13

Gen. BENJAMIN LINCOLN + THOMAS MELVILLE (Herman Melvilles Grandfather) Archive

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 900.00 USD
Gen. BENJAMIN LINCOLN + THOMAS MELVILLE (Herman Melvilles Grandfather) Archive
Autographs
Benjamin Lincoln and The Grandfather of Herman Melville Archive of Three Port of Boston and Charlestown Forms
BENJAMIN LINCOLN (1733-1810). Revolutionary War Continental Army Major General, as George Washington's second in command, he formally accepted the British surrender at Yorktown, 1781 to 1783 was the United States Secretary of War.

THOMAS MELVILLE (1751-1832). Member of the Boston Tea Party who dressed up as an “Indian”, grandfather of Herman Melville (author of “Moby Dick”).
Three nice quality Partially-Printed Documents Signed, “B Lincoln,” in brown ink on fine laid paper, as “Collector,” District of Massachusetts, Port of Boston and Charlestown,” No. 25962 and No. 29586, July 31 and August 14, 1807, and No. 8904, July 16, 1808, each measure 5.25” x 10”, Choice EF to Near Mint. Each are completed in manuscript, have an official Heraldic Eagle vignetted Embossed Port Seal at the upper left corner. Each is Countersigned by the Inspector, “T. Melvill.”

1. One of these documents, No. 43-2 1/2 is for the “Betsy Brown”-- “an American Vessel” importing a “Case of Claret” from Bordeau.

2. One document, No. 268 57 concerns the “Packet Lyon”, also “an American Vessel” coming from Bordeau, hauling one “Hogshead of Claret”.

3. The last document, No. 93 105 concerns the “Jane-Gillpatrick an American Vessel” from Grenada, carrying one “Hogshead of Rum”. Very slight toning along upper left corner.

Three exquisitely written Port Customs Documents, in beautiful condition.

Both Major General Lincoln and Melville took part in the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln was at Yorktown with George Washington in 1781 and accepted General Cornwallis’ Sword in surrender from British General O’Hara. In 1787, Lincoln led the force that suppressed Shays’ Rebellion. Thomas Melvill(e) dressed up as an “Indian” to help ransack British ships during the “Boston Tea Party”; he was also the grandfather of Herman Melville (author of “Moby Dick”). (3 items)
Benjamin Lincoln (January 24, 1733 – May 9, 1810) was an American army officer. He served as a Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln is notable for being involved in three major surrenders during the war: his participation in the Battles of Saratoga (sustaining a wound shortly afterward) contributed to John Burgoyne's surrender of a British army, he oversaw the largest American surrender of the war at the 1780 Siege of Charleston, and, as George Washington's second in command, he formally accepted the British surrender at Yorktown.

After the war Lincoln was active in politics in his native Massachusetts, running several times for lieutenant governor but only winning one term in that office. He served from 1781 to 1783 as the United States Secretary of War.

In 1787, Lincoln led a militia army (privately funded by Massachusetts merchants) in the suppression of Shays' Rebellion, and was a strong supporter of the new United States Constitution. He was for many of his later years the politically influential customs collector of the Port of Boston.