Lot 189
Wentworth, Joshua (1742-1809), Merchant, landowner, politician and prominent New Hampshire citizen; Revolutionary War soldier. Autograph Letter Signed one page with integral address leaf in Wentworth's hand, 7¼ x 12, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, March 18, 1776. To Mesheack Weare, governor of New Hampshire at Exeter, in part:
"…The memorial of Joshua Wentworth Agent, for all Prizes taken & brought into the Port of Piscataqua, by any of the armed Vessels in the service of the Continent…That your Memorialist having two Vessels & Cargos under his care, in this Port, which was taken by Sundry of the arm'd Vessels aforesd. And being Informed that Your Honours had appointed Doctr. Joshua Bracket, Judge of the Court of Admiltry for this Colony, apply'd to him to know, wether he was prepared to receive Petitions for Libbling said Prizes, who reply'd that he was not qualify'd, neither had receiv'd, any Instructions for his Government. Therefore your memorialist pray your Honours to take such measures therein as shall enable your memorialist to Present Petitions for Libbleing [said] Vessels & Pursuing his Duty, to a final Line in the Court of Admiltry…Josh. Wentworth"
With integral address leaf, inlaid to a paper frame, 8¼ x 12¾ which has subsequently been folded horizontally and split and again repaired along said fold, not affecting legibility, otherwise Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
Letter refers to the practise of privateering, by which private ships' Captains were given permission by a government (in this case, the state of New Hampshire) to raid and capture merchant ships of a given nation during time of war. The ships and their cargoes were sold with the proceeds being split between the Captains and the government. While the Colonial forces had no organized navy during the Revolutionary War, over 2,000 merchant vessels were involved in this practice against the British. Portsmouth was one of the principal centers of American privateering.
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| Realized $675 |
