Lot 227

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Description:

Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman Superb Rev War DS Connecticut Militia

Like Paul Revere and William Dawes, who rode from Boston to warn the minutemen of Lexington and Concord of the approach of British soldiers in April 1775, express riders were employed throughout the Revolutionary War. Both civilian and military leaders employed them to deliver important messages or summon others. Samuel Sherwood submitted this bill for payment for express riding services for Brig. Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman, who signed this pay order twice. Sherwood detailed a two-day trip by horse in December 1780 with dispatches from Silliman, totaling 47 miles, for which he sought £5..12..5.

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR.] Gold Selleck Silliman, Manuscript Document Signed Twice, Statement of Express Services of Samuel Sherwood, January 19, 1782, Fairfield, Connecticut. 1 p., 7.5" x 11.5". Expected folds; a few small holes, three affecting text; irregular edges.

Excerpts
"County of Fairfield Ss. In Fairfield on the 19th Day of January 1782 personally appeared Mr Samel Sherwood Junr & made Oath that the above Account is justly & truly charged & that he has never recd any Satisfaction therefor.
"Sworn Before G Selleck Silliman Jusce Pce."

"These certify that the above Service was performed for this State by Mr Sherwood at my Desire being at that Time commanding Officer of the 4th Brigade. I once certified an Account for the same service which I am informed was accidentally lost by Hezekiah Hubbell Esqr on its Way to the Pay Table which is the Reason of my certifying the Account again.
"Fairfield Jany 19: 1782. G Selleck Silliman."

"To John Lawrance Esqr State Treasr Sir pay the above acctt we the Subscribers haveing Examined and allowed the same in State money Fairfield Novr 26th 1782
"pr Hezekiah Hubbell } Justice of Peace
"£5-12-5 Jonathan Sturges } "

Gold Selleck Silliman (1732-1790) was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, as the son of Ebenezer Silliman and Abigail Selleck Silliman (who was the daughter of Abigail Gold). He graduated from Yale College in 1752 and practiced law as a crown attorney before the Revolution. In 1754, he married Martha Davenport (1733-1774), and they had at least two children. In 1775, Silliman married the widow Mary Fish Noyes (1736-1818), who had three sons from her first marriage, and they had two sons of their own. Also in 1775, he was appointed colonel of the 4th regiment of Connecticut militia, and he became a brigadier general in 1776. His command patrolled the Connecticut coast and border with New York to keep Loyalists in check. At the beginning of British Major General William Tryon’s attack on Danbury in April 1777, Silliman sent express riders to warn nearby towns and collect the militia. In May 1779, Tories captured Silliman and his son and returned to Long Island with the captives. Because the Americans had no prisoner of equal rank to exchange for Silliman, they captured loyalist Thomas Jones in November 1779, and Silliman and Jones were exchanged in May 1780.

"Samuel Sherwood" may be:
Samuel Sherwood Jr. (1730-1783) was ordained as a minister in the congregational church in 1757 and became the pastor of the church at Weston, Connecticut.
or
Samuel Sherwood II appears in the 1790 census as the head of a household in Fairfield, Connecticut.

John Lawrence (1719-1802) served as treasurer of the colony and then the state of Connecticut for twenty years from 1769 to 1789. During the Revolutionary War, he was also commissioner of loans for the United States.

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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May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
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Bid Increments
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$50,000 + $5,000