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1779 Revolutionary War Passage Permit for Ship and Crew, Falmouth, Massachusetts

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
1779 Revolutionary War Passage Permit for Ship and Crew, Falmouth, Massachusetts
American Revolution
Extremely Rare 1779 Revolutionary War Naval-Officer Authorized Port Passage Permit for a Mass. Ship and Crew
January 4, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document Signed, “Tho. Child Naval-Officer.”, Official Patriot Port Authorized Passage Permit for a Ship and her Crew, at the Harbour of Falmouth, Massachusetts, Fine.
An original official Revolutionary War Sailing Permit measures 7” x 4”, being whole and complete with full wide margins issued at the Port/Harbour of Falmouth, State of Massachusetts-Bay. It is printed on period watermarked laid paper having deep heavy brown ink manuscript written portions which are easily readable. There is a vertical fold repair/reinforcement with what appears to be old glassine (stamp hinge material) tape on the blank verso, with overall heavy toning to the paper. This historic Document reads, in full:

“State of Massachusetts-Bay. --- Port of Falmouth -- Permit the Schooner Chance, Joseph Knight, Master, navigated with Six Men, mounted with no Guns, bound for Martinic (sic) (Martinique) to pass the Forts and Guards.

To the Commanding - Officer of the Several Fortresses and Guards in the Harbour of Falmouth. -- Given under my hand, 4th January 1779 -- (Signed) Tho. Child Naval Officer.”

Exceedingly rare, the first we have offered, as we have not seen another example over the past four decades.
An actual logbook of the Schooner Chance details a shipping voyage from Salem, Mass., to U.S. coastal ports, Madeira, and the Azores, April 1754-May 1756. The logbook includes details relating to coastwise shipping out of Salem and Beverly, Mass., Cape May, New Jersey, and Philadelphia; information on fishing in Anguilla; astronomy observations, specifically an eclipse; illustrations (profile views); and wounds and injuries to one of the sailors on board. The master and logbook keeper was Ebenezer Bowditch Jr. The Schooner Chance, logbook is at the Phillips Library, of the Peabody Essex Museum, in Salem, Mass. It is Available to view on microfilm #91, reel 1.