{"product_id":"1776-revolutionary-war-pay-order","title":"1776 Revolutionary War Pay Order","description":"\u003cp\u003eRevolutionary War-era military pay order from Connecticut, dated November 22, 1776. It authorizes payment for saltpetre, a critical ingredient used to manufacture gunpowder for the Continental Army.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFull TranscriptionSirPlease to pay John M_Key Seventeen pounds Tenpence ½ — for Purchase \u0026amp; Premium on 68 ¾ lb. Saltpetre —\u0026amp; charge the State — Hartford Nov.r 22.d 1776 —£17.0.10 ½To John Lawrence Esqr Treas.r T. Seymour } Comtee O. Ellsworth }\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Ingredients of War: Saltpetre (potassium nitrate) was the main component of black powder. Because the British blockaded American ports, colonies had to pay \"premiums\" (bonuses) to locals who could successfully manufacture it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOliver Ellsworth's Signature: The document is signed at the bottom right by O. Ellsworth as part of the Committee of Pay Table. Ellsworth went on to become a Founding Father, a framer of the United States Constitution, and the third Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThomas Seymour's Signature: Signed above Ellsworth, Seymour was a distinguished lawyer, captain of Connecticut's oversight committee, and later became the first Mayor of Hartford.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Treasurer: The order is addressed to John Lawrence, who served as the Treasurer of Connecticut throughout the entirety of the American Revolution.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52282678968602,"sku":"EB-327175964283","price":425.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/57_7f0ac5a6-fca6-4869-af5f-62ebbaf5d369.jpg?v=1779741493","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1776-revolutionary-war-pay-order","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}