Description:

Nathan Ray Thomas
various, various
Nathan Ray Thomas & Other Loyalists Archive: Letters, Receipts and More from 1758-1822
Archive

An archive related to noted Loyalist Nathan Ray Thomas of Marshfield, MA. Comprises 54 items, namely 20 letters, including nine from Thomas to a fellow loyalist William Lawrence; 33 receipts, and one newspaper. Overall in fair to good condition, exhibiting age-related issues such as extra and/or weakened folds, marginal wear, toning, seal tears, and so forth. Should be viewed.

The archive centers around correspondence between notorious Massachusetts Loyalist, Nathaniel Ray Thomas and William Lawrence of Newtown, Long Island, a fellow loyalist during Thomas' emigration to Nova Scotia. It is not immediately clear how these two men are connected save for their political sympathies or possible prior military service. Further research is warranted.

Nathan Ray Thomas (1731-1787) was a merchant in British-occupied Marshfield, MA. He had a seat on the Mandamus Council, a body of advisors to the Governor which was appointed by the King and provided strong royal control in the still-unsettled colony. Patriots, not surprisingly, viewed the members of the Council as traitors. When Marshfield had its own version of the Boston Tea Party on December 19, 1773 - just 3 days after the original - Thomas and the Council levied a retaliatory tax on the town's residents. Tensions came to a head on September 7, 1774, when a mob marched to the Thomas Estate to confront him.

However, Thomas had fled to Boston the night before. Upon his arrival, it is surmised that he approached Thomas Gage for protection, and his plea answered in the form of a detachment of British Redcoats sent to and stationed in Marshfield.

In Boston, Thomas acted as a member "Fifth Company of Associators," a specific unit within the Loyal American Association in Boston during the period leading up to and including July 5, 1775. He remained in Boston until March 1776, when, during the British evacuation, he and most of his family sailed with the troops to Nova Scotia, where they lived out the rest of their lives.

The nine letters from Nathaniel Ray Thomas to William Lawrence span the dates October 10, 1783 - August 31, 1784. Thomas arrived in Shelborne, Nova Scotia on November 14 and shares news of the locale, its provisions, settlements, and so forth to his old friend. Of note is a letter from August 31, 1784, in which Thomas makes note of the creation of a new province called New Brunswick. He also mentions a "Mr. Lent" on numerous occasions.

With: two letters written to Captain John Sackett, a Loyalist in Remson's Company of the Queens County Regiment. Both letters are written by a Joseph Laurence in 1815-1816, and contain social content.

Also included are two letters written to Congressman Samuel Riker (1743-1823) in 1805 and 1816, containing legal content; a letter to J. S. Riker (presumably Samuel Riker's son) regarding a patent; and three letters to Anna Sackett, widow of John Sackett, settling her late husband's estate.

Another letter is written by Thomas Barkley to William Lawrence in 1783, regarding rent. Finally, there is an unrelated 1885 letter of Edith Whitney, as well as a copy of the Ulster County Gazette (January 4, 1800).

The archive also contains 33 receipts from 1717-1822. The names include: William Lawrence, Richard Lawrence, Thomas Lawrence, Samuel Riker, George Brinkerhoff, William Webster, John Barber, William Sackett, Samuel Moore, George Hughson, P. Fish, D. Woodhull, Abraham Ranson, John Godwin, Abraham Brinkerhoff, Charles Adams, Robert Furman, Jonathan Waring, Alexander Whaler, Richard Yorke, A. Hillyer, Captain Vaname, Richard Harris, Cayden Proctor, William Campbell, and more.

William Lawrence (1739-1808) was an assessor in New Town, Long Island. He was commissioned on July 1, 1776 as an ensign in the 1st Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers. He was 2nd Lieutenant of the Newtown District in Queens County Militia, and in the 1st of the six battalions in Skinner's Brigade of American Loyalists (1778).

John Sackett (1755-1819) was a Revolutionary soldier. He served in the ranks of Col. John Harper's Levies and in other commands. After the war he took an active part in reorganization of the Militia, and in 1798 was commissioned First Lieutenant of Capt. Remson's Company of the Queens County Regiment, and served as such until 1793, when he succeeded Capt. Remson and commanded his company until 1804.

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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