Autograph document signed by William Williams (1731-1811) as Judge Probate. Lebanon, [Connecticut], 15 August 1781. 1p, 6 1/2 x 8 in. Williams certifies that Captain William Moulton "is by the Court of Probate for ye District of Windham, appointed Admr. on the estates of Wm Collins, James Chesley & Jos. Hill, all said to be of Windham, Decd & to have been ye first a corporal & the others Privates in Col. Warner's Regt of the Conl Army."  Verso with autograph document signed seven weeks later by Seth Warner (1743-1784) as colonel in the Continental Army.  Woodbury, [Connecticut], 6 October 1781. Warner certifies that "the within named Wm Collins a Capt & Jas Chesley & Jos. Hill privates in my Regt. late Deceased all of Windham Town & County were Return to and Accounted towards the Quota of sd Windham."

Rising to the rank of Continental Colonel during the Revolutionary War, Seth Warner, the "Hero of Bennington," had already achieved fame before the war as a militia captain in Vermont's heralded Green Mountain Boys. A close associate of Ethan Allen, Warner was third in command of the Green Mountain Boys at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. He was voted lieutenant colonel in July 1775 of a newly independent regiment known as 'Warner's Regiment." After serving in Canada, a new regiment known as "Warner's Additional Regiment" was formed. Warner and his men were regularly engaged including at the Battle of Hubbardton and at the Battle of Bennington. Warner's regiment disbanded at the end of 1780 and Warner, in failing health, retired from the service. Warner ultimately returned to Woodbury, Connecticut, where he died in 1784 at the age of 41. Warner's signature is extremely scarce. Rare Book Hub locates only four Warner autographs offered at auction in the last twenty-five years.

William Williams was a staunch Patriot who was married to the daughter of Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull.  Willaims served in the CT House of Representatives, was a member of the Sons of Liberty, anf later served on the Connecticut Committee of Correspondence and Safety.  In July 1776, Williams was elected to replace Oliver Wolcott at the Continental Congress, and shortly after his arrival at Congress he signed the formal copy of the Declaration of Independence. Among his other war-time and post-war roles, Williams served as judge of Windham County court from 1776-1804. 

A fine Revolutionary War document with two desirable signatures.

[Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Colonial America, Green Mountain Boys, Vermont, Ethan Allen, Declaration of Independence, Signers]

Light creasing at folds, modern pencil notations, else good.