A SOLDIER FOR JUST FIVE WEEKS
A Group of Two Manuscripts and One Document, Attesting to the Service of Samuel Robinson in the Continental Army and Orders for Payments to be Made to His Estate.
Hartford & Windham [CT]: 1785.
Various sizes. A SOLDIER FOR JUST FIVE WEEKS. Item #308429
Too young for marriage and children, but old enough to join the fight for independence, these documents may be the last few remaining records of a largely forgotten soldier of 1776.
Samuel Robinson III (1757-1776) was born in the Central Village of Windham, Connecticut, and was one of eleven children of Samuel Robinson (1726-1792) and Sarah Kimball (1718-1791). According to the muster rolls, Samuel enlisted in Col. Philip Burr Bradley’s Battalion, on August 13, 1776 and was assigned to Capt. Elijah Abel’s company. Originally raised for defense of the state of Connecticut, Bradley’s Bn, was sent to reinforce the Continental Army in New York. The battalion was stationed during most of the summer and early fall of 1776, at Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook, New Jersey. It was at one of these places that Samuel Robinson died on September 23, 1776, a week after his 19th birthday, and after being in the army only a little more than one month. The cause of his death was not recorded.
1. Autographed Manuscript Certificate, Signed “Ephraim Root” and “Jeremiah Ripley.” Signed on verso by “Eben[ezer] Gray, Saml Dorrance, and William Ripley” The recto, dated “Coventry, 24 August 1785, Reads: “There was never any person that belonged to Conventry that served in the Continental Army as a Soldier & died there that we have any knowledge of & from our acquaintance with the Inhabitants of Coventry: believe if there had have been such a person we should have known of it.” The verso, dated “Windham, March 10 1785, reads: We do certify that Saml Robinson was in the Continental Army in the year 1777 as a Soldier and died in service sometime after. He was an Inhabitant of this town. 6.25 x 4 inches, 2 pp., pen and ink on paper. Old folds, else very fine.
2. Autographed Manuscript, Signed “Eleazer Wales” and “Elijah Johnson Administrator on the Estate of P. Samuel Robinson.” Dated “Hartford Aug. 3d, 1785” and reading: Gentlemen, Please pay to the Bearer the balance found due to Samuel Robinson, deceased, for his service in the 1st Connecticut regiment in the Continental Army. Before the Year 1780.” “To the Committee of the Pay Table” 8 x 5.5 inches, 1p., pen and ink on paper with watermark emblem of the State of Connecticut. Old folds, two minor stains, fine.
3. Autographed Document, Signed “Samuel Turner” Dated “Augst. 30th 1785” and reading: Received of the Pay-Table Committee, their Order on the Treasurer of this State, to secure the Payment of Thirteen pounds Eighteen shillings and on penny being the balance due to Samuel Robinson, deceased on the first day of 1780, as stated by the Committees of the State and of the Army. Received in behalf of Elisha Johnson, Administrator on the Estate of Samuel Robinson, deceased.” 8.25 x 6.5 inches, 1p., printed and partially accomplished pen and ink on paper, docketed on verso, old folds, minor toning, else fine.
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