Edward Rawson Signed Document Re: Need for Employing Sundry Men, King Philip's War Related

1p, measuring 5.5" x 4.5", No place [Plymouth], dated May 1676. A document signed "Edw. Rawson" as a witness magistrate, employing Sundry men into the county. Countersigned by William Torrey, deputy. With flattened folds and separations, repaired on verso with archival tape. Edge chipping and loss of text at the left edge, which has been repaired with contemporary paper. Moderate, uneven toning with foxing and soiling throughout. Boldly signed. The document, possibly relating to work undertaken following King Philip's War, reads in part:

"present Warrie necessarily calls forth Sundry men into the Company's…Imploymt & Livelyhood consists in husbandry, the promoting…our respective townds for the raising of corn & provisions…necessity for our subsistence. It is therefore ordered by this the [scratched out] of ye respective townds…did take effectuall care & are powered to impress men for the managment & carrying on of…such persons as are called off from the same…to be paid by the respective persons…"

It is possible that this document references the hiring of Native American children into service following King Philip's War. The Plymouth Colony lost nearly eight percent of its adult male population during the war, while Native losses totaled nearly 5,000 due to death in battle, sickness or starvation, and another 1,000 were sold into slavery or indentured servitude. Metacom, known as King Philip, was eventually killed in August 1676.

Edward Rawson (1615-1693) was born in England but left England to settle in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. He graduated from Harvard College in 1653 and went on to serve as Public Notary and Register for Newbury from 1638 to 1647. He also served as the first Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1650 to 1686. William Torrey (Ca. 1608-1690) emigrated to America in 1640 with his three brothers and settled in Weymouth. He was elected a member of the Royal Artillery of Boston and became a member of the House of Deputies from 1642 to 1650, Clerk of the House and Recorder of Deeds. Torrey was also the author of "A Discourse in Futurities or Things to Come: Viz. The Next, or Second Coming of Christ. Of the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom. Of the First Resurrection. Of the New Heavens and New Earth; and of the Burning of the Old. Of the New Jerusalem. Of Gog and Magog. Of the Calling of the Jews. Of the Pouring Out of the Spirit on All Flesh. Of the Greatest Battle that Ever Was, Or Shall be Fought in the World. And Many Other Things Coincident with These Things. Together with Some Useful Consideration Upon the Whole Discourse."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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