[Massachusetts Militia]. A printed document signed by 15 members of the Council of Massachusetts-Bay, including James Otis, Caleb Cushing, B. White, and Moses Gild

Property from Joseph Rubinfine, American Historical Autographs

[MASSACHUSETTS MILITIA]

PRINTED DOCUMENT SIGNED BY 15 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, INCLUDING JAMES OTIS, CALEB CUSHING, B. WHITE, AND MOSES GILD

Broadside on paper (13 1/4 x 16 1/4 in.; 336 412 mm), accomplished in a clerical hand, Watertown, 10 May 1776, being Samuel Harman's appointment as "Second Lieutenant of the South Company whereof Roger Libby is Captain...," countersigned by John Lowell, Deputy Secretary, on behalf of the Major Part of the Council, embossed paper seal; worn with spots of loss, mended with tissue on verso. Housed in a matboard portfolio.

Interestingly, in the commission documents issued just a month prior to the present one, the printed form of the year read: "in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third, Anno Domini, 1776." Hostilities with England had begun, and here the document has been amended, with the printed date reading simply: "In the Year of our Lord, 1776."