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State Revolutionary War Debt Certificates

1775-1789

Guide to the Collection

Supported by the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati.
Table of Contents
Collection Summary

Historical Sketch

Collection Description

Organization

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Access Terms

Collection Summary

Title:State Revolutionary War Debt Certificates
Dates:1775-1789
Physical Description:2 boxes
Call Number:Special Colls. Currency
Repository:Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
library@masshist.org
Abstract:

This collection consists of Revolutionary War debt certificates issued by the original thirteen states and Vermont during and after the Revolutionary War.
Table of Contents

Historical Sketch

This material consists of Revolutionary War debt certificates issued by individual states to help pay for costs incurred during the war. Although the Continental Congress took the lead in issuing currency and bills of credit to fund the war, many states preferred to borrow money on their own credit. Beginning in 1776, Massachusetts was the first state to issue loan certificates. By 1780, rampant inflation made it necessary for Massachusetts to pay her soldiers in commodity certificates, which stated that a nominal sum would be paid out in the equivalent cost of 5 bushels of corn, 68 and 4/7 pounds of beef, 10 pounds of sheep's wool, and 16 pounds of sole leather at the time of redemption. National and state lotteries were another fairly unproductive experiment in funding the war. The United States Board of Treasury established a national lottery in 1776, and in 1779 Massachusetts established her own lottery, paying out in Massachusetts Treasury lottery certificates at 6% interest, due in 1783. When the Congress assumed the national debt on August 4, 1790, the individual state debts were liquidated and sunk in that action.

Table of Contents

Collection Description

This collection consists of fiscal paper issued by the individual state loan offices during the course of the Revolutionary War. Predominantly loan certificates for funds borrowed by the states to arm and provision their quota of the troops raised for the Continental Army, the collection also includes army certificates used to pay the troops, certificates of interest payments due on the loans, certificates issued to pay the states’ adjusted account of pay owed to the army, lottery certificates, and certificates of interest on the liquidated debt owed by individual states.

William G. Anderson assigned each note a reference number when he assembled his catalog of Revolutionary debt certificates.

Table of Contents

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:

I. Maryland
II. Massachusetts
III. North Carolina
IV. Pennsylvania
V. Vermont
VI. Virginia

Table of Contents

Detailed Description of the Collection

BoxFolderAnderson #Contents
I. Maryland
State of Maryland Army Certificate, 6% interest, "to settle and adjust the accounts of the troops of this state in the service of the United States" authorized 1 August 1780.
Box 1Folder 1MD-03One certificate, serial no. 2583, issued to Lt. Robert Wilmott of the Maryland Artillery from the State of Maryland for the sum of seventy-seven pounds, five shillings and ten pence on 24 July 1782.
Box 1Folder 2MD-03 One certificate, serial no. 5587, issued to Lt. Robert Wilmott of the Maryland Artillery from the State of Maryland for the sum of sixty pounds, sixteen shillings and six pence on 10 November 1785.
II. Massachusetts
Colony of Massachusetts Bay indented loan certificate authorized in 1775 at 6% interest due 1777. Engraved by Paul Revere: codfish and King Phillip design.
Box 1Folder 3MA-01One loan certificate, serial no. 3028, issued to Simon Stow for four pounds by the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay on 6 August 1775.
Box 1Folder 4MA-01One loan certificate, serial no. 3547, issued to Stephen Sewall for one hundred pounds by the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay on 14 August 1775.
Box 1Folder 5MA-01One loan certificate, serial no. 4222, issued to Ferderick Pope for eight pounds by the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay on 21 August 1775.
Box 1Folder 6MA-01One loan certificate, serial no. 4225, issued to James Pery for nine pounds by the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay on 21 August 1775.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificates, 6% interest "comm'tee WAR" note, payable to Bearer. Authorized 2 Dec. 1776 and 20 Feb. 1778
Box 1Folder 7MA-04One loan certificate, serial no. 800, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for ten pounds on 14 September 1778.
Box 1Folder 8MA-04One loan certificate, serial no. 1230, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for ten pounds on 1 December 1778.
Box 1Folder 9MA-04One loan certificate, serial no. 1765, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for twenty pounds on 17 February 1779.
Box 1Folder 10MA-04One loan certificate, serial no. 5696, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for twenty pounds on 18 September 1777.
State of Massachusetts Bay, indented treasury certificate, 10 pounds, 6% interest "BOUNTY NOTE" payable to bearer. Authorized 6 Dec. 1776. Printed by Benjamin Edes
Box 1Folder 11MA-05One loan certificate, serial no. 1305, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for twenty pounds on 2 January 1777.
Variation of MA-05 (serial number at top center instead of upper left)
Box 1Folder 12MA-06One loan certificate, serial no. 6120, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for ten pounds on 2 January 1777. Endorsed by Henry Sewall on behalf of John Cocks
Box 1Folder 13MA-06One loan certificate, serial no. 7160, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for ten pounds on 15 January 1777. Endorsed by D.W. to six ten pound notes belonging to the Mr. Mogridge estate.
Box 1Folder 14MA-06One loan certificate, serial no. 11903, issued by the State of Massachusetts Bay for ten pounds on 30 January 1777. Endorsed by Noah Cross.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, 6% interest due 1780. Authorized 2 May 1777. Sword in hand patriot within rattlesnake circle engraved by Nathaniel Hurd
Box 1Folder 15MA-07State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 72, issued to Benjamin Greenleaf for ten pounds on 1 January 1777.
Variation of MA-07 ("Treasurer" printed instead of ms.).
Box 1Folder 16MA-08State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate. Blank
State of the Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, 6% interest due 1782, authorized 2 May 1777. Sword in hand of patriot within rattlesnake circle engraved by Nathaniel Hurd.
Box 1Folder 17MA-09State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 262, issued to [Lisa] Blake for thirty pounds on 25 September 1777. Endorsed by Ebenezer Tucker.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, 6% interest due 1781, authorized 2 May 1777. Sword in hand of patriot within rattlesnake circle engraved by Nathaniel Hurd.
Box 1Folder 18MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 262, issued to Ruth Jackson for sixty pounds ten shillings on 1 December 1777. Endorsed by William Dawes.
Box 1Folder 19MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 1144, issued to Ephraim Briggs for fifty-seven pounds on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 20MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 4088, issued to Jacob Sheafe for one hundred thirty six pounds four shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 21MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 4665, issued to Volantine Colby for twenty-nine pounds nineteen shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 22MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 4932, issued to Peleg Taber for twenty pounds sixteen shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 23MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 5135, issued to Edward Allen for ten pounds on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 24MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 5152, issued to Giles Hubbard for fourteen pounds twelve shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 25MA-10State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, serial no. 6423, issued to Nathaniel Southwick for twenty-three pounds twelve shillings on 1 December 1777.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, 6% interest due 1782, authorized 13 and 22 October 1777. Pine tree within rattlesnake circle.
Box 1Folder 26MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 698, issued to Benjamin Lincoln for eleven pounds seven shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 27MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 799, issued to Thomas Whitman for fifteen pounds four shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 28MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 811, issued to Benjamin Leonard for twenty-three pounds seven shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 29MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 823, issued to Nehemiah Allen for one hundred four pounds thirteen shillings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 30MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 1135, issued to Thankful Harding for thirteen pounds two shilllings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 31MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 1180, issued to Samuel Stevens for thirteen pounds two shilllings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 32MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 2054, issued to Jonathan Pierce for sixteen pounds on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 33MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 2471, issued to Hannah Harris for nineteen pounds four shilllings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 34MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 2583, issued to Samuel Aves for ninety-one pounds two shilllings on 1 December 1777.
Box 1Folder 35MA-12State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury loan certificate, serial no. 2586, issued to Nathan Waterman for fifty-two pounds eighteen shillings on 1 December 1777.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, 6% interest due 1783, "Massachusetts State Lottery, Class the first," authorized 11 February 1779 to pay the winners in the state lottery.
Box 1Folder 36MA-13State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 653, issued for fifteen pounds on 18 January 1779.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, 6% interest due 1783, "Massachusetts State Lottery, Class the third," authorized 14 February 1779 to pay the winners in the state lottery.
Box 1Folder 37MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 521, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 38MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 579, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 39MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 783, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 40MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 922, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 41MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1211, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 42MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1212, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 43MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1213, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
Box 1Folder 44MA-15State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1277, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate 6% interest due 1783, "Massachusetts State Lottery, Class the third," authorized 3 May 1780 to pay the winners in the state lottery.
Box 1Folder 46MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 179, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 February 1780.
Box 1Folder 47MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 302, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 July 1780.
Box 1Folder 48MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 687, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 February 1780.
Box 1Folder 49MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1099, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 February 1780.
Box 1Folder 50MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1199, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 February 1780.
Box 1Folder 51MA-16State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1375, issued for fifteen pounds on 5 February 1780.
Variation on MA-16
Box 1Folder 52MA-17State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 1762, issued for fifteen pounds on 1 June 1779.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate 6% interest due 1780, "Advance Pay to Officers, firt Moiety". authorized 23 April 1779.
Box 2Folder 1MA-18State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 17, issued for one hundred and fifty pounds on 26 April 1779.
Box 2Folder 2MA-18State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 418, issued for seventy-five pounds on 26 April 1779.
Treasury certificate 6% interest due 1780, "Advance Pay to Officers second Moiety". State of Massachusetts Bay authorized 23 April 1779.
Box 2Folder 3MA-19State of Massachusetts Bay lottery certificate, serial no. 146, issued for seventy-five pounds on 20 July 1779.
Variation on MA-20, not issued.
Box 2Folder 4MA-19ABlank note. Not issued.
State of Massachusetts Bay Treasury certificate, 6% interest due (ms. due date) "to be paid in the current Money...". Authorized 13 January 1780 to cover the depreciation of pay officers received while serving in the Continental Army. J.M. Funass eng.
Box 2Folder 5MA-20State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 5, issued to Luther Moore for two hundred forty six pounds on 1 January 1780.
Box 2Folder 6MA-20State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 1030, issued to Ebenzer Griffin for two hundred fifty three pounds four shillings on 1 January 1780.
Box 2Folder 7MA-20State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 2143, issued to John Cotton for eighty five pounds on 1 January 1780.
Variation on MA-20, with additional scrollwork added.
Box 2Folder 8MA-21State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate issued to Esop Jacobs for two hundred fifty six pounds on 1 January 1780.
Variation on MA-20, with engraver's name removed.
Box 2Folder 9MA-22State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 3579, issued to Ephraim Leonard for three hundred sixty five pounds on 1 January 1780.
Box 2Folder 10MA-22State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 3919, issued to Solomon White for three hundred forty three pounds on 1 January 1780.
Box 2Folder 11MA-22State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. [5959] issued to Thomas Obrian for four hundred ninety pounds on 1 January 1780.
Box 2Folder 12MA-22State of Massachusetts Bay commodity certificate, serial no. 8228, issued to John Gorham for one hundred fifty pounds on 1 January 1780.
State of Massachusetts Bay intended Treasury certificate, 5% interest due to bearer "within three months," guaranteed by Congress 18 March 1780. Pine tree vignette.
Box 2Folder 13MA-23State of Massachusetts Bay indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 145, issued for two hundred dollars on 24 December 1780.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, 5% interest due to bearer "within three months," guaranteed by Congress, 18 March 170. Pine tree vignette.
Box 2Folder 14MA-24Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 486, issued for one hundred dollars on 23 February 1781. Endorsed by Moses Gill.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate (ms. date), $4 Payable to Bearer in six months from issue.
Box 2Folder 15MA-25Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 55, issued for four dollars on 23 November 1781.
Box 2Folder 16MA-25Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 64, issued for four dollars on 23 November 1781.
Box 2Folder 17MA-25Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 74, issued for four dollars on 23 November 1781.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate (ms. date), 6% interest. "Borrowed and received of" bearer. Authorized 17 February and 15 May 1781, and 25 March 1783 to consolidate state debt.
Box 2Folder 18MA-30Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 2993. All other information is blank.
Variation of MA-30
Box 2Folder 19MA-31Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 1566, issued to Jesse Emery for nine pounds eighteen shillings and two pence on 1 January 1782.
Box 2Folder 20MA-31Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury certificate, serial no. 1710, issued to Asa Smith for six pounds four shillings and three pence on 1 January 1782.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate (ms. date), 6% interest, payable in 4 installments from date of issue in years 1785-1788. Authorized 17 February 1781 to borrow money and redeem oustanding securities.
Box 2Folder 21MA-34Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 6214, issued to Aaron Sewall for ninety pounds four shillings and six pence on 1 June 1782.
Box 2Folder 22MA-34Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 23276, issued to Thomas Mosley for four pounds sixteen shillings on 1 June 1785.
Box 2Folder 23MA-34Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 23616, issued to Calvin Partridge. Rest of certificate is blank.
Box 2Folder 24MA-34Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate issued to Nathaniel Sarlet for sixteen pounds six shillings and nine pence on 1 August 1782.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate "ARMY NOTE" 1 April 1786, "to be received in Payment for one-third of the Tax (No. 5) granted in March 1786" Issued to pay the consolidated army notes then falling due.
Box 2Folder 25MA-37Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 1572, issued to Abijah Mosher for three pounds two shillings on 1 April 1786.
Box 2Folder 26MA-37Commonwealth of Massachusetts indented Treasury certificate, serial no. 2126, issued to W. Hay for five pounds on 1 April 1786.
Commonweath of Massachusetts Treasury tax collector's certificate, 1787. Issued to pay miscellaneous claims and interest on the public debt.
Box 2Folder 27MA-40Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury tax collector's certificate, serial no. 13178, issued to Caleb Emery for two pounds on 5 March 1787.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury collector of impost and Excise tax certificate, 1789.
Box 2Folder 28MA-44Commonwealth of Massachusetts Treasury collector of impost and Excsise tax certificate, serial no. 11211, issued to Edmund Phinney for one pound sixteen shillings and four pence on 7 February 1789.
III. North Carolina
North Carolina Army certificate, unspecified interest, 1 May 1786. Authorized December 1785, these were excluded from the federal debt assumption plan in 1790 because of irregularities in their issue.
Box 2Folder 29NC-13North Carolina Army certificate, serial no. 1600, issued to William Spinney for eighty pounds four shillings and one pence on 1 January 1786.
Box 2Folder 30NC-13North Carolina Army certificate, serial no. 1611, issued to William Clifton for thirty one pounds six shillings and four pence on 1 January 1786.
Box 2Folder 31NC-13North Carolina Army certificate, serial no. 1656, issued to John Jones for twenty-nine pounds eleven shillings and five pence on 1 January 1786.
Box 2Folder 32NC-13North Carolina Army certificate, serial no. 1859, issued to Alexander Simmons for thirty-one pounds six shillings and four pence on 1 January 1786.
Box 2Folder 33NC-13North Carolina Army certificate, serial no. 1994, issued to lt. Levi Rice for forty-six pounds two shillings and three pence on 1 January 1786.
IV. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bill of Exchange, 4th of 4. Thirty days sight draft.
Box 2Folder 34PAPennsylvania Bill of Exchange issued to Jonathan Williams for ten thousand Tournois on 4 March 1779.
Box 2Folder 35PAPennsylvania Bill of Exchange issued to Jonathan Williams for three thousand Tournois on 18 August 1778 payable by Leroy du Chaumont in Paris, France.
Box 2Folder 36PAPennsylvania Bill of Exchange issued to Jonathan Williams for three thousand Tournois on 18 August 1778 payable by Leroy du Chaumont in Paris, France.
Box 2Folder 37PAPennsylvania Bill of Exchange issued to Jonathan Williams for four thousand Tournois on 18 August 1778 payable by Leroy du Chaumont in Paris, France.
V. Vermont
State of Vermont Loan certificate, 6% interest, authorized February 1783.
Box 2Folder 38VT-1Vermont loan certificate, serial no. 1393, issued to Maj. Simeon Edwards for nine pounds fifteen shillings and two pence in February 1783.
State of Vermont Treasury certificate, Treasurer's Office, "receiveable for taxes," March 1784.
Box 2Folder 39VT-2Fragment of a Vermont Treasury certificate, serial no. 2071..
VI. Virginia
Virginia Treasury certificate. Bounty notes payable at the end of the bearers military service.
Box 2Folder 40VA-5Virginia Treasury certificate, serial no. 1217, signed by treasurer Geroge Brooks on 25 July 1780.

Table of Contents

Preferred Citation

State Revolutionary War debt certificates, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Table of Contents

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Organizations:
Connecticut. Continental Loan Office.
Maryland. Continental Loan Office.
Massachusetts. Continental Loan Office.
North Carolina. Continental Loan Office.
Pennsylvania. Continental Loan Office.
United States. Continental Congress.
Vermont. Continental Loan Office.
Virginia. Continental Loan Office.

Subjects:
Debts, Public--Connecticut.
Debts, Public--Maryland.
Debts, Public--Massachusetts.
Debts, Public--North Carolina.
Debts, Public--Pennsylvania.
Debts, Public--United States.
Debts, Public--Vermont.
Debts, Public--Virginia.
Finance, Public--United States--History--1789-1801
United States--History--Revolutioin, 1775-1783--Finance.

Table of Contents
http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fao0004
Send reference questions to library@masshist.org.		Collection processed by Benjamin Johnson, 04/2008.
Encoded by Benjamin Johnson, April 2008


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