Description:

Washington George

Firearms for the Continental Army at Boston

AMOS SINGLETARRY, Manuscript Document Signed, April 2, 1776. 1 p., 13.25" x 8.25". Some fold and edge tears with no significant impact on text.

Providing weapons for the Continental Army was a continual challenge. This bill from Amos Singletarry bills the Continental Army for 133 “Fire Arms” and their transportation to the Continental Army at Cambridge, just after the siege of Boston ended with British withdrawal. Singletarry acted under the orders of Ezekiel Cheever, the commissary of artillery stores for the Continental Army.

After a siege of eleven months, the British abandoned Boston on March 17, 1776, and withdrew to Halifax, Nova Scotia. General Washington soon moved the Continental Army to New York City, where he correctly expected the British to attack.

Singletarry received $1,333 6/18 from the paymaster, but still had a balance due of $30 13/18 in late April 1776. He did not receive payment for this balance until January of the following year, as his endorsement makes clear.

Excerpts
“His Excellency General Washington to Amos Singletary Dr
“April 2nd 1776
“To 133 Fire Arms purchased at his Desire for the use of the Continental Army as pr the Rect of Ez[ek]iel Cheever Esqr      1294 17/18 Dolers
“To Time horse hire Expences & Carriage of sd Arms to Cambridge 69 2/18
                “1364 1/18”

[Endorsement:]
“Boston Jany 8, 1777, Received the above Balance of General Ward
      “Amos Singletarry” 


Amos Singletarry/Singletary (1721-1806) was born in Massachusetts and learned the gristmill trade from his father. He married Mary Curtis (1726-1799) in 1742, and they had nine children between 1743 and 1762. They settled in Sutton, where he operated his father’s gristmill from 1764 to 1777. He served as a justice of the peace and delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. He later served in the General Court and in the state House of Representatives in 1781-1782 and again in 1783-1784. During Shays’ Rebellion, Singletarry was part of a committee that tried to mediate between rebels and the state government. In 1788, Singletarry was an outspoken Anti-Federalist opponent of the United States Constitution. He insisted that the federal government’s powers under the new constitution would be similar to those held by Great Britain, from which they had just won independence. Singletarry later represented Sutton in the state senate from 1787 to 1790.

Ezekiel Cheever (1720-1793) was born in Massachusetts and became a sugar baker. He was a member of the Sons of Liberty in the years leading up to the Revolution and was Captain of the Watch to observe and protect the participants in the Boston Tea Party. The Massachusetts Provincial Court appointed Cheever to be storekeeper of ordinance in June 1775, and General Washington appointed Cheever as commissary of artillery stores for the Continental Army in August. Four months later, his title was changed to Commissary of Military Stores, and he held that position for the next six years. His operations were centered at Springfield, Massachusetts, during part of the war, and the facilities he established there led to the national armory’s being established there in 1794.


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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