Beautiful uncancelled stock certificate from the Owego and Ithaca Turnpike Company issued in 1809. This item has been hand signed by the Company's President, Lewis Beers, and Treasurer, and is over 205 years old. Stock certificate for "One share of the stock...of the Original value of twenty dollars..." Chartered in 1807, the road was completed in 1810 linking Owego and Ithaca, New York. Integral printed rules of transfer at left. Embossed company seal. Act to incorporate: Owego and Ithaca turnpike An ACT to incorporate the Owego and Ithaca Turnpike Company. Passed April 6, 1807. L T3E it enacted by the People of the State of New-York, represented in Senate and Assembly, That Mason Wattels, John Hollenback, Lemuel Brown, Eleazer Dana, Charles Pompilly, John H. Avery, Nathan Camp, Jabez Beers, John Smith, Archer Green, Eleazer Smith, and all such other persons as with them shall associate to make a good and sufficient road, to begin at the village of Owego, in the county of Broome, the nearest and most direct practicable route, to the village of Ithaca, in the county of Seneca, and to strike the Cayuga-lake at the nearest and most convenient place from the village of Ithaca, as circumstances will admit, so as to promote the interest of the pulriic and of the corporation, shall be and are hereby created a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of " The president, directors and company of the Owego and Ithaca turnpike road ;" and by that name, they and their successors shall and may have continual succession, and shall be persons in law capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all courts and places whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, matters and causes; and by the same name and style, shall be in law capable of purchasing, holding and conveying any estate, real and personal, for the use of said corporation : Provided, That such estate, as well real as personal, so to be purchased and held, shall be necessary to fulfil the intent of the said corporation, and to no other purpose whatsoever. And be it further enacted, That the stock of the said company, hereby incorporated, shall consist of two thousand shares, of twenty dollars each; and that Eleazer Dana, John H. Avery and John Smith shall be and are hereby appointed commissioners to receive subscriptions for the said stock, in the manner directed in and by the act, entitled " An act relative to turnpike companies," passed the 13 th of March, 1807. And be it further enacted. That the said company, hereby incorporated, shall be entitled to exact and receive, at each of the gates or turnpikes to be erected on the said road, from all persons travelling and using the same, the following rates of toll, to wit: For every waggon with two horses or oxen, twelve and an half cents, and three cents for every additional horse or ox used before any waggon, cart or other carriage ; for every one horse cart, six cents ; for every coach, coachec, phaeton or curricle, with two horses, twenty-five cents; for every sulkey, chair, chaise or other one horse pleasure carriage, twelve and an half cents; for every cart drawn by two oxen, eight cents, and for every additional yoke, four cents; for every horse and rider or led horse, four cents ; for every sleigh of sled drawn by two horses or oxen, six cents, and for every additional horse or ox, three cents; for every score of horses, cattle or mules, twenty cents, and so in proportion for a greater or less number ; for every score of sheep or hogs, six cents ; for every stage-waggon, drawn by two horses, twelve and an half cents, and three cents for every additional horse. And be it further enacted, That the said company, hereby incorporated, shall have and enjoy all the rights, privileges, powers and immunities which are given and granted in and by the aforesaid act, entitled " An act relative to turnpike companies," and shall be subject to all the conditions, provisions, restrictions and regulations contained in the said act: Provided, That the real estate of the said corporation shall not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars.