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John Langdon

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
John Langdon

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Auction Date:2017 Oct 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
New Hampshire’s second governor (1741–1819), signer of the Constitution, and president pro tempore of the US Senate under George Washington. Revolutionary War–dated manuscript DS, one page, 8 x 9.75, July 16, 1778. Receipt for the payment of £351.8.8 1/4 by the Marine Committee of the Continental Congress for expenses accrued in the fitting out and provisioning of "The Continental Ship Boston" between August 6, 1777 and July 16, 1778. Some of the itemized expenses include the construction of barrels, 20 barrels of Irish beef, 36 barrels of bread, a box of candles, and 53 gallons of rum. In fine condition, with intersecting folds.

Launched in July 1776, the USS Boston was commissioned under the command of Captain Hector McNeill. Sailing in company with the USS Hancock in May 1777, the two frigates captured three prizes including the 28-gun HMS Fox. One month later, the Fox and Hancock were captured in an engagement with three British vessels, but the Boston escaped to the Sheepscot River on the coast of Maine. After hiding there until July 23rd, McNeill sailed to Portsmouth where he presumably took the provisions listed on Langdon's account. Captain McNeill would later be court-martialed for his failure to come to Hancock's aid. Placed under the command of Samuel Tucker, the Boston carried John Adams to France in 1778. She then cruised European waters, taking four prizes before returning to Portsmouth in October. The next year the Boston joined the squadron sent to assist in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, where it seized in the British capture of the city. A scarce Continental Navy document from the Revolutionary War, signed by one of America's founding fathers.