Lot #335

[King George II]

Description

Three manuscript true copies of pay documents, each one page both sides, 10.75 x 18.25, circa 1730. The first, issued at the Court of St. James, May 4, 1730, is a contemporary true copy of a document ordering the payment of Hessian mercenaries, in part: "George R, Our Will & Pleasure is And Wee do hereby require & direct you to make a Deduction of Sixpence out of every Twenty Shillings, which you shall issue pursuant to this Our Establishment of the Hessian Forces, which Money so deducted you are to keep in your hands to be applyed by you to such Uses & in such manner as Wee shall think fit." The order bears the names of MPs George Oxenden and William Clayton, as well as commissioner of the Treasury William Yonge. The copyist, "R. Arnold," certifies that the document is a true copy and signs at bottom. The reverse bears a tally for the pay to awarded to the Hessian units of Horse, Dragoons and Foot, totaling 208,209 guilders.

The second, dated April 6, 1730, in part: "I the underwritten Lieutenant General Ernest Hartman de Diemar, Envoy Extraordinary from [his] Swedish Majesty as Landgrave of Hesse Casell to His Britanick Majesty, do hereby [acknowledge] to have Receiv'd from the… Paymaster General of [His] Said Britanick Majesty's Forces, the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty Pounds, & Three Pence, in full for the pay of [Twelve] Thousand Men of the Hessian Troops taken into His Said Britanick Majesty's [Army]." Signed at the conclusion by Ernst Hartmann von Diemar (1682-1754), a Hessian baron, diplomat and officer. The reverse bears a list of the regiments of Hessian Horse, Dragoons and Foot which are due to receive pay, as well as signature of the copyist, "R. Arnold."

The third document, undated, tallies on one side the pay for each officer and enlisted men in a given Regiment of Foot Guards on one side, and for each member of a Regiment of Foot on the other. The copyist once again signs at the conclusion of each list, "R. Arnold." In very good condition, with scattered toning, edge chipping, and old repairs to complete separations along the central horizontal folds.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
• Dates: #570 - Ended November 06, 2019