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General WILLIAM BARTON Letter Regards His 1777 Congressional Presentation Sword

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
General WILLIAM BARTON Letter Regards His 1777 Congressional Presentation Sword
Autographs
General William Barton’s Presentation Sword Authorized In 1777 By The Continental Congress For His Revolutionary War Capture of British General Prescott
(WILLIAM BARTON) (1748–1831). Officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War a Lt. Colonel, who later served as Adjutant General of the Rhode Island Militia. By Resolution of Congress, 25 July 1777, an “elegant sword” to be presented for his capturing British General Richard Prescott and Major William Barrington, his Aide-de-Camp.


This is an original Autograph Letter Signed, “Wm. Barton Jr.,” dated 1810, at Providence, Rhode Island, Very Fine. By resolution of Congress, 25 July 1777 an “elegant sword” to be presented to Lt. Colonel William Barton of Rhode Island for his capturing British General Richard Prescott and Major William Barrington, his Aide-de-Camp. Journal of the Continental Congress Volume VIII, page 580. This very sword is now owned by the Rhode Island Historical Society.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, of the Rhode Island militia, planned a bold exploit for the purpose of surprising and taking Major-General Prescott, the commanding officer of the royal army at Newport. Taking with him, in the night, about forty men, in two boats, with ours muffled, he had the address to elude the vigilance of the ships of war and guard boats, and, having arrived undiscovered at the General's quarters, they were taken for the sentinels, and the General was not alarmed till his captors were at the door of his lodging chamber, which was fast closed. A negro man, named Prince, instantly thrust his head through the panel door and seized the victim while in bed. The General's aid-decamp leaped from a window undressed, and attempted to escape, but was taken, and, with the General, brought off in safety.” (Thacher's Military Journal, August 3, 1777).

During the Revolutionary War era, military medals were just being created, but they were large, 4.5” in diameter and made of precious metals. They were not worn, but used as a table decoration. A promotion or a presentation of a sword were the more common rewards for victory or exceptional gallantry. The American colonies did not have any professional sword makers, although some of our silver and gold smiths were able to hand make a few beautiful examples. Most swords came from Europe. In fact, many officers possessed two swords - a dress or as it was called small sword, and a saber which they carried into battle. When captured, these swords were often presented by senior officers to officers serving under them. We know of several instances where swords were presented by the Continental Congress. They kept records on the fifteen presentation swords they authorized with flowery language, and then not have the sword to give. Ten of the fifteen presentation swords were purchased by Congress in 1786, three years after the war and as long as eleven years after being authorized. Colonel David Humphrey, one time Aide-de-Camp to General Washington, brought the ten swords back from France where they were purchased. Nine of these ten swords are known to exist.

This historic letter is 8” x 11” with expected letter folds, being well written and easily readable in deep brown ink on laid period paper being quite clean and in overall nice quality. Here, William Barton, Jr. has relinquished his rights to four lots of land in his namesake town of Barton, Vermont. However, he wants to make it clear that he expects to get his father's (General William Barton) Sword, presented to him by the United States Congress for the capture of General Prescott. This letter is Signed by William Barton, Jr., in the presence of witnesses, John B. Barton and Elizabeth Cushman. Docket on the blank reverse reads, “Wm Barton, Rt - For Proportion of Estate of his Father - July 15th, 1810”.

It is interesting that the children of General Barton were already seemingly fighting over his estate, at least to protect their heritage and his treasured interests, though General Barton would live another 25 years after this letter was written.

An extraordinary, original Post Revolutionary War letter regarding the fate of one of America’s very first Congressional Authorized Presentation Swords. William Barton’s Presentation Sword, Authorized July 25, 1777 by the Continental Congress being just the Third such Congressional Presentation Sword in American history!
Barton was born in Warren, Rhode Island on May 26, 1748. He worked as a hatter in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1771, he married Rhoda Carver. In 1775, he enlisted in the Continental Army as a corporal. He fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1777, as a major in the Rhode Island state troops, he planned and led a raid on British headquarters, capturing Major General Richard Prescott. For this exploit, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and honored by a resolution of the Continental Congress.

When Rhode Island ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1790, Barton was sent to New York to notify George Washington.

Later in life, about the year 1811, Barton became embroiled in a suit in Barton, Vermont, which he helped to found. He refused to pay a fine and as a result, at the age of sixty-four, he was confined under house arrest. In 1825, at the age of seventy-seven, he was released at the initiative of the visiting Marquis de Lafayette, who agreed to pay the balance of the fine.