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Lot 273: Rare Samuel Tucker Signed Letter

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Lot  273: Rare Samuel Tucker Signed Letter
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>'Samuel Tucker' Revolutionary War Naval Commander
Exceedingly Rare Letter with Historic Content
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<b>SAMUEL TUCKER, Revolutionary War Naval Commander.</b>
Important Autograph Letter Signed, 'Samuel Tucker,' 3 pages, March 13, 1818, Bristol [Maine], 10' x 8', Choice Very Fine. Trivial integral address leaf show through on a postscript in another hand, does not affect legibility; the seal tear affects nothing. Tucker, who was trying to get his Revolutionary War pension, writes to Joseph Smith of Boston, giving him TuckerÕs response to Mr. J. Holmes regarding queries raised by the committee for Revolutionary War claims. In part:
'...the commission above aluded too is in manuscript and signed by the venerable Samuel Adams in Philadelphia, June 1779 when I was made commander of a squadron...our noble state had not lost her former glory but what is past cannot be recaled, I hope ere long there will be a renovation here, and immediately follow a complete radical reform... although my governments neglect is severe on me respecting my former services, it does lessen the love of country in me.... I ask nothing more of government, than what they really owe me for services rendered in a war, that astonished all nations within the sublunary globe... I would have despised the idea of giving myself half the trouble I have already been at... my aged friends... are still urging me to pursue, and the venerable, late President Adams who still holds a great friendship for me, thinks I ought so to do...'
Tucker gives examples of his service:
'1776 I had to purchase the small arms to encounter my enemy with from my own pocket, or go without them, and the consert [consortÑhis wife]...made the banner I fought under, the field of which was white & the union was green, made in the figure of a pine tree, an emblem of our State [Mass.] and made of Cloth of her purchasing at her own expense, those colors I wore in honour of the country who has so nobly rewarded me for past services... until I fell in with Colonel Archibald Cambell, in the ship George and Brig Annabella, transports with 280 highland troops on board of General Fraziers corps... a severe conflict ensued which held about 2 hours & 20 minutes. I conquered them with great carnage on their side, without any loss on my own... I suppose the reason of my good fortune was owing to my small Bark about 70 tons burthen being so very low in the water, and so very near the enemies shipping, that their balls passed over me during the engagement, the enemy lost 50 men ...36 of which I ordered taken out of the sea & had buried in one vault on georges Island, the whole of my sails being quite new was so much shattered & cut to pieces that they were condemned and likewise the white field and green Union was riddled to atoms... 1786 while in new york I was told by the Navy commissioner, Banjamin Walker Esqr that I was the only commander in public service, through the war, that was not call on by a Court Martial, or a court of iniquiry... I had the happiness... of a pleasing interview with the venerable late President Adams and had the pleasure of congratulating him on the happy meeting with his Noble son, on his arrival from europe... I would thank you... to offer the secretary of State [John Quincy Adams] my remembrance with pleasure....'
Outstanding content.