Civil War Union Documents
1863 Civil War $300 “Commutation” Receipt & Certificate
August 13, 1863-Dated Civil War, Two Item Mated Lot, $300 Commutation Money Receipt, from the Eighth Massachusetts Collection District, for Henry F. Cooper of Medway, Mass. drafted on July 10,1863, plus the Official Certificate, Very Fine.
1. This document is from our consignee's private collection and measures 7 1/8" long X 3" with fold in middle of receipt. Also included is a Certificate of Non-Liability To Be Given by The Board of Enrollment Form dated August 13, 1863 which is effectively a "get out of army receipt" stating the Mr Cooper paid his $300 commutation fee and is exempt from the draft for the Civil War.

2. Document is “Form 31” on top center and measures 8 1/4" X 7 5/8" with folds and six holes through paper. The document is signed by three different members of the Board of Enrollment (Draft Board) by Provost Marshall, Member and Surgeon of Board of Enrollment. The Board of Enrollment on the second document look to be named, Saul Stone, C.H. Seans and O'Martin.

Commutation Money payments of $300 were made to literally avoid military service in the Civil War and money receipts were issued following the conscription law of 1863. These exceedingly rare official receipts are impossible to locate with the original Certificate, as offered here. The receipts alone have sold in the past at auction for several thousand dollars. An exceedingly rare and historically important mated Commutation Money document pairing. (2 items).