Massachusetts lawyer (1731-1814) who served as one of the prosecutors of British soldiers during the Boston Massacre trial; he later signed the Declaration of Independence. Revolutionary War-era stampless cover, 7 x 6.75, addressed by Paine, "To Major General Schuyler at Ticonderoga—Express," and signed in the upper left, "From Robt. T. Paine, Esq." In very good to fine condition, with splitting to folds (one of which passes through Paine's signature) reinforced with archival tape on the reverse.
Interestingly, Robert Treat Paine was George Washington's chief cannon buyer and supplier of cannon balls and powder throughout the Revolution. General Philip Schuyler, the addressee, was in command of the Northern Department with Fort Ticonderoga in his purview. In May 1775, a small force of Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen had captured Fort Ticonderoga and, along with it, a wealth of cannons, mortars, and other armaments. In November, Col. Henry Knox organized a 'noble train of artillery' to transport over 50 tons of weaponry from Ticonderoga to Boston, in an effort to Dorchester Heights and rout the British. As the Continental Army's 'cannon man,' it seems likely that Paine wrote to Schuyler concerning these efforts.
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