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KING GEORGE III, 1771 Signed Appointment of Wm. Axtell, NY Loyalist Commander

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:2,600.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,000.00 USD
KING GEORGE III, 1771 Signed Appointment of Wm. Axtell, NY Loyalist Commander
Autographs
King George III Signed Appointment of William Axtell The Future New York Loyalist & The Commander of the Nassau Blues Regiment
KING GEORGE III (1738-1820). King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 during the French & Indian War through the American Revolutionary War, until his death in 1820.
May 4, 1771-Dated Pre-Revolutionary War, Manuscript Document Signed, “George R,” as King, two pages, measuring 8” x 12.5” and is Choice Extremely Fine. In this historic original document, King George officially Appoints William Axtell as Council of the Province of New York. Axtell (1720-1795) can be located as listed in “Biographical Sketches of Wealthy Men of the Colonial Era in New York.” He gained a sinister reputation during the Revolutionary War. As a member of the Governor's Council in 1776, Axtell was Commissioned Colonel and Commander of a Loyalist Regiment known as the Nassau Blues. That Loyalist unit was much feared for its exaltations against those who embraced the Patriot cause. His headquarters was the county seat, “Melrose Hall,” which allegedly became the scene of tortured rebel prisoners, whilst still retaining its fame for lavish entertainment, now just limited to the Loyalist Elite.

This document is nicely Signed at the top left “George R” in brown ink, and is also Countersigned at the bottom by Lord Hillsborough. There is a second integral page which bears several dockets and additional endorsements. Overall this impressive document is very clean, well written and easily readable, being in choice condition. There is some trivial expected scattered light tone, light storage folds, and reinforcement to edges of second page. Document by King George III which have a direct connection to the American Colonies and especially the Revolutionary War, are very scarce and significantly more rare and valuable to collectors.
William Axtell was born in Jamaica, the son of a successful sugar trader and plantation owner. His father, Daniel Axtell, had also acquired a large land tract in New Jersey, which the young man inherited, along with the rest of his father's large estate. In 1746, the twenty six year of heir came to New York, with the intentions to dispose of his New Jersey land and make some useful acquaintances with the city's leading merchants. He enjoyed New York's colonial society and was particularly attired by young Margaret De Peyster, whom he courted and eventually married, settling in a comfortable mansion on Broadway. She was the daughter of Abraham de Peyster jr and through her mother, a Van Cortlandt.

William Axtell was well appreciated for his lavish entertaining, both at his Broadway mansion and on his country seat, "Melrose Hall" at Flatbush, Long Island NY. Nicknamed "William the Gay" (when that word still meant joyful) in his younger years, he gained a decidedly more sinister reputation during the Revolutionary War. A member of the Governor's Council in 1776, he was commissioned Colonel and commander of a Loyalist regiment known as the Nassau Blues and much feared for its exaltations against those who embraced the patriot cause. Melrose Hall allegedly became the scene of tortured rebel prisoners, whilst still retaining its fame for lavish entertainment, now limited to the Loyalist Elite. No wonder, the Axtell properties were prominent on the list of estates to be confiscated, according the New York Act Of Attainder of 1779. When they were sold in 1784, "Melrose Hall" was acquired by 'Colonel' Aquila Giles of the Continental Army. He offered the place to his newly wed bride, the former Elizabeth Shipton, who happened to be the adopted daughter of William Axtell and Margaret De Peyster, who had no children of their own. Giles had fallen in love with Elizabeth in the pre-revolutionary days, when he was a frequent guest at Melrose Hall. But the Independence War had separated the lovers. William Axtell returned to England and died at Beaumont Cottage, Surrey, in 1795. Like other Tories, he had been partially indemnized for his losses due to the American Revolution. But most of his estate had anyway always been in England and the West Indies.