September 2019 Auction Ends Thursday, September 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
Revolutionary War broadside, from February 1777, regarding the clothing of Massachusetts soldiers, specifically young men ''sixteen Years old and upwards'' in the Continental Army. Broadside notifies the people of the Massachusetts Bay of a bill passed in the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, authorizing men in each town to purchase clothes for the soldiers - with the warning that the Agents be ''very careful that they might be of the best Quality, that so the soldier may not be defrauded...''
Broadside reads in part, ''STATE of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY / In the House of Representatives, February 6th, 1777. / THAT the Army may be duly supplied with Shoes, Stockings, and Shirts, It is RESOLVED, that the Selectmen of the several Towns in this State, be, and they hereby are directed, to appoint some faithful Man of their own Number, or some other suitable Person or Persons, as Agent or Agents, in their respective Towns, to purchase for the use of the Continental Army one seventh part of so many good strong Pairs of Shoes and of Yarn Stockings and Shirts, as there are male inhabitants in such towns, from sixteen Years old and upwards; which Agents shall deliver said Goods to the Committee herein after appointed by the last Day of March next, and sooner, if practicable...''
The broadside then lists the men of each town that are responsible for carrying out the order, continuing, ''...and they hereby are appointed a Committee to receive the Goods or Clothing of the Agents and to deliver them to the Board of War or their Order, taking Receipts for the same, said Receipts specifying the Articles and Coats and that a sum not exceeding Three Hundred Pounds, at the Discretion of the Council be paid out to the Treasury of this State to each of the said Committee, to enable them to pay for said Clothing, with a reasonable Reward to the Agents for their Services, said Committee to be accountable for the Money they shall receive.
And it is earnestly recommended to the good People in the several Towns in this State, to exert themselves to make, or otherwise supply their full proportions of the Articles of Clothing aforesaid, and more if they can produce them; and to be very careful that they might be of the best Quality, that so the soldier may not be defrauded; and the said Agents are directed to receive none but such as are good and serviceable. / Sent up for Concurrence / J[ames] WARREN, Speaker / In COUNCIL, February 7, 1777. / Read and concurred. / JOHN AVERY, Dep. Secr'y.''
Broadside on hand laid paper measures 8.75'' x 13.75'', with ''Attleborough'' written in period script at top, and ''7.16.5 / to Select Men / Feb 7th 1777'' written on verso. Chipping along edges, some creasing, and a few small holes. Overall very good condition.
1777 Revolutionary War Broadside -- ''...purchase for the use of the Continental Army...so many good strong Pairs of Shoes...as their are male inhabitants of such towns, from sixteen Years old...''
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