Description:

Oliver Ellsworth DS Regarding "Extraordinary Cost of Sickness" To Be Reimbursed to CT Militiaman Who Had Defended NY Against British Invasion in August 1776

A paper slip signed by Connecticut Continental Congressman Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807) as "O. Ellsworth" in the lower right corner. This December 13, 1776 pay voucher instructed Connecticut Treasurer Jonathan Lawrence "to pay unto Silas Nye a Sick Soldier that went to N York in the militia august last for Extraordinary Cost of Sickness three pounds nine Shillings, & ten pence & Charge the State." Docket information confirming receipt of payment found verso. Light overall toning, isolated edge chips and darkening, and expected folds. Trimmed at the bottom, else near fine, 8.25” x 2.875.”

Silas Nye (born 1740), whose father was Captain Ebenezer Nye (ca. 1692-1759), was born in Tolland, Connecticut. In the 1760s, he married Rebekah Hill in nearby Glastonbury and later became the town's Collector of Rates. No records could be found corroborating Nye's militia service in 1776, but genealogical sources indicate that Silas Nye was a member of Captain David Dewey's Company, under Colonel Obediah Johnson's Regiment, in 1778.

Ellsworth's explanatory note that Nye had gone to "N York in the militia august last" suggests that the militiaman from northern central Connecticut had participated in the defense of New York against invading British forces who later occupied the city. Called variously the Battle of Long Island, Battle of Brooklyn, and Battle of Brooklyn Heights, this August 27-29, 1776 engagement, the first major clash following the Americans' Declaration of Independence, resulted in a British victory.

Oliver Ellsworth was one of Connecticut's first state senators. Ellsworth was very involved in revolutionary politics and helped draft the U.S. Constitution. The Yale and Princeton graduate also trained as a lawyer and was appointed by George Washington to serve as the 3rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court between 1796-1800.

Jonathan Lawrence is an interesting historical figure in that he served as treasurer before, during, and after the American Revolution, when Connecticut was first a colony and then a state.

Financing the Revolution laid a heavy burden upon each colony, especially those which balked at levying taxes. In order to meet immediate needs such as wages, the colonies relied upon wealthy revolutionaries, foreign loans, taxes and gifts from abroad. Connecticut issued promissory notes such as this. Issuing paper money was only a temporary solution, and worthless without specie or gold and silver backing. The U.S. established its standard monetary system in 1791.

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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March 30, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
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