Description:

Revolutionary War
Virginia, January 19, 1781
Rare 1781 Revolutionary War 8th Virginia Regiment Pay Certificate
ADS
Revolutionary War. Autograph Document Signed, "Abrm. Hite", as captain and paymaster of the 8th Virginia Regiment, 1p, 8" x 3.5", Virginia, January 19, 1781. Blank verso. Unevenly cut edges. Expected folds and moderate creases. Light toning. In near fine condition.

In full:

"I do Certify that Lieut. Joseph Swearingen of the 8th Virga. Regt. was not included in the Pay Rolls of said Regt. for the Six Months Pay Allowed by the Assembly of Virginia he being Absent from the Regt. at the time said pay was drawn. Given under my hand this 19th day of Jany. 1781 -- 160 Dolls."

Joseph Swearingen (1754-1821) was one of the most prominent citizens of Shepherdstown, Virginia. He served throughout the eight years of the Revolution, first enlisting as a Private in Captain Stephenson's Company; after, as a lieutenant in the Eighth Virginia Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12, 1780, and remained a prisoner until the end of the war.

Abraham Hite Jr. (1755-1832) was commissioned a first lieutenant in 1777 in the Eighth Virginia Regiment. He advanced to captain on April 14, 1779, receiving his commission from George Washington. In May 1778, Hite was at Valley Forge; Paramus in June 1778; and at Camp White Plains in July 1778. In May of 1780, he was captured during the defeat of the Continental Army at Charleston, South Carolina, and remained a prisoner until exchanged for a British officer in May 1783, on the condition that he not bear arms until the exchange was completed. Hite's war record describes him as "deranged" for a period of time.

The 8th Virginia Regiment was an infantry unit that served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Authorized in January 1776, the regiment was raised from men of several northwestern counties in the strength of ten companies. Its first commander was Colonel Peter Muhlenberg, clergyman from a prominent Pennsylvania family. The unit marched to defend Charleston, South Carolina in 1776, but saw no fighting. At the start of 1777, the 8th Virginia moved to join George Washington's main army. When Muhlenberg was promoted to general officer, Colonel Abraham Bowman, a frontiersman from Virginia, took command of the unit.

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: 8" x 3.5"
  • Medium: ADS

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