Political
Selectmen Order The Constables To Assemble a Meeting of Freeholders To Vote For Governor
March 17th, 1783-Dated Revolutionary War Era, Manuscript Document Signed, “Select men of Raynham,” (Massachusetts), Warrant Issued Regarding Voting for Governor, etc., Fine.
This original Manuscript Document is an important Warrant, issued to “Get Out The Vote” for the “... Monday the Seventh Day of April next at one of the Clock in the Afternoon in s(ai)d Meeting I(nstance) to Chuse (sic) a Governor.” It is written six months prior to the official end of the Revolutionary Wa with Britain. This document has a large, thin “X” manuscript cancel, likely indicating that the order was completed. by the Constable and some period notations on the blank reverse. This document is boldly written in rich, deep brown ink on quality, laid and watermarked period paper. There is some minor wrinkling and roughness to the left margin and it appears quite clean and is easily readable. It reads, In full:

“Bristol -- Is. (Instructions) To the Constables of the Town of Raynham, or Either of them, -- Greeting - These are in the Name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Require you for these -- to Notifie (sic) and Warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Raynham, Qualified According to Law to Vote for a Governor, Lt. Governor and Senators, -- to assemble and Meet at the Public Meeting House in s(aid)d Raynham on Monday the Seventh Day of April next at one of the Clock in the Afternoon in s(ai)d Meeting 1st to Chuse (sic) a Governor.

2nd to Chuse (sic) a Lt. Governor, and with the present Town treasurer.

Thirdly Senators

4th to See of the Town will Choose a Committe (sic) to Recon (sic) and you are to make a Due and True Return of this Warrent (sic) with your Doings - to Either of us the Subscribers at or Before the Time of Holding s(ai)d Meeting Given under our hands & Seals this Seventeenth Day of March one thousand seven hundred & Eighty three. --- (Signed as) Select men of Raynham”.

A historic, direct account of how seriously the issue of Voting for ones representatives was to be taken by the population, in the days immediate following the bloody Revolutionary War where these freedoms were so dearly earned.
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The area, which would become Raynham was settled in 1639 as a part of Taunton. In 1652, iron was found along the Two Mile (Forge) River, and the town claims to be the site of one of the first successful iron works in America, and the last of those early iron works to officially close (in 1872). The Eastern end of Taunton, was separated from Taunton and was incorporated as Raynham (named for the English town of Raynham in County of Norfolk, England) on April 2, 1731. Many ships' hulls were built along the Taunton River in Raynham, which were sailed down the river towards Fall River and Narragansett Bay for final fittings. The town also had other small manufacturing industries, but for the most part it was, and still is, known for its rural and agrarian base.