Substantial lock of George Washington (1732 - 1799) Hair, Framed and encased in an ornate gilt metal locket, a significant quantity of George Washington's hair. On the reverse of the frame there are two applied notes of provenance, reading as follows: "Genl. George Washington's Hair - cut for Mrs. Joseph Hopkinson, wife of Judge Hopkinson by Mrs. Oliver Wolcot at her house 4th & Spruce Sts. Phila 1798". The second reads "Cut by Mrs. Oliver Wolcott for Mrs. Jos. Hopkinson Genl Washingtons Hair 1798 for 4th & Spruce Sr Phil". As this is from the estate of the Hopkinson family, this provides exciting provenance. ----- (Mrs. Joseph Hopkinson / Emily Mifflin Hopkinson 1774 - 1850, Mrs. Oliver Wolcott / Elizabeth Stoughton Wolcott 1766 - 1805) ----- Oliver Wolcott Jr. was appointed by George Washington to auditor of the Treasury in 1789, and he succeeded Alexander Hamilton as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1795 - 1800. ----- From the Thomas Scharf "History of Philadelphia" printed 1884: "(As of 1791) the Treasury Department had its office in the old Pemberton mansion, No. 100 Chestnut Street, south west corner of Third Street. The Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, lived at 79 South Third Street, southeast corner of Walnut, and the Auditor, Oliver Wolcott at 121 South Third, on the east side, the third house north of Spruce." Then, Stephenson's Philadelphia Directory for 1796 lists the Wolcott residence at the "corner of Spruce Sts. & Fourth." The same directory lists Joseph Hopkinson at 132 Spruce Street and Mary Hopkinson "widow, gentlewoman, 76 No. 4th Street". Washington's residence is 190 High Street, or what is now approximately between 5th and 6th Streets on the south side of Market Street. According to The New England Magazine Volume 30 published 1904, "Wolcott's house...was the resort of the shining lights of the Federal (Federalist) Party, the centre of a social circle of such distinction as has seldom been surpassed."A blog is available on this lot at BunchAuctions.com. From the Francis Hopkinson Family Archives