Revolutionary War-dated manuscript DS, signed “Noble Benedict Capt,” one page, 13.75 x 8.25, November 19, 1775. Document issued at "Fort St. John" appointing Jonah Benedict as a sergeant in "the Fifth Regiment Raised by the Colony of Connecticut Commanded by David Waterbury Jur. Col." Includes a manuscript copy of Jonah Benedict's affidavit attesting to his service and imprisonment by the British as well as the aforementioned appointment as sergeant, dated 1839. In good to very good condition, with overall creasing, edge tears, and repaired paper loss along rough intersecting folds, not affecting readability.
Captain Noble Benedict's company was part of the regiment commanded by Colonel David Waterbury organized in April 1775 in response to the Lexington Alarm. In June 1775, after the regiment was adopted into the Continental Army, it marched to New York City where it joined troops from that state on a northward march toward Canada, where they helped lay siege to Fort St. Jean. This forced Sir Guy Carleton to evacuate Montreal, which Continental troops entered unopposed on November 13, 1775. It would appear that Noble's company remained behind at Fort St. Jean—here referred to as “Fort St. John”—to hold the post during the American operations in Canada. At the end of December 1775, the 5th Connecticut terms of enlistment expired and Noble and his company departed Canada for Connecticut. Both Jonah and Noble Benedict would later be captured at the surrender of Fort Washington in 1776.
