Description:

Native American - Mohegan serves as private soldier for the colonies in French and Indian War; follows plot line of "Last of Mohicans"



7.25" x 8", MsS, one page, front and back. Colony of Connecticut, April 15, 1751. Handmade paper shows watermark of crown and coat of arms. Brown staining on paper with tape repairing tear across back and small section on right front. A small dot of red sealing wax is present to the right of "Mooch" on front.

Very nice signed document detailing the payment to Benjamin Mooch, a Mohegan Indian, for service as a private soldier for "Late intended expedition against Canada..." Mooch was a Mohegan Indian and may have been from the royal Mohegan lines as well as the Uncas. The document also references Johnathan Trumbull (1710-1785) on the reverse as the person giving "...The sum of fifty five pounds in bills of publick credit on account of the wages..." Trumbull played a vital role in the French and Indian War and was one of the most famous governors in Connecticut history. He was the only governor during the Revolutionary War to side with the colonists, the last governor of the Connecticut Colony, and the first governor of the State of Connecticut. The document reads in part as written:

"...Know All men by these Presents that I Benjamin Mooch of a Mohegan Indian Now Resident in Windham... County of Windham and Colony of Connecticut for and in Consideration of fifty two Pounds...tenor Bills of Credit to me in hand...Wages...Coming or belonging to me...Benjamin Mooch for My Enlisting and Serving as a Private Soldier in a Company of foot Comanded by Captt William Whiting in Coll Elisha Williams Regiment Raised by ye Colony of Connecticut for ye Late Intended Expedition against Canada hereby declaring...I was Inlisted by ye Government and also I here by Declair...I have Never...Wages Nor any Part there of but only of...flint and I here by Define Coll Elisha Williams or who Ever it May Concern to pay ye Whole of my...Wages to ye...James flint or his order and these...shall be a full Discharge for ye fame In Witness Where of I have here unto set my hand...this 15 Day of April...1751 Signed Sealed and Delivered..."

Benjamin his Mark Mooch" (Mooch's mark in between Benjamin and Mooch)

Mooch was from the same Mohegan Tribe that now owns and operates a mega-casino and hotel in southeastern Connecticut as well as owns the Connecticut Sun WNBA Basketball team!

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