William Heath orders payment 
to a Boston Tea Party participant

(American Revolution) William HEATH (1737 – 1814) Manuscript Document Signed “W Heath M[ajor] G[eneral]” 1p. 7 1/4 x 6 in., Boston, 12 April 1777 an order “To Ebenezer Hancock Esqr. Depy Paymaster Genl. to the Forces of the United States of America” requesting he “pay to Col. John Crane Two Thousand Dollars for the purpose of raising Recruits for his Regt. for which this shall be your Sufficient Warrant…” Body of document in the hand of and signed by Heath’s aide de camp, “F. Keith ADC”

John CRANE (1744 – 1805) notes receipt on the verso: “Received the Contents John Crane Colo. Artillery.” Crane, a housewright by trade, was a prominent member of the Sons of Liberty and it was at his shop where he and the other participants in the Boston Tea Party disguised themselves before boarding the tea ships. The resultant Boston Port Bill ruined his business and he removed to Providence Rhode Island. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War he led an artillery company at the Siege of Boston. In 1777 he took command of the 3rd Continental Artillery Regiment. In 1783, Crane succeeded Henry Knox as commander of American artillery forces, but resigned his commission soon afterwards. Crane settled in Maine where Governor John Hancock appointed him judge of the court of common pleas.

Ebenezer Hancock (1741 – 1819) was John Hancock’s ne’er-do-well brother. A cordwainer by trade, Hancock served as Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army.

Laid in to a larger sheet, toned along vertical fold some foxing, else very good.

(EXA 4072) SOLD.