American Revolution
1778 Revolutionary War Massachusetts Partially-Printed Militia Appointment at Watertown with “Minuteman” Seal
June 20, 1778-Dated, Revolutionary War Date, Partially-Printed Massachusetts Militia Appointment Document, 1 page, measuring 11" x 12", at Watertown, Fine.
This historic original Revolutionary War Document is printed on period paper, mounted on heavy card stock for preservation and previous display. Being the official Appointment of William Bridges to serve as Adjutant of the 7th Regiment of Militia in Middlesex. Somewhat toned in places with a few signatures light, some minor loss at outer margin edge that would be covered if matted for display. Signed in the left margin by (Major General) ARTEMAS WARD, (MA. Treasurer) HENRY GARDNER, SAMUEL EDWARDS, JOHN PILLS, DANIEL HOPKINS, JOHN AVERY, JEREMIAH POWELL, (Colonel) TIMOTHY DANIELSON, BENJAMIN AUSTIN, JOSAIH STONE, JOSEPH SIMPSON, (Militia General) OLIVER PRESCOTT, NATHANIEL CUSHING, and several others. The embossed official “Minuteman” Seal of Massachusetts has a nice clear impression at the upper left. Artemas Ward (1727-1800) was an American Major General in the American Revolutionary War and a effective political leader as Congressman from Massachusetts. President John Adams describing him as: universally esteemed, beloved and confided in by his army and his country." An important and quite impressive Revolutionary War military Appointment signed by a number of noted historical figures.
OLIVER PRESCOTT (1731–1804). Physician and Militia General. Massachusetts. Born on 27 April 1731, the son of Benjamin and Abigail Oliver Prescott and younger brother of William Prescott, he was graduated from Harvard College in 1750 and built a successful medical practice in Groton, his birthplace. He was chairman of the town committee that protested the Stamp Act in 1765 and clerk of the town's committee of correspondence in 1774. He served in the militia before the Revolution, became Brigadier General of the Middlesex County militia when the war started, and was promoted to second major general of the state militia in 1778.

During the Boston siege, he was charged with setting up checkpoints to stop communication between the British garrison and pro-British sympathizers in the countryside. He held a number of important civil posts, helping to enforce the Association of 1774, serving on the Massachusetts supreme executive council from 1777 to 1780, sitting as judge of probate for Middlesex County from 1779 until his death, and playing a vital role in establishing Groton Academy. During Shays's Rebellion, he was active in recruiting and the dispatch of intelligence to the state authorities. He died at Groton on 17 November 1804.

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Timothy Danielson (1733–1791) was the third son of John and Margaret (Mughill) Danielson. He graduated from Yale in 1756. He was a teacher, merchant, soldier, and public official from Massachusetts. During the American Revolution, he served in the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and in 1775, was commissioned Colonel of a regiment of the Continental Army.

When the Lexington alarm was raised in April 1775, he "assembled a regiment of eight companies" consisting of many men from Hampshire County. During this time, his Lt Colonel was William Shepard; the Surgeon was David Shepard. Later, Danielson was chosen Brigadier General for Hampshire County in 1776 and served in New York under General Washington. He was raised to Major General in 1781.

From 1779 to 1789, he served as a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention and was a member of the Massachusetts General Court. Danielson was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1781