1777 William Heath Continental Army Maj General - Oct 25, 2014 | Early American History Auctions In Ca
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1777 WILLIAM HEATH Continental Army Maj General

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1777 WILLIAM HEATH Continental Army Maj General
1777 WILLIAM HEATH Continental Army Maj General
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1777 Continental Army Major General WILLIAM HEATH Signed Revolutionary War Date Recruiting Payment Letter
WILLIAM HEATH (1737-1814). Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.


April 12, 1777-Dated, Revolutionary War Date Manuscript Letter Order Signed, “W Heath MG (Major General),” 1 page, at Boston, Very Fine. Being an order to pay “Col John Crane Two Thousand Dollars for the purpose of raising Recruits for his Regt...” Measures 6” x 7.25” being edge tip mounted for better display at its outer edges upon a 7” x 10.5” an early wove paper sheet, back side is still fully visable. Vertical center fold, minor circulation use. This Letter reads, in full:

“To Ebenizer Hancock Esqr. Depy (Deputy) Paymaster Genl. to the Forces of the United States of America. Sir, Pay to Col. John Crane Two Thousand Dollars for the purpose of raising recruits for his Reg’t (Regiment) for which this shall be your sufficient warrant. Given at Head Quarters, Boston, April 12th, 1777, -- By His Honor’s Command, J. Keith, ADC.”

A historic, important Revolutionary War Signed Order for a significant payment of funds to assist in the raising of new recruit soldiers for Continental Army military service.
William Heath (March 7, 1737 – January 24, 1814) was an American farmer, soldier, and political leader from Massachusetts who served as a Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Heath made his home for his entire life at his family’s farm in Roxbury, Massachusetts (present day Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, part of the city of Boston). He was born on a farm that had been settled in 1636 by his ancestors. He became active in the militia, and was a captain of the Roxbury Company of the Suffolk County militia regiment in 1760. By 1770 he was the regiment's colonel and its commanding officer.

In 1765 he was elected as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and was elected as the Company's lieutenant in 1768 and as its captain in 1770.

In December 1774 the revolutionary government in Massachusetts commissioned him as a brigadier general. He commanded Massachusetts forces during the last stage of the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. As the siege of Boston began, Heath devoted himself to training the militia involved in the siege. In June of that year, Massachusetts named him a major general in the state troops, and the Continental Congress commissioned him a brigadier general in the newly formed Continental Army.

In 1776 Heath participated in the defense of New York City, and was one of those who urged General Washington not to abandon the city. He saw action at Long Island, Harlem Heights, and White Plains. In August 1776 he was promoted to major general in the Continental Army, but Washington had doubts about Heath's abilities and posted him where no action was expected. In November he was placed in command of forces in the Hudson River Highlands. In January 1777, Washington instructed Heath to attack Fort Independence in New York in support of Washington's actions at Trenton and Princeton, but Heath's attack was botched and his troops were routed. He was censured by Washington and thereafter was never given command of troops in combat.

General Heath was placed in charge of the Convention Army of John Burgoyne’s surrendered troops after the Battle of Saratoga. In 1780 he returned to command the Highland Department after Benedict Arnold’s treason.

Heath was listed as an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.

After the Revolutionary War, General Heath was a member of the Massachusetts Convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. He served in the state Senate 1791–1792, and as a probate court judge. In 1806 he was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, but declined the office.

He died at home in Roxbury on January 24, 1814, and was buried nearby in Forest Hills Cemetery The town of Heath, Massachusetts, is named in his honor.

(From Wikipedia)
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1777 WILLIAM HEATH Continental Army Maj General

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