Two Important New Hampshire Documents: Commission (Number Six) for Captain Thomas Thompson signed in two places by John Hancock (President of the Congress), Philadelphia, October 10, 1776, ht. 8, wd. 13 & an appointment of of Thomas Thompson Esquire to Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery,New Hampshire, signed by John Langdon in Exeter, Aug. 10, 1785, ht. 10, wd 13. Both are in same archival frame & not examined out of the frame. (Note: The Raleigh was among the very first ships built for the Continental Navy and this commission places Captain Thomas as its first Captain. The Raleigh was the first ship to be built in Portsmouth, N.H. After three days at sea the ship captured a ship with counterfeit Massachusetts currency and then later encountered a British navy ship. The Raleigh after a change of command was later captured by the British. The Raleigh is the ship featured on the state seal of New Hampshire. John Langdon was a merchant, shipbuilder (built the Raleigh), Revolutionary leader, signer of the United States Constitution, read the oath of office to George Washington, and three-term governor of New Hampshire. )Provenance: A Massachusetts family that originally had ties to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Make sure to see the other military grouping lots we have in this auction from the same family including the Lot 9 the George Rex bags Capt. Thomas Thompson took from a British ship, Lot 13 Captain Arthur Reid Yates hat, letters, medals, etc. and Lot 25 General Harry Taylor group of items who was originally from Tilton, New Hampshire. History of The Raleigh: a frigate built by Messrs. James Hackett, Hill, and Paul at Portsmouth, N.H., under the supervision of Thomas Thompson, was authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775 and the keel was laid on March 21, 1776 and launched on May 21, 1776. Raleigh, with a full-length figure of Sir Walter Raleigh as figurehead, put to sea under Captain Thomas Thompson on August 12, 1777. Shortly thereafter, she joined Alfred and sailed for France. Three days out they captured a schooner carrying counterfeit Massachusetts money. Burning the schooner and her cargo, except for samples, the frigates continued their transatlantic passage. On September 2 they captured the British brig, Nancy, and from her they obtained the signals of the convoy which the brig had been escorting from the rear. Giving chase, the Americans closed with the convoy on September 4, 1777. Raleigh, making use of the captured signals, intercepted the convoy and engaged HMS Druid. In the ensuing battle she damaged Druid, but the approach of the remaining British escorts forced her to retire. On December 29, 1777, Raleigh and Alfred, having taken on military stores, set sail from L'Orient, France. Following a course that took them along the coast of Africa. After capturing a British vessel off Senegal, Raleigh crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies. On March 9, 1778, in the Lesser Antilles, Alfred, some distance from Raleigh, was captured by the British ships HMS Ariadne and HMS Ceres. Raleigh, unable to reach Alfred in time to assist her, continued north and returned to New England early in April 1778. Accused of cowardice and dereliction of duty for not aiding Alfred, Captain Thompson was suspended soon after reaching port. On May 30, 1778 the Marine Committee appointed John Barry to replace him as captain. Barry arrived in Boston to assume command on June 24 only to find his ship without crew or stores and the Navy Board not wholly in support of the manner of his appointment. His reputation and character, however neutralized the ill-will of the Marine Committee, drew enlistments, and helped to obtain the stores. On September 25, Raleigh sailed for Portsmouth, Va., with a brig and a sloop under convoy. Six hours later two strange sails were sighted. After identification of the ships as British the merchant vessels were ordered back to port. Raleigh drew off the enemy. Through that day and the next the enemy ships HMS Unicorn and HMS Experiment, pursued Raleigh. In late afternoon on the 27th, the leading British ship closed with her. A 7-hour running battle followed, much of the time in close action. About midnight, the enemy hauled off and Barry prepared to conceal his ship among the islands of Penobscot Bay. The enemy, however, again pressed the battle. As Raleigh opened fire, Barry ordered a course toward the land. Raleigh soon grounded on Wooden Ball Island.