Description:

King William's War in 1697 Earliest American Muster Roll We Have Seen! Fighting Indians at Fort Mary In Maine.

1p, measuring 7.75" x 12.25", Fort Mary [Biddeford, Maine], dated December 27, 1697. A handwritten muster roll for "Soldiers posted at Fort Mary", with 35 listed men under Captain John Hill. The muster roll includes the name of each soldier, along with their listed date and dismissal date. The document has flattened folds, with separations and holes that have been professionally restored on verso. Areas of paper loss with minor loss of text. Light toning and foxing throughout.

Fort Mary was a stone fort built in 1693 by the Massachusetts militia in present-day Biddeford, Maine. Captain John Hill served with distinction during the Indian Wars and was commander of Fort Mary from 1689-1699, after which he resigned his military commission. Hill retired to Berwick and became a farmer before passing away in 1713 at the age of 47. Very little exists on Hill but we know from the "Documentary History of the State of Maine" that Hill wrote at least 1 letter to his superiors around this time regarding an exchange of gunfire with the French he said " "I cannot Tel whare thire ware any Indians among them or no" in the broken English of the time. The Ryswich Treaty signed less than two months after the present document was penned, sought to end hostilities with the French and other Nations but was short-lived.

Hill and apparently his relatives, based on the names on the roll, saw much action at the Fort. Shortly after this document was written a treaty by the Pennecook Indians was signed which was supposed to renew the submission of the eastern Indians and recognize their obedience to the Colonists and the Crown. That too did not last long. Around five years after the muster roll was executed the Indians attacked Fort Mary killing 11 soldiers and taking 24 prisoners (maybe some of the men on this roll?).

A very important piece of American Colonial History!

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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