Description:

Revolutionary War

c1780 Continental Commission, Scarce First Template

 

An unusual survivor, an unaccomplished privateer's commission intended for use by the Continental Congress, 10.75" x 12.25," circa 1780-1783. Left blank and not filled out, however with "No 1" inked to the upper left corner, suggesting that this was the first original document created which ultimately became the primary template.  Very light chipping at left margin, a few light creases, very light soiling, else fine.

 

Faced with the task of staving off the British Navy, the most powerful in the word, the Continental Congress quickly reverted to a time-honored custom: licensing private, armed vessels. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities, Congress resolved to create a navy, but lack of funding prevented the navy from ever becoming anything close to a match to the Royal Navy. At no time could the Continental Navy count more than 34 ships. By way of comparison, during the invasion of New York in 1776 the British used over 100 ships for that operation alone. Conversely, there were rarely less than 100 American privateers cruising the Atlantic. By 1780 the numbers ballooned to 228 and the following year there were 481 transforming the shipping lanes into gauntlets. As privateers were essentially state-sponsored pirates (and privateers ran a high risk of crossing over from legal to illegal) Congress gave specific instructions to privateers within the commissions:

 

"KNOW YE, That we have granted, and by these Presents do grant License and Authority to _______ Mariner, Commander of the _______ called the _____ of the Burthen of _______ tons, or thereabouts, belonging to ________ mounting _______ Carriage Guns, and navigated by _________ Men, to fit out and set forth the said ________ in a warlike Manner, and by and with the said _______ and the officers and Crew thereof, by Force of Arms to attack, subdue, seize and take all Ships and other Vessels, Goods, Wares and Merchandises, belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain, or to his Subjects, or to others inhabiting within any of the Territories or Possessions of the aforesaid King of Great- Britain, or any other Ships or Vessels, Goods, Wares or Merchandises, belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain, or to his Subjects, or to others inhabiting within any of the Territories or Possessions of the aforesaid King of Great-Britain, or any other Ships or Vessels, Goods, Wares or Merchandises, to whomsoever belonging, which are or shall be declared to be Subjects of Capture by any Ordinance of the United States in Congress assembled, or which are so deemed by the LAW of NATIONS..."

 

Both the states and the Continental Congress issued numerous commissions like this one. This example was a "Continental commission" and would have been signed by the President of Congress. Privateers were no replacement for a navy. But as the commission makes quite clear, privateers did not prey upon ships of war, but enemy merchantmen. The average American privateer was no match for a British ship of the line, but their incessant raids on commercial shipping kept the Royal Navy occupied attempting to protect the shipping lanes. Over the course of the war, American privateers have been credited with the capture of over 3,000 prizes. So effective were American privateers in disrupting British shipping, a correspondent in the Caribbean island of Grenada reported in 1770: "Everything continues exceedingly dear, and we are happy if we can get anything for our money, by reason of the quantity of vessels taken by the Americans. A great fleet of vessels came from Ireland a few days ago. From sixty vessels that departed from Ireland not above twenty-five arrived in this and neighboring islands, the others it is thought, being all taken by American privateers. God knows, if this American war continues much longer we shall all die of hunger." It can be argued that privateering sapped the potential of the fledgling American Navy. Crews of privateers were paid a share of the prizes taken which proved far more lucrative than the pay of a sailor aboard a warship. But the privateers also provided a most valuable service procuring much needed money and supplies to help the cause of American liberty. Unaccomplished privateers commissions are extremely unusual and difficult to obtain. Issued commissions are difficult enough to maintain. We have not seen an example appear on the market in many years.


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