November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Untitled receipt, Captain Israel Putnam to Captain Benadam Gallup, np., nd., but probably at Fort Edward between 9 -12 November 1757. Manuscript on laid paper, written in ink, 1 page, quarto, docketed on recto, "Captain Putnams receipt" and tipped to a support sheet. Fine. At the conclusion of the 1757 campaign on Lake George, it was ordered on November 9th that a number of capable woodsmen be drafted from Lyman's 1st Connecticut Regiment, to augment Captain Israel Putnam's Ranging Company, including five men from Captain Benadam Gallup's 12th Company. Putnam's Rangers would continue to serve as scouts and raiders during the winter of 1757-1758, stationed at Rogers' Island on the Hudson River, opposite Fort Edward. This return proves that eight, rather than five, soldiers were selected from Gallup's company: Jephthah Hewit, Amos Babcock, Benjamin Coy, George Whitney, Lemuel Tony, James Hager, Levi Hill and Joseph Causomps (all of whom appear to be veterans by a study of Connecticut colonial muster rolls, some who had served in multiple campaigns beginning in 1755). Below the list of names is written "Received of Capt Gallup the above number of men with their armes and acco[u]terments who are to tarry as Rangers with Capt Putman" and signed "Israel Putnam Capt."
This document was originally acquired by Mr. O'Connor with the understanding that it was an original wartime receipt signed by Colonial and Revolutionary hero Israel Putnam. Unfortunately, close study and comparison of the writing hands and signatures with another document below and other known Putnam documents bearing his signature has led this cataloger to conclude that it is a contemporary, "fairhand" copy of the original receipt, but transcribed by Benadam Gallup, not Putnam. It was probably retained by Gallup for use in settling any accounts with the colony following the conclusion of his military service. With this receipt is a partially-printed ADS of Benjamin Gallup as Justice of the Peace, 2 pp., quarto, dated 25 October 1774, authorizing the Sheriff of New London County and constables therein to execute a payment levy against certain parties for debt. Close comparison of the writing and signature of Gallup against the text of the receipt above confirm that both are written in the same hand. With these two manuscripts is a c. 1780 Parisian engraving of Israel Putnam as major general during the Revolutionary War (derived from 1775 mezzotint of C. Shepherd) and a 1863 steel engraving of Putnam after a painting by Alonzo Chappel.
From the Walter O'Connor collection.