard 'Round The World

Historic Letter Tied To Shot Heard 'Round The World

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A recent antique show had hundreds of families digging for relics worth selling, but a letter dating back almost 200 years has a Ross County man making headlines, 10TV's Kurt Ludlow reported on Wednesday.

A lifetime of collectibles fills an extra bedroom in Paul Thacker's house, each item seemingly more interesting than the next.

Perhaps none of the keepsakes are as important as one signed simply, "A Burr"

"I always wanted to have an Aaron Burr document," Thacker said.

In 1992, Thacker purchased the document just because it had Aaron Burr's signature. It was not until after he started researching the text of the note that he realized he had something much more important and valuable.

Thacker said he discovered that the document authenticated two pistols that once belonged to a general named Israel Putnam, who played more than a passing role in the founding of America, Ludlow reported.

"(He) swung his sword, flourished his sword, and fired the pistol that was to signal the beginning of the Revolutionary War," Thacker said.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/05/13/story-chillicothe-aaron-burr-letter.html?sid=102