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John Fitch Revolutionary War Bond Document Signed. ...
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$750.00
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Description
John Fitch Revolutionary War Bond Document Signed. One page, 8 3/8 x 13 1/2 inches, Fredericksburg, Virginia; October 20, 1778. A manuscript military bond for a John Martin, detailing the conditions of his service in the Continental Army, countersigned by John Fitch. Document reads, in part: "Know all Men by these presents that I John Martin of Charles City County in the State of Virginia am holden and stand bound unto the honorable Henry Laurens Esquire President of the Continental Congress...The Condition of the obligation is such, that if the above bounden John Martin shall well and truly execute the office and trust of an Assistant Commissary of Service in the American Army according to the resolutions of Congress regulating that Department, then this present obligation to be void and of none effect, but in default thereof shall remain and abide in full force, strength, power and virtue." With remnants of a red wax seal at the bottom right margin.During the war, bonds such as this one were used as financial guarantees to enforce commitments to military service or supply obligations. Individuals who pledged bonds faced significant financial penalties if they failed to fulfill their roles, ensuring compliance in critical wartime functions like the commissary department, which supplied troops with provisions. These bonds were part of broader efforts to sustain the Continental Army and exemplify the financial mechanisms employed to support the war effort.
Fitch (1743-1798) was an American entrepreneur, widely regarded as the inventor of the steamboat. In the early 1770's, he established a successful brass and silversmith business in Trenton, New Jersey, which was subsequently destroyed by British troops. Following this event, he served briefly as a gunsmith for the New Jersey militia, but left his unit after getting into a dispute over a promotion. Nonetheless, he continued to support the war effort by provisioning the Continental Army. After the end of the Revolutionary War, he turned his attention to steamboat development, achieving the first successful trial of a steam-powered vessel in 1787.
Condition: "Virginia" written in pencil at the blank top margin. Some toning and foxing throughout. Smoothed folds, with slight wear at the margins. Light dampstain at the left margin. Remnants of sealing wax at the bottom right margin. Insect damage resulting in a pinhole through the page, touching text but not affecting readability. Docketed on the verso.
Auction Info
2025 March 28 Historical Manuscripts Including Texana Signature® Auction #6316 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
March, 2025
28th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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