{"product_id":"original-british-sea-captain-american-revolutionary-war-document-from-massachusetts-dated-1780","title":"Original British Sea Captain American Revolutionary War Document from Massachusetts Dated 1780","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This Revolutionary War hand written document is A WARRANT OF DISTRESS signed and dated several times by various officials on June 17th , August 12th and September 11th 1780.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt relates to a Captain Samuel Drinkwater Jr. of Dighten that was tried in the Court at Taunton. It appears that Captain Drinkwater had either been appointed or elected constable but for some reason declined the position, very possibly because research tells us he was a Sea captain so perhaps he found he had conflicting travel plans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn any event, his case was heard and the Court fined him 160.00 Pounds, a massive sum in 1780. Furthermore there were 45 Pounds 12 Shillings costs and a 5.00 Pound Warrant Fee totaling 210 Pounds 12 Shilling in all and there is a notation stating that in Dollars this totaled $702.00!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e$720.00 could have purchased a house in those days, maybe even a farm! In any event, non-payment meant Captain Drinkwater would be jailed and his assets seized and sold until the fine and collection charges were paid in full.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is signed by JOHN PORTER, Sheriff, SETH PADELFORD, Attorney and one JAMES DEAN and it appears Captain Drinkwater Paid in full!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDocument is nicely framed, 13\" X 20\", in a doubled sided case with an erroneous plaque indicating that Captain Drinkwater was an English Officer which we now know was not the case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fully readable transcribed version in modern English is below (hard copy included). This is a very interesting piece of Massachusetts Revolutionary War History.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003eA Warrant of Distress\n\u003cp\u003eThe Good People of Mass Bay in New Englands Bristol Ss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the Sheriff of our County of Bristol xx Sheriff or Deputy Greeting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhereas Samuel Drinkwater Jr. of Dighten in the same County\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMariner by the Consideration by the Justices of the Court of General \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSessions of the Peace holden at Taunton for sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTuesday of June instant was (for refusing to qualify himself for \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethe Office of a Constable for sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003esentenced to pay a Fine of One hundred \u0026amp; Sixty pounds, to the Use of \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethe Poor of the said town of Dighten, and Cost of prosecution taxed \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eat Forty Five pounds twelve Schillings as appears of Record, which \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSentence the said Samuel hath not regarded,-- We command\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eyou therefore that of the Money of the sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChattels within your Precinct at the Value thereof in Money \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eyou cause to be levied paid and satisfied unto the Overseer of the \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoor or Select Men of the Town of Dighten to be disposed of to the Use of the Poor \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethereof, the aforesaid Sums, and also that out of the Money, Goods \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eor Chattles, of the sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWrit together with your own Fees. And for want of such \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoney, Goods or Chattles of the sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[said] County on the Second \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDighten when legally chosen thereunto) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSamuel, or of his Goods \u0026amp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSamuel you levy Five pounds more for this \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSamuel to be by him shewn \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eunto You, or found within your Precinct to satisfy the aforesaid \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSums, We command You to take the body of the sd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehim commit unto our Goal in Taunton in our said County of \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBristol, until he pay the full Sums above-mentioned with your \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFees, or shall be discharged by order of Law – Whereof fail not, \u0026amp; \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emake Return of this Writ, with your doings therein, unto our said \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCourt of General Sessions of the Peace to be holden at Taunton within \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eour County of Bristol on the second Tuesday of September next. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated at Taunton the Seventeenth Day of June Anno Dom 1780.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSamuel and \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy Order of Court Saml xxxx\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":26168770501,"sku":"ON8224","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/on8224__4.jpg?v=1603285246","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-sea-captain-american-revolutionary-war-document-from-massachusetts-dated-1780","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}