Description:

Colonel Philip B. Bradley Bond for Valley Forge Soldiers 

Rare Captain's Bond appointing Ezekiel Sanford to "Captain of, and to raise, a Company in the Continental Battalion, to be commanded by Philip B. Bradley Colonel", 1p, 8" x 12", [Redding], March 6, 1777. Two red wax seals at bottom right. Docketed at verso. Flattened folds with areas of paper loss, mostly isolated to the central horizontal fold, not affecting any text. Document has foxing, toning, and browning, with some chipping to edges, else it is in very good to near fine condition.

Ezekiel Sanford was on Roll at Valley Forge from December 1777 through June 1778.The bond is witnessed by Captains Josiah Lacey and Samuel Hait, both of whom were in the Connecticut 5th regiment in Col. Bradley’s battalion, and on the Valley Forge muster roll from December 1777 through June 1778. Philip B. Bradley, who commanded all these men as the Colonel of the Connecticut 5th regiment, was also on Roll at Valley Forge from December 1777 through June 1778. Incredibly, all four men were at Valley Forge together alongside with George Washington!

Ezekiel Sanford (1745-1833) was born in New Haven, Connecticut and was a farmer by occupation. He later served in the French and Indian War and in the American Revolution. In 1775, Sanford was enlisted as a private under Capt. Benedict Arnold for eight months; in 1776, for ten months as a private under Capt. Smith and Col. Elmore; and from April 1777 to June 1779 as a Corporal under Capt. David Smith and Col. Chandler. All enlistments were at Waterbury, Connecticut. Sanford fought in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth. The battle at Monmouth Court House, in 1778, was the last major battle in the North during the Revolution and took place in the spring following the winter he spent at Valley Forge, PA. He was wounded in battle by a bullet striking the ridge of his nose. In 1818, Ezekiel applied for and received a pension for his service as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He received the sum of $8 per month.

Philip B. Bradley (1738-1821) was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and graduated from Yale College in 1758. He moved to Ridgefield in 1759 and was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1770 by King George III. In those times, this would make him Ridgefield’s judge. Although a loyal subject of the Crown, events leading to the Revolutionary War turned him into a patriot. He accepted a 3-year commission as a Colonel of the newly formed 5th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line in January 1777 and led it until January 1781. Although the 5th was not completely formed, he and a handful of his recruits joined American Generals Arnold and Silliman to help fight the British at the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. In the summer of 1777, Bradley’s Regiment joined George Washington’s army. They were part of the lead brigade at the Battle of Germantown, PA, endured the infamous winter at Valley Forge, and distinguished themselves at the Battle of Monmouth.

After the war, George Washington visited Bradley at his large home on Main Street, where Ballard Park now stands. Later, President Washington and President John Adams appointed Colonel Bradley to be the Marshal (military commander) for the District of Connecticut. Besides military affairs, Bradley was prominent in local and state government. He was Ridgefield’s representative to the state legislature for 19 years. On January 9, 1788, he was one of the delegates to sign Connecticut’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Bradley became Connecticut’s first U.S. Marshal in 1789, serving for 13 years.

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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