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Rare Rev War Document Certifying Official Awarding of the Army BADGE OF MERIT

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,200.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Rare Rev War Document Certifying Official Awarding of the Army BADGE OF MERIT
American Revolution
Exceedingly Rare Revolutionary War Military Document Certifying the Official Awarding of the “Badge of Merit”
c. June 9, 1783 Revolutionary War Period, Partially-Printed Document, No Date or Place, Certifying the Official Military Award of the “Badge of Merit,” from General George Washington, by Colonel John Lamb of the New York Artillery Regiment, Choice Very Fine.
This exceedingly rare, Partially-Printed small form measures 6.75” x 1.5” and was issued about June 9th, 1783, being the date that General George Washington authorized Isaac Doty to receive this special Award. This Official Military Document is Certifying the awarding of the “Badge of Merit” to, “THE above Named Isaac Doty- has been honored with the Badge of Merit for Four Years faithful Service.” (Corrected from “Six” years!) and Signed by “John Lamb, Col.”

This Document Certifying the Official Award is very well documented itself, as is the Revolutionary War history of Isaac Doty, as recorded in the book entitled, “THE DOTY-DOTEN FAMILY IN AMERICA - Descendants of Edward Doty, An Emigrant by the Mayflower, 1620” Compiled by Ethan Allen Doty, published at Brooklyn, N.Y., 1897. There it lists the following information, a copy of which will accompany this item:

ISAAC DOTY, son Azariah Doty, b. New York City, 1761. He m. prob. Westchester Co., N. Y., Elizabeth Hammond. He d. White Plains, N. Y. He entered the American Revolutionary army at a very early age as a Drummerboy, but later joined the artillery branch of the service. In 1781 he is said to have commanded an artillery company on Staten Island, which he took across upon the ice to Amboy on the opposite New Jersey shore. In the records of Cayuga Co., N. Y., at Auburn, appears a certificate dated June 9, 1783 from General Washington, certifying that Isaac Doty, a gunner in the Second or New York Artillery Regiment, having faithfully served the United States from the 20th of February, 1779, until the present period, is discharged. Also, a certificate from Colonel John Lamb of the New York Artillery Regiment, that Isaac Doty has been honored with the badge of merit for four years faithful service. (THIS BEING THAT VERY CERTIFICATE DESCRIBED.)

For this service Isaac Doty received from the State of New York certain lands in Cayuga County, N. Y., which he sold March 2, 1793, to David Abeel, mariner, of New York City. Captain John Doughty, who was Captain of an artillery company in same regiment, and also received lauds in Cayuga County, N. Y., may have been related to Isaac Doty.

In the records of the State of New Jersey he is credited with services as follows: Private in Second Company, Second Battalion, Second Establishment, New Jersey Continental line; served in the campaign in western Pennsylvania against the Six Nations, May to November, 1779, was transferred to First Company, Captain Nathaniel Bowman, Second Regiment: served in the Virginia campaign, took part in the battle of Yorktown.and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, October 19, 1781, and served to the close of the war.

After the close of the war Isaac Doty returned to New York City and engaged in foreign trade that took him out of the country more or less, but about 1800 he removed to White Plains, N. Y., where he afterward lived. He was quite prominent in the county in public affairs, and in 1823 was appointed Under Sheriff of Westchester County.

This Certificate is boldly printed in deep black upon clean laid period paper. The blank reverse side is also very clean and free of any detractions. An extremely rare authentic, original military Revolutionary War Period printed certification of the “Badge of Merit” Award by George Washington. This “Badge of Merit” Award Certification form being one of only two we have ever seen.

The Badge of Military Merit is considered the First Military Award of the United States Armed Forces. Although the Fidelity Medallion is older, after being issued to three soldiers for a specific event in 1780 it was never awarded again, so the Badge of Military Merit is often considered the oldest. The Purple Heart is the official successor decoration of the Badge of Military Merit. The Badge of Military Merit was first announced in General George Washington's general orders to the Continental Army issued on August 7, 1782 at the Headquarters in Newburgh. The Badge itself was designed by Washington in the form of a purple heart, it was intended as a military order for soldiers who exhibited, "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way. The writings of General Washington indicate that three badges, two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit, were created on August 7, 1782. These are thought to be the first awards presented to the common soldier. The only Badge of Merit we sold was Lot #71 in our April 30, 2011 Auction, graded Very Fine, where it brought $7,080.


Of the Badge of Military Merit, General George Washington said:

“The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding.

Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward. Before this favour can be conferred on any man, the particular fact, or facts, on which it is to be grounded must be set forth to the Commander in chief accompanied with certificates from the Commanding officers of the regiment and brigade to which the Candadate [sic] for reward belonged, or other incontestable proofs, and upon granting it, the name and regiment of the person with the action so certified are to be enrolled in the book of merit which will be kept at the orderly office.

Men who have merited this last distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinals [sic] which officers are permitted to do. The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all. This order is also to have retrospect to the earliest stages of the war, and to be considered as a permanent one.”