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1777 Revolutionary War Manuscript Payroll Document For New Hampshire Regiment

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,000.00 USD
1777 Revolutionary War Manuscript Payroll Document For New Hampshire Regiment
American Revolution
1777 Revolutionary War Manuscript Payroll Document For A New Hampshire Regiment Serving In Rhode Island
August 25th to September 7th, 1777-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Manuscript Document Payroll of the members of Captain Enoch Page's Company, in Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Senter's New Hampshire Continental Army Regiment, while serving in Rhode Island, Choice Very Fine.
1777 Revolutionary War Manuscript Document being a Payroll of the members of Captain Enoch Page's Company, in Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Senter's Regiment for the period August 25th to September 7th, 1777. This Document was submitted by Captain Page to the State of Rhode Island while this New Hampshire Unit was serving as part of the expedition to Rhode Island at the request of the Rhode Island Governor. The Pay due to the men taking part in this expedition as noted in the letter from Colonel Senter submitted by Captain page to the State of Rhode Island for payment (not part of this lot).

This very rare, 1777, Revolutionary War Manuscript Document is in good to very good condition - we believe that this is actually only a partial Document as only 27 officers and enlisted men are listed as part of the Company. This appears to be the upper portion of the Document which has been trimmed to a greater or lesser extent at the bottom edge. The Document is written on laid paper and the portion present is well preserved. There is a strong, central vertical fold and two lighter vertical folds as submitted. There are some separations at the folds and the sheet exhibits some age appropriate, uniform age toning with a few scattered spots of light staining and foxing. Overall the Document is well preserved considering it is approx. 235 years old but we note again that it appears that the lower portion of the payroll is missing. This Revolutionary War Payroll Document is original and of the period as submitted by Captain Page to the State of Rhode Island for payment due to the troops under his command. This exceptionally rare, Revolutionary War Document measures approx. 12" by 7" and begins with the following manuscript paragraph at the top, in part:

"Pay Roll of Capt. Enoch ’s company in Lt Col. Joseph Senter’s Regt from the State of New Hampshire from the 25th day of August 1777 to the 7th day of September both days included.”

The remainder of the front surface of the Document is a Table detailing the names of the members of the Company, their dates of enlistment and the number of days they served during the stated period and the amount due each Revolutionary War Soldier. On the back of the sheet there is a notation dated December 9th, 1777, which reads, in full: “State of Rhode Island & County of Kent - Warwick 9th December 1777 - Then Enoch Page Capt personally appeared and made oath to the within Pay Roll by him Subscribed that it is just and true to the best of his Judgment - Before me - Wm. Greene - Peace.”

The following is a bit of the history of the Service in Rhode Island of Captain Enoch Page's Company and the New Hampshire Regiment of Lt. Colonel John Senter - On the twenty first day of June 1777 the legislature of New Hampshire received a letter from Gov Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island stating that the enemy (British), numbering some three thousand, were threatening an attack upon that state and asking immediate assistance. The matter was taken up by the legislature at once and a committee of both houses appointed which reported as follows - That three hundred men be immediately raised and sent under the command of a Field Officer to Providence and that the President advise Governor Cook by return Post. This report was adopted and a letter sent the same day to Governor Cooke assuring him that three hundred men would be forwarded to their assistance as soon as they could be raised. On the twenty sixth of the same month Lieut. Col Joseph Senter was appointed to take the command and orders were issued to enlist four companies of seventy two men each.


The following is from a letter from Lt. Colonel Senter to the Legislature, explaining the early actions of the New Hampshire Regiment:

“Warwick 18th Nov. 1777 - Gentlemen,

I must beg pardon for not writing sooner. Shall now give you a short Narrative of our proceedings. I suppose you have had Various Accounts of our intended expedition to Rhode Island. I arrived at Providence the 12th of Sept waited on Gen1 Spencer who gave me orders on the 14th to march to Warwick and serve under Col. Cornell who immediately put us on duty building a Fort and guarding the Shore. On the 21st Col Cornell informed me there was a plan laid for an expedition against our Enemies at Newport. He informed me that he was ordered to go to Narraganset and collect all the Boats on the Western Shore & send them to Warwick and also send forward all the Troops raising for the expedition. He ordered me to take the Command of the Post and collect all the Boats on the Shore from Greenwich to Patuxet and repair them and as soon as the Militia Regiment come in to supply them with Cartridges & Flints and send them over Providence River in the Night that they might not be discovered by the enemy.

I immediately engaged in the business & exerted myself as far as I was capable. On the 8th of Oct finished the Business. I was entrusted with crossed Providence River to Warren. 10th Marched to Swanzey. 12th to Tiverton. I4th to Little Compton. The Troops being badly armed but few Cartridges in Store, the Gen was obliged to send to Boston, Taunton & Bedford for Arms and Flints all which arrived the 16th of October at which Time, by Gen1. Spencer's Order, all the Brigades were to be under Arms for embarkation that Night. The Night favorable but two Brigades not supplied with Cartridges and the Boats not allotted to each Brigade - one Brigade not formed - neither could the Brigadier find them that Night.

On Sunday following the Troops were called out again and paraded on the Shore below Fog Land Point. Generals Douglass Cornell and Sherburn had their Men and Boats ready for embarkation the boats of two Brigades coming round from Howlands Ferry were discovered by the Enemy as many of them did not set out till the Moon was rising. They were fired upon by the Enemy one Man killed & one wounded the others frightened and left their Boats. The Boats not coming the Wind fresh at S West. A Ship but little below us it was thought best for the Troops to return to their Barracks. The Enemy then got intelligence of our design and fortified at our intended landing place.

Upon full consideration of the situation of the Enemies Batteries it was thought best to remove the Boats by Land to Sapowet which was about one Mile up the River which we set about and accomplished in good season except two Brigades who were again in the Rear. The Wind at N East - the Weather wet and dull - embarkation laid aside for that night.

The General again gave orders to march to Sapowet. The Night was rainy. Our Guns could not be kept dry. The Gen1 ordered the Troops again to their Barracks. Great numbers deserted others mutinous. The Militia, but a few days to stay, the General was obliged to dismiss the Army and lay aside the intended expedition.

Our Men are very healthy but a great cry for Money. Was obliged to Borrow to keep the Regt. from suffering. The Paymaster will pay us next Month for the time we have been here. The rest must be paid by the State which I hope will be ready when we arrive home. -- From your Humble Servt, (Signed) Joseph Senter."