Apr 13, 2023 - Sale 2633

Sale 2633 - Lot 10

Price Realized: $ 500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION--1776.) "Appraisal of Arms" for a Connecticut militia company heading to New York under Oliver Wolcott. 2 manuscript pages, 12 x 7 1/2 inches, in one folding sheet; folds, moderate wear and foxing, part of second leaf excised. [Connecticut, circa August 1776?]
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Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797) served in the Continental Congress as well as commanding the 17th Regiment of Connecticut militia. Although a strong patriot, he returned to Connecticut before the initial signing of the Declaration of Independence. On 11 August 1776, he was ordered to march his regiment to New York in support of Washington's army, and was soon granted command of all Connecticut militia regiments in New York. In October 1776, he rejoined Congress and finally had the opportunity to sign the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the state's governor.

This appraisal list is for a company in Wolcott's regiment. It is headed "Account of the Appraisal of Arms & Accoutraments Belonging to Cap't Wells's Company of Col. Wolcott's Regiment of Militia Commanded by Lieut. Moses Forbes for New York, Appriz'd by Cap't Thomaston & Ensign John Arnold." 41 men are listed, along with valuations of guns, blankets, and knapsacks for each. Other names are listed next to some of their guns, implying that the arms were supplied by townsmen. A few of the men have cartouche boxes, and company clerk David Little also brought Freeman Burnham's "blanket coat" to the front.

Many of these men seem to be from East Hartford, CT. Capt. Wells could be either Hezekiah or Jonathan Welles, both militia captains under Wolcott at that time. Hezekiah Welles (1725-1804) was from Wethersfield near East Hartford. Lt. Moses Forbes does not show up in the Continental Army records, but there were a couple of men by that name in East Hartford.