Lot 260

Just Before George Washington's Arrival, Returns for Capt. Lathrop's Men at the Start of the Siege of Boston!

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Just Before George Washington's Arrival, Returns for Capt. Lathrop's Men at the Start of the Siege of Boston!

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,400

Current Bid: $500

(1 Bid)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Revolutionary War
Roxbury, MA, June 7, 1775
Just Before George Washington's Arrival, Returns for Capt. Lathrop's Men at the Start of the Siege of Boston!
MD

Revolutionary War manuscript document, a return for blankets, dated during the Siege of Boston. 2pp, 7.75" x 12.25"; Roxbury, Massachusetts; June 7, 1775. At top: "A Return of Blankets in Captain Lathrops Company By whom found & to whom Delivered." A list of 50 men who enlisted at Bridgewater to fight against the British in the early months of the Revolutionary War. The names are marked to denote if they brought their own blankets, if Bridgewater had provided one, or if they still needed one. Roxbury, where this company was encamped, was a vital military location during the Siege of Boston. With additional annotations listing figures for other companies (including costs), and a long endorsement addressed to the "Committee of Supplies" on the verso. Moderate wear along the folds, with occasional minute loss. Minor separations have been reinforced with archival tape. Light dampstaining.

The Siege of Boston began in the aftermath of the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. After British forces marched out from Boston and were engaged by colonial militiamen, the colonial armies surrounded the city, effectively trapping the British troops within. The companies at Roxbury were part of that effort. Towns assumed responsibility to supply their volunteers with supplies such as blankets, sustenance, and arms.

Endorsement on the verso reads: "To the Committee of Supplies Gent / The account of Blanketts found by the Town of Bridgewater for the use of Souldiers under the Command of Capt Lathrop Capt Allen Capt Hayden and some inlisted by Mr Jonathan Allen not at Roxbury amounting in all to one Hundred and Seventy Seven is hereby offered to their Hon for allowance."

The Continental Congress would appoint George Washington as the commander-in-chief of the newly formed Continental Army just eight days after the date on this return. Washington arrived in Boston in July 1775 to take command of the colonial forces besieging the city. Over the following months, Washington and his army worked to tighten the noose around Boston, eventually forcing the British to evacuate the city in March 1776.

Additional research would likely yield that many of these men went on to serve during the ensuing war. An exceptional primary source record documenting the immediate local response to unite in the fight against British rule.

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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  • Dimensions: 12.25" x 7.75"
  • Medium: MD

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000