Description:

Connecticut Men Paid for Their Response to Lexington Alarm Letter, 1776

A pay receipt signed "O. Ellsworth" and "T Seymour" addressed to Treasurer John Lawrence Esq. Ellsworth and Seymour direct Lawrence to "Pay to the Select Men of Colchester, Sum of Twenty Three pounds Three shillings & Ten pence, in Bills for Expense incurred by Inhabitants of sd Town in the Lexington Alarm…". 1p, measuring 7.75" x 6.5", Hartford, dated April 26, 1776. Mounted and framed in a double-sided frame, so that both sides are visible, to the overall size of 11" x 9.5". On verso is an acknowledgment of payment signed by Dudley Wright Jr., dated January 20, 1777. The receipt has flattened mail folds and faint toning in places. A few small edge tears and negligible paper loss in places. Boldly signed.

The Lexington Alarm letter, containing an account of the Battle of Lexington, was written by Joseph Palmer on April 19, 1775, just hours after the event. Recipients of his letter produced multiple copies to be shared, and couriers soon delivered the news of the conflict at Lexington. In Connecticut, the news was carried by Israel Bessel and circulated through the eastern part of the Colony by as early as the following day. Having been preparing for such an event, a large number of able-bodied men in Connecticut marched on Boston to join the cause, with reports totaling nearly four thousand. While the necessity of the Connecticut men turned out to be temporary and brief, their service was recognized at the May Session of the Legislature, and men were paid for their pains.

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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August 17, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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