Description:

Revolutionary War

1776 Important Massachusetts Soldier Document

 

1p handwritten war dated document relating to the enlistment of Massachusetts militiamen signed by seven recruits at lower right. Written "at Camps at Bristol", in modern day Bristol, Rhode Island, on December 13, 1776. On watermarked cream laid paper. Docketed verso. With folds, including some splitting along fold lines at top. Minor loss along the left margin does not affect text. Light water stain discoloration at center. Overall toning, else very good. 7.75" x 12.625".

 

The Revolutionary War was 20 months old in December 1776. Though the Continental Army had gained considerable military experience during that time, their immediate outlook looked bleak. Washington's army had dwindled to fewer than 5,000 active soldiers, and it would be significantly reduced after terms expired at the end of the year. Over 4,000 Patriots rotted away in British prison cells, typhus and other diseases were endemic, and Continental General Charles Lee had just been captured in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Congress had been forced to abandon the new national capital of Philadelphia. Spirits were low and popular support was wavering.

 

Yet, in what was then southeastern Massachusetts, seven men out of Captain Martin's Company signed enlistment papers pledging their service for the next three months. Massachusetts would provide the majority of the soldiers serving in the Continental Army almost every year of the war. Indeed, the army's overdependence on New England soldiers was one of the primary concerns of Commander in Chief George Washington, who observed that its ranks were disproportionately skewed.

 

Further research into the lives and military service of the Bristol recruits would expand our understanding of the Revolutionary War as well as local history. Preliminary research indicates that some of these men were hardened veterans who had already served as minutemen at the Battle of Lexington.

 

The signees are, in alphabetical order:

 

- Joshua Bliss

- Oliver Brown

- Jesse Fuller

- William Hunt

- Benjamin Ingalls

- Jonathan Nash

- Josiah Ormsby, who proudly noted that he was a "dromor", or drummer

 

In full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

 

"Wee the Subscribers Do Voluntarily Enlist our selves soldiers to serve in the Continental Army of ye United States of America for end Dureing The term of Three Kalendar months Next Causing (?) the Date here of & hereby Promise Severally to Conform to the Rules & Regulations of the Honourable the great & General Court of the state of the Massachusetts Bay by their Act Entitled an Act for ye Granting & Raising one Fourth Part of ye Militia for ye Reinforcing the Continental Army as afforsd said Act bearing Date November ye 26th 1776 Further more we severaly promise to yield True & faithful Obedience to all ye Lawfull commands of all Such offices as shall be appointed over us agreeable to the Tennour & true meaning of sd Act Dureing sd term Witness our hands this 13th Day of December at Camps at Bristol AD: 1776 - 

 

[signed] Benjamin Ingalls

Josiah Ormsbe: dromor

William Hunt

Oliver Brown

Joshua Bliss

Jesse Fuller

Jonathan Nash

 

John Cole is Signed Capt hills Inlistment as a man for Capt Martin's Company".

 

Just two weeks later, George Washington and his troops won the Battle of Trenton. A military success, it also proved invaluable to morale.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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