American Revolution
1778 Revolutionary War Soldiers Enlistment “for the Preservation of the liberties of America...”
June 8, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War, Manuscript Document Signed, “Jacob Walker,” of Scituate, Rhode Island, Very Fine.
This is a rare, original and fully authentic Revolutionary War Enlistment Paper, measuring about 5.5” x 8” for Jacob Walker of Scituate, Rhode Island, dated June 8, 1778. This Document is for the Enlistment of Jacob Walker as a soldier into the military service from Rhode Island, and “for the Preservation of the liberties of America and the defense of the United States in general and for this State in particular.” This enlistment is dated from 8 June 1778 and the term of service is to last until the 16th of March 1779, “unless sooner Discharged.” It’s headed “Scituate” and dated on its reverse, which also bears Jacob Walker’s signature at the bottom.

This historic enlistment is in very clear and readable condition, with a clean centerfold tear and a 2” tear in the horizontal fold at right being reinforced with scrap book paper around its edges. The ink is bold brown and very legible. It reads, in full:

“I the subscriber do hereby solemnly engage and inlist my self as a soldier in the pay of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation for the preservation of the liberties of America and the defence of the United States in general and for this State in particular from the day of my inlistment untill the Sixteenth Day of March in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine unless sooner discharged by the general assembly of said State and hereby promise to submit myself to all the orders and Regulations of the army and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as I shall receive from time to time from my officers. --- Witness my hand this Eighth Day of June in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight. -- (Signed) Jacob Walker”

The reverse reads: “Scituate June 8th Day 1778 - Recd of Isaac Hopkins twenty pound LM for inlisting as a Soldier into the Service of State of Rhoede Island and Providence Plantations as witness my hand. - Jacob Walker”

This is Jacob Walker was born c. 1753 and died in 1822. He had settled on a farm in the neighboring town of Foster, Rhode Island and is buried in the Paine Lot, on Paine Road, in that town (no doubt named after the famous Revolutionary War writer and Patriot, Thomas Paine), his wife was Hannah Chase c. 1758-1839. This is a historic and excellent, original American Revolutionary War enlistment document that is rarely encountered so complete in its text, and pleasing in quality.