November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Lot contains: (A) King George II of Great Britain and Ireland (1683-1760). Royal commission appointing "Our Trusty & Welbeloved [sic] Roger Townshend Esqr." to be "Our Aid de Camp & to take your Rank as Lieutenant Colonel of Foot." The King was then on military campaign in Europe and the appointment is signed and sealed by the King, dated "at Head Quarters at Hanau" on 27 June 1743 and countersigned by Lord (John) Carteret (1690-1763) as Secretary of State; subsequently entered on the books with the War Office in London on 7 July 1743. Oblong parchment sheet, 12 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches, with seals and stamps intact. Folds with two holes in center fold, not affecting text, otherwise very good. Townshend (1708-1760)was the youngest son of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount and had earlier served as a cavalry officer in Wade's Regiment of Horse. Upon this appointment, he was present at the King's side at the battle of Dettingen (1743), a great victory and the last time a British king led his troops into action. Townshend later served as Governor of the North Yarmouth garrison from 1745 until his death. Apart from his military career, he also sat as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth (1738 to 1747) and Eye (1747-1748); he never married.
(B) HAMILTON, James (1710-1783) as lieutenant governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, appointing "Jonas Seely Commander of two Companies of Foot to be forthwith raised in the County of Berks in the Pay of the said Province" on 11 July 1763. Party-printed manuscript, a duplicate copy of the original commission, but initialed "J.H." and bearing the provincial seal; docketed on recto: "Copy of Commission to Jonas Seely Esqr.../July 11th, 1763/others of the same kind were given to/ Colo. John Armstrong for Cumberland County.... 1 page, oblong folio, with losses to left margin and lower left corner and separations at some folds (mended with conservation tape on recto). Seely (c. 1710-1800), had earlier served as a captain in the Pennsylvania Provincials during the French & Indian War from 1755-1759 and was prominent landowner and public figure in Berks County, variously serving as justice and treasurer. This appointment was made upon the outbreak of the so-called Pontiac Conspiracy , during which Seely was engaged in skirmishes with raiding Indian parties, notably one following the massacre near Sinking Spring on 10 September 1763, during which Seely and six of his men fought eight warriors, wounding three of the latter and rescuing two children from captivity. From the Walter O'Connor collection.