Manuscript document signed "George R" authorizing payment of £60,634 to the Province of Massachusetts Bay in compensation for levying, clothing and paying troops to fight against the French

George III

Published by [Great Britain], 1761

About this Item

2pp., plus integral blank. Docketed on verso "King's Warrant / Province of Massachusetts / Bay £60,634 in part / of £200,000 Granted for / the North American / Provinces." Signed by George III at the head of the first page, countersigned on the second page by William Wildman Barrington, James Oswald and Gilbert Elliot. Folio (14 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches). Towards the end of the French and Indian War, William Pitt started a specie grant program to reward colonies for raising troops, thus putting the colonies in competition with each other for a share of an annual 200,000 pounds. With specie scarce in the colonies, the colonial assemblies were thus incentivized to raise troops to fight against the French.The present document authorizes Henry Fox to make payment to Massachusetts via their colonial agent (William Bollan) for their share of the annual grant. Although successful, the policy was abandoned in favor of direct taxation after 1762, leading to the Sugar Act and, most notably, the Stamp Act. This undated document -- the space for the date being left blank suggesting it to possibly be a draft -- is countersigned by William Wildman Barrington (Chancellor of the Exchequer 21 March 1761 to 8 May 1762); Sir Gilbert Elliot, third Baron Minto (Lord of the Treasury 1761-62), and James Oswald (Commissioner of the Treasury 1759-63). The date would therefore appear to be 1761 or early in 1762. George III documents relating to North America from the early years of his reign are particularly scarce. 2pp., plus integral blank. Docketed on verso "King's Warrant / Province of Massachusetts / Bay £60,634 in part / of £200,000 Granted for / the North American / Provinces." Signed by George III at the head of the first page, countersigned on the second page by William Wildman Barrington, James Oswald and Gilbert Elliot. Folio (14 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches).

Seller Inventory # 319882

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Manuscript document signed "George R" authorizing payment of £60,634 to the Province of Massachusetts Bay in compensation for levying, clothing and paying troops to fight against the French
• Publisher: [Great Britain]
• Publication Date: 1761
• Condition: Usual folds
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Americana