CT Rev War Letter Jeremiah Wadsworth Commissary Gen 1780

Autograph Letter Signed by Jeremiah Wadsworth, 1 p. front and verso, January 17, 1780, 8.5" x 13", being his response to charges made against the commissary department.  Document is very worn overall, with paper erosion, chipped edges, and heavy toning.  Split at center of page has previous repair, and there is loss of text.  

Excerpts:

"Inclosed you have my answers to the report of charges made against my department by a committee of the Supreme Executive Council of this State, I hope they will in the opining your honor been prove satisfactory which you communicate to Congress - If otherwise I can and shall at all times be willing to give further explanation"

"...during the space of three years & in the most perilous times acted (?) with industry honor & integrity - I should be happy to continue in that service..."

"...Commission Congress were pleased to present me with 5th July 1777 copy is herewith sent and which I accepted with Mr. Hancock..."

"If this cannot be done I ask leave to be - from the service altogether -"

Jeremiah Wadsworth (July 12, 1743 – April 30, 1804) was an American sea captain, merchant, and statesman from Hartford, Connecticut, who profited from his position as a government official charged with supplying the Continental Army. He represented Connecticut in both the Continental Congress and the United States House of Representatives. When the war started, Wadsworth was appointed to a committee charged with buying 5,000 pairs of yarn stockings for the army (which had already been sent to Canada). He served on another committee to procure 1,800 pounds of "lawful money in specie" in exchange for bills for use by the army. The Connecticut General Assembly later commissioned him and Col. Jonathan Fitch to find a large number of tin kettles for the army. The next assignment was to buy up as much pork as he could (both to furnish the American army and to keep it out of the hands and stomachs of the British forces).  Having served effectively in these assignments in Connecticut, Congress elected him Deputy Commissary General of Purchases on June 17, 1777, but he resigned in August. When Congress reorganized the supply system, he became Commissary General in April 1778, resigning in December 1779.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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