Forming an army three days after Lexington and Concord - photo 1

Forming an army three days after Lexington and Concord

Lot 639
24.01.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1362227
Lot 639 | Forming an army three days after Lexington and Concord
Estimate value
$ 20 000 – 30 000
Forming an army three days after Lexington and Concord
Joseph Warren, 23 April 1775
AMERICAN REVOLUTION — In Provincial Congress, at Watertown, April 23, 1775, Resolved, That the following Establishment Forces now to be raised for the Recovery and Preservation of our undoubted Rights and Liberties, be as follows…. [Watertown: Benjamin Edes, 1775]. Signed by Joseph WARREN (1741-1775) ("Jos Warren") as President of Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

A scarce broadside stablishing the first colonial army "for the Recovery and Preservation of our undoubted Rights and Liberties…." Bearing the rare signature of Joseph Warren accomplished the day he assumed John Hancock's position as President of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and less than two months before he was struck down at Bunker Hill. The resolution, passed soon after the congress had resolved "that an army of 30,000 men be immediately raised and established," and that 13,600 be raised from Massachusetts. The broadside specifies the composition of each regiment from Colonel to "private Centinel," together with the monthly pay commensurate with each rank. The printing was so hastily done, that manuscript corrections needed to be made—most notably the reduction in the size of the regiment from 1000 to 598, as well the number in a company (from 100 to 59). Those changes were not made by the Provincial Congress until three days following the printing of the present broadside when it "Moved, That the companies in each regiment be reduced from one hundred men each to fifty-nine, including three officers, one captain, two subalterns" The Congress additionally "Moved, That each regiment be reduced to ten of these companies.* Two additional resolutions are printed below. The first notes that beside the pay noted "above, a Coat for a Uniform, be given to each of the non-commission Officers and Privates, so soon as the State of the Province will admit of it." The second implores local selectmen furnish "good and sufficient Blankets…."

Rare. RBH records the sale of only two other examples of this broadside signed by Warren: (T. H. Morrell sale, Bangs, 11 November 1859; Sotheby's, New York, 3 December 2000, lot 212). Evans 14221, Ford 1846. Provenance: A. T. White or Adrien Van Sinderen – by descent to the consignor.

Broadside, 199 x 142mm (mild dustsoiling, binding strip along verso of left margin.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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24.01.2025 – 24.01.2025
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