Manuscript receipts and rosters for the transportation of rum during the Revolutionary War 1776-1782

Hartford and Marlborough: 1776. Nine holograph documents as below: Two lists of teams responsible for transporting rum, one 12.5" x 15" listing 59 men porting 12,418 gallons of rum from Bradford to Marlborough and the other 9.5" x 8" listing 26 men from Marborough to Hartford. The first list with some small tears and repairs along folds, the version labeled "List of teams in time of the war." The second with the note "A return of teams gone to Hartford July 30th 1778" on verso. Six receipts for the delivery of rum dated between 1776 and 1782, reading for example "Rec.d of William Hammond Esq. Comdr. of stores six hogs heads containing six hundreds & seventy two gallons of N. E. Rum, for the use of the United States of America." Hammond is the porter on all receipts, but the recipients vary: Abraham B. Washburn, Daniel Loring, and Cyprian(?) How[e]?. The 1776 receipt breaks down the delivery, listing rum and brandy, mollases (sic) and other supplies as well as payment owed for each. One receipt for taxes paid. "Recd. of Capt. William Hammond of Newton 1 pound 2 shillings 8 pence it being in full of his tax in this town for paying Willard Frink as a Soldier for the Continental Army for the space of three years" dated May 8th 1782 and signed by Sam. Porter. Rum was an essential resource in the operation of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Colonial Americans drank it in great quantities, to the point where it was almost treated like currency, and soldiers were provided a steady supply of the stuff for as long as it was available. A few with foxing or mild soiling but overall very good. Item #57093

Price: $1,250.00