November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
Silas Talbot (1751-1813) a two-page, autograph letter signed, dated New York, 1 March 1793, and addressed to Judge Joshua Mersereau, Esquire. US Congressman Talbot, Revolutionary War naval hero and future captain of Old Ironsides, responds to friend and political ally Judge Joshua Mersereau's letter requesting support for his aspirations for a seat in the New York Legislature. Talbot informs him that "he has repeatedly Spoke to Genl P... about your being supported at the Next Election for Senator [with noncommital feedback]...and I conversed with G. S. last Evening he says he shall leave it with the upper Countys to Enominate as the member is to come from that quarter" and leaves it to the Judge to "Draw the conclusions." Talbot goes on to relate that "the number of Votes in our district in favor of the several Candidates [to the U.S. Congress] are as follows, Talbot 1231, Cooper 961, Winn 928, Finch 408, Crane 85." Talbot-signed documents are extremely rare.
In 1779 Congress appointed Talbot a Captain in the Continental Navy. In command of Argo he captured no less than six British vessels and received the thanks of Congress in return. He was captured while commanding the privateer George Washington and suffered captivity on the notorious Jersey prison ship and subsequently in the equally infamous English prison at Dartmoor. He moved to New York after the war and was elected representative to Congress 1793-1794. In 1794 Talbot was assigned to command the frigate President then building in New York. In 1798 at the commencement of hostilities with France, Talbot was recommissioned a captain and assumed command of Constitution and the West India squadron. He resigned in 1801, the result of a disagreement with Thomas Truxtun regarding his relative seniority among his peers. JLK
Item Dimensions: 9 x 12 - 1/2"