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1781 Revolutionary War Bounty Payments for Men Recruited in Taunton, MA

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Political Memorabilia Start Price:375.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 600.00 USD
1781 Revolutionary War Bounty Payments for Men Recruited in Taunton, MA
American Revolution
1781 Massachusetts Revolutionary War Soldier Bounty
July 26/30, 1781-Dated Revolutionary War Period, Bounties Paid for Men Recruited in Taunton, MA, Very Good-Fine
Manuscript Document Signed, “Comt. John Townsend Capt.”, measuring 5.75” x 8” on period laid paper, providing a list of two bounty payments for men recruited, "...to go under Capt. Drake for three month according to a Resolve of the General Court...”. Names include Sapier Steptens, Uriah Reed, David Hond, and Elias Lincoln. Each man received $15 for joining the Revolutionary Army! Rough margins, small edge splits, a few trivial stains and slight ink erosion, else very good. Bounty payments were issued in order to provide an incentive to new recruits to sign up as soldiers for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. This practice of providing a signing bonus incentive continues even today.