Apr 15, 2021 - Sale 2564

Sale 2564 - Lot 145

Price Realized: $ 281
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1776.) [John Hathaway?] Militia officer complaining about unfair promotions in his brigade. Autograph Letter to George Godfrey (1720-1793) of Taunton, MA, Brigadier General of the Bristol Brigade of Massachusetts Militia. One page, 12 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches, with address panel (no postal markings) and docketing on verso, plus integral blank; 2 1/2-inch fore-edge chip with loss of several words including most of signature, other moderate wear. Np, circa February 1776?
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"I am informed, sir, that you offered the major's place in the army to two of your captains before Major Mitchell was appointed. . . . How they could be cal'd major and bare the same rank they now do is a thing I cannot solve by rule or grammar. . . . I realy conceive of your conduct to be degraiding of that set of officers, and as one of them I very modestly and calmly resent your conduct." Quite a cheeky letter to write to your commanding officer.

The damaged signature reads only "Jo---," but the docketing reads "Maj'r Hathaway's reflecting letter to G. Godfrey." Godfrey served as Brigadier General from January 1776 to July 1781. He appointed Abiel Mitchell as Major in February 1776, about the same time as John Hathaway was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.