23

(FINANCING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
(FINANCING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR)
<b>23. (FINANCING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR) </b>An important financial document detailing the province of New Jersey's expenditures during the French and Indian War. The manuscript D.S. 6pp. legal folio, [New Jersey], Apr. 11, 1758 and details over £63,000 of expenditures from May 1755 through March 1757 "<i>...on Acctt. of Supplying the Forces raised for His Majesty's Services (To Andrew Johnston Treasurer of the Eastern Division)...</i>" Most of the expenditures appear to be to military men including John Johnston and Peter Schulyer among others. Occasionally a more specific use is mentioned. The first entry, dated May, 1755 is "<i>To Cash paid the Commander to pay Capt. Skinner, Ruseo & Parkers Comapnys Bounty money £150 Each...</i>" Hard currency was always scarce in the colonies and had to be brought from Europe. In October of 1756 the province allocated £4:14:3 "<i>To Cash paid Charges on the Inglish [sic] money at N Yo9rk & bringing it to Amboy</i>". As hard currency became even more scarce, the province found it necessary to print paper currency. In August of 1757 the province spent £62:10:0 to pay James Parker to print £15,000 worth of currency. The following year the province would order James Parker to print up another £30,000. Other expenditures included £220 to cash "<i>...paid John Johnston for paying Charges of Quartering His Majesty's forces...</i>" (May,. 1757); £6000 "<i>...paid to John Johnston for purchasing Arms...</i>" (Nov., 1757). The funds themselves appear to have been initially raised by private citizens on expectation of reimbursement from the British Government. On the right side of the account, the credits are mostly listed as "<i>By Cash Received from the Signers of the £10,000.</i>" etc. On Aug 30 of 1756 however, several payments were noted including £7673:16:0 "<i>By Cash Recd. by His Excellency Govr. Belcher from London and by him ordered into my hands vis. 6 chests of Silver which at counting were found to Contain 6910 1/2 [illeg] at 7/6 £2591:8:9 1 Chest of Gold Containing 1766 half [illeg] at 57/6: 5077:5:0...</i>" The document is signed on the docket by New Jersey, of course was not the only colony spending enormous amounts of money to fight the French and the enormous debts strapped both provincial governments as well as the royal treasury in London. Parliament's attempts to recover some of this debt would ultimately lead to the American Revolution. Moderate damp stains to some pages, a few marginal tears and the usual folds, otherwise very good condition.<b> $800-1,200</b>