A scarce 1797 certificate of citizenship for sea Captain Nathaniel Carver (1740-1815) of Plymouth, Mass. At a time when the British Navy was impressing American seamen it claimed were their citizens, these certificates were issued to thwart their illegal actions. Carver was commissioned commander of the sloop "Reprisal" in 1777, and in 1778 was master of the sloop "Sally" during the Penobscot expedition. In 1782, while master of the schooner "Harmony", he was captured by Horatio Nelson, who then used the Harmony (with Carver forced to pilot it) in fighting the French. 7 x 8", floated under UV glass in attractive larger frame. The second piece is a facsimile of an August, 1782 letter from Admiral Nelson, in which he releases Carver's schooner back to him at the end of the Revolution. In a matching frame.