Autographs
1758 Seven Year's War Pay Order :...for Sundrys to Thomas Cranston he hath bot for the present Expedition..." Signed by Thomas Cranston
THOMAS CRANSTON (1710-1785). Thomas Cranston was an associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from August 1763 to May 1764, and served as Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives at the time; the town of Cranston, Rhode Island was created in 1754 and historians believe either Cranston or his grandfather (or father) Samuel Cranston may be the namesake of Cranston. The first page of the first town record book of Cranston bears the inscription "the gift of Thomas Cranston to the town called Cranston."
May 26, 1758-Dated French & Indian / Seven Year's War Manuscript Pay Order Signed, "Tho(ma)s Cranston" endorsed on the reverse in receipt of 400 payment: ...for Sundrys Thomas Cranston he hath bot for the present Expedition...", About Extremely Fine. Thomas Cranston was an associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from August 1763 to May 1764, and served as Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives at the time that Cranston, Rhode Island was created in 1754.
Historians believe either Cranston or his grandfather (or father) Samuel Cranston may be the namesake of Cranston, Rhode Island because the first page of the first town record book of Cranston bears the inscription "the gift of Thomas Cranston to the town called Cranston."
This Handwritten Payment Document measures about 6" x 7" and records the instructions to pay Thomas Cranston of Newport, Rhode Island 400 British Pounds for sundry materials he had purchased for an Expedition into Canada to fight the French during the Seven Year's War. Signed by three members of the "Committee of War" and directed to the General Treasurer, Thomas Richardson. Printed on fine laid paper with part of a British watermark visible when the document is held up to the light. Small loss at upper left, probably from a wax seal, yet otherwise bright and crisp, boldly written in rich brown. An important signed document that brings history to life. Signed in receipt of 400 on the reverse, reading in full: "Newport May 31st, (1758) - Paid the within Contents per (Signed) Thos. Cranston". Docket reads: "Tho. Cranston 400 - No 10 aud'd".
As added interest, an original oil painting of Thomas Cranston (1710-1785) attributed to Joseph Blackburn or John Singleton Copley is housed at the National Portrait Gallery, on loan from the Rhode Island Historical Society.
The Seven Years' War (1756"1763) was a global conflict between Great Britain and France for global pre-eminence. Britain, France and Spain fought both in Europe and overseas with land-based armies and naval forces, while Prussia sought territorial expansion in Europe and consolidation of its power. Long-standing colonial rivalries pitting Britain against France and Spain in North America and the Caribbean islands were fought on a grand scale with consequential results. In Europe, the conflict arose from issues left unresolved by the War of the Austrian Succession (1740"1748). Prussia sought greater influence in the German states, while Austria wanted to regain Silesia, captured by Prussia in the previous war, and to contain Prussian influence.
In a realignment of traditional alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Prussia became part of a coalition led by Britain, which also included long-time Prussian competitor Hanover, at the time in personal union with Britain. At the same time, Austria ended centuries of conflict between the Bourbon and Habsburg families by allying with France, along with Saxony, Sweden and Russia. Spain aligned formally with France in 1762. Spain unsuccessfully attempted to invade Britain's ally Portugal, attacking with their forces facing British troops in Iberia. Smaller German states either joined the Seven Years' War or supplied mercenaries to the parties involved in the conflict.
Anglo-French conflict over their colonies in North America had begun in 1754 in what became known in the United States as the French and Indian War, a nine-year war that ended France's presence as a land power. It was "the most important event to occur in eighteenth-century North America" prior to the American Revolution. Spain entered the war in 1761, joining France in the Third Family Compact between the two Bourbon monarchies. The alliance with France was a disaster for Spain, with the loss to Britain of two major ports, Havana in the Caribbean and Manila in the Philippines, returned in the 1763 Treaty of Paris between France, Spain and Great Britain. In Europe the large-scale conflict that drew in most of the European powers was centered on the desire of Austria (long the political centre of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation) to recover Silesia from Prussia. The Treaty of Hubertusburg ended the war between Saxony, Austria and Prussia, in 1763. Britain began its rise as the world's predominant colonial and naval power. For a time France's supremacy in Europe was halted until after the French Revolution and the emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte. Prussia confirmed its status as a great power, challenging Austria for dominance within the German states, thus altering the European balance of power.