Connecticut Currency
1765 Colonial COUNTERFEITER Document For Jailed “Gil Belcher” Hanged in April of 1773 For Counterfeiting
March 25th, 1765-Dated Colonial Period. Windham, Connecticut. Manuscript Court Document. Noted Colonial COUNTERFEITER Gil Belcher... “Pursuing s’d Belcher after he BROKE GOAL” SIGNED by REV WAR Colonel George Pitkin, Choice Very Fine.
Manuscript Document dated March 25th 1765, at WINDHAM (Connecticut), and addressed to “Jos. (Joseph) Talcott Esq. (Esquire) Treasurer of Connecticut Colony, at Hartford.” It is Signed along the bottom by George Pitkin, as Clerk of the Windham Court, authorizing payment to Elias Frink for the costs incurred in keeping Gill Belcher in jail and going after him once he’d escaped. This rare content Document measures about 6 5/8” x 7.25” in size and is in clean Very Fine overall condition with dark writing upon period laid paper.

An Exceedingly Rare original Document concerning the noted Colonial Counterfeiter Gil Belcher, who fled a Connecticut Goal (jail) and set up his Counterfeiting operations in a cave on Bung Hill, behind his house in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He eventually ran into trouble with the New York authorities for Counterfeiting New York currency and was arrested and hanged for his illegal activities. This historic Document reads, in full:

“Sir – Pay out of the Colony Treasury unto Elias Frink of Windham or order the Sum of Five pounds Two Shillings + nine pence Lawful money Bills. It being for the supporting of Gill. Belcher in Windham County Goal and for Advertising and pursuing s’d (said) Belcher after he broke Goal as per Accts (Accounts) exhibited and allowed by the Sup’r (Superior) Court. Per order of Court – Geo. (George) Pitkin (signed) Clerk.”

The back or verso of the document is docketed, noting that this pay order was audited on December 19th 1767. In addition, there is a signature or endorsement by Elias Fitch, evidently on Elias Frink’s behalf.

GILL or GILBERT BELCHER (c. 1740 – 1773) apprenticed as a Silversmith and began work as such in Hebron, Connecticut around 1760. He was convicted of Counterfeiting in Windham (CT) in 1764 and fled jail for Great Barrington (MA) to resume his Counterfeiting operations, especially Spanish dollars, in a cave located behind his home. Known as “BELCHER’S CAVE” today, it was there in his workshop that he was apprehended by New York authorities and taken to Albany where he was convicted and subsequently hanged in April of 1773. Counterfeiting was a capital offense at that time. Belcher is reported to have said, "No gain afforded me so much pleasure as that which I acquired by illicit means."


GILL or GILBERT BELCHER (about 1740 – 1773) apprenticed as a silversmith and began work as such in Hebron, Connecticut around 1760. He was convicted of counterfeiting in Windham (CT) in 1764 and fled jail for Great Barrington (MA) to resume his counterfeiting operations, especially Spanish dollars, in a cave located behind his home.

Known as BELCHER’S CAVE today, it was there in his workshop that he was apprehended by New York authorities and taken to Albany where he was convicted and subsequently hanged in April of 1773. Counterfeiting was a capital offense at that time. Belcher is reported to have said, "No gain afforded me so much pleasure as that which I acquired by illicit means."

ELIAS FRINK held many town offices in Windham and in 1760 had a tavern license there. According to an Internet source, this tavern is still standing along Route 203 in Windham, with a marker reading “Elias Frink Esq. 1732”.

GEORGE PITKIN (1709 – 1806) was appointed a Colonel in 1775 during the Revolutionary War in command of the 4th Connecticut Regiment that marched to Boston following the Battle of Lexington and Concord. He also served as a clerk of both the Superior and Supreme Courts of Connecticut prior to the war.