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Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Edition (1856)

RECEIPT, contracts. A receipt is an acknowledgment in writing that the party
giving the same has received from the person therein named, the money or
other thing therein specified.
2. Although expressed to be in full of all demands, it is only prima
facie evidence of what it purports to be and upon satisfactory proof being
made that it was obtained by fraud, or given either under a mistake of facts
or an ignorance of law, it may be inquired into and corrected in a court of
law as well as in equity. 1 Pet. C. C. R. 182; 3 Serg. & Rawle, 355; S. P. 7
Serg. & Rawle, 309; 3 Serg. & Rawle, 564, 589; 12 Serg. & Rawle, 131; 1 Sid.

44; 1 Lev. 43; 1 Saund. 285; 2 Lutw. 1173; Co. Lit. 373; 2 Stark. C. 382; 1
W., C. C. R. 328; 2 Mason's R. 541; 11 Mass. 27; 1 Johns. Cas. 145; 9 John.
R. 310; 8 Johns. R. 389; 5 Johns. R. 68; 4 Har. & McH. 219; 3 Har. & McH.
433; 2 Johns. R. 378; 2 Johns. R., 319. A receipt in full, given with a full
knowledge of all the circumstances and in the absence of fraud, seems to be
conclusive. 1 Esp. C. 172; Benson v. Bennet, 1 Camp. 394, n.
3. A receipt sometimes contains an acknowledgment of having received a
thing, and also an agreement to do another. It is only prima facie evidence
as far as the receipt goes, but it cannot be contradicted by parol evidence
in any part by which the party engages to perform a contract. A bill of
lading, for example, partakes of both these characters; it may be
contradicted or explained as to the facts stated in the recital, as that the
goods were in good order and well conditioned; but, in other respects, it
cannot be contradicted in any other manner than a common written contract. 7
Mass. R. 297; 1 Bailey, R. 174; 4 Ohio, R. 334; 3 Hawks, R. 580; 1 Phil. &
Am. on Ev. 388; Greenl. Ev. Sec. 305. Vide, generally, 1 B. & C. 704 S. C. 8
E. C. L. R. 193; 2 Taunt. R. 141; 2 T. R. 366; 5 B. & A. 607; 7 E. C. L. R.
206; 3 B. & C. 421; 1 East, R. 460.
4. If a man by his receipt acknowledges that he has received money from
an agent on account of his principal, and thereby accredits the agent with
the principal to that amount, such receipt is, it seems, conclusive as to
the payment by the agent. For example, the usual acknowledgment in a policy
of insurance of the receipt of premium from the assured, is conclusive of
the fact as between the underwriter and the assured; Dalzell v. Mair, 1
Camp. 532; although such receipt would not be so between the underwriter and
the broker. And if an agent empowered to contract for sale, sell and convey
land, enter into articles of agreement by which it is stipulated that the
vendee shall clear, make improvements, pay the purchase money by
installments, &c., and on the completion of the covenants to be performed by
him, receive from the vendor or his legal representatives, a good and
sufficient warranty deed in fee for the premises, the receipt of the agent
for Such parts of the purchase-money as may be paid before the execution of
the deed, is binding on the principal. 6 Serg. & Rawle, 146. See 11 Johns.
R. 70.
5. A receipt on the back of a bill of exchange is prima facie evidence
of payment by the acceptor. Peake's C. 25. The giving of a receipt does not
exclude parol evidence of payment. 4 Esp. N. P. C. 214.
6. In Pennsylvania it has been holden that a receipt, not under seal,
to one of several joint debtors, for his proportion of the debt, discharges
the rest. 1 Rawle, 391. But in New York a contrary rule has been adopted. 7
John. 207. See Coxe, 81; 1 Root, 72. See Evidence.