Apr 16, 2013 - Sale 2310

Sale 2310 - Lot 125

Price Realized: $ 2,400
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(COLONIAL WARS.) Josh: Scottow's Bill of Costs agt. Mr. Rishworth. Document Signed by Edward Rawson as Secretary of Massachusetts Bay Colony and William Torrey as clerk of the House of Deputies. One page, 7 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches; moderate wear with minimal loss to text. Np, 24 October 1676
Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

Black Point in Maine, now known as Scarborough, was hit hard in King Philip's War. Captain Joshua Scottow (circa 1618-1698) was in charge of the Black Point garrison, but he was heavily criticized by the townspeople for his passive approach, staying within the walls of the fort while houses were attacked. Several men, including Edward Rishworth, refused to pay taxes to support these ineffectual troops, forcing Captain Scottow to take them to court. On 12 October, while Scottow was in Boston arguing his case, a large party of Indians surrounded the garrison, which was surrendered peacefully. Captain Scottow lost much of his property. This bill of costs (which may be in Scottow's hand) requests reimbursement from Massachusetts Bay Colony for his court expenses against Rishworth as he travelled back and forth from Black Point to the larger nearby towns of Wells and York, as well as Boston.
Reference: Pulsipher, Subjects Unto the Same King, pages 212-219. Provenance: Bangs & Co.'s Samuel Gardner Drake sale, 29 September 1876, part of lot 489; sold to a Rawson descendant, and thence by descent to the consignor.