Early Document regarding Salt Petre dated 1777 - Connecticut Revolutionary War Bonds, etc.

Handwritten early document regarding the sale of "salt petre". Hartford, Connecticut. Front and back shown.

Ezekiel Williams, (1729–1818), a prominent merchant and ardent Patriot from Wethersfield, Connecticut, played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary cause. From 1767 to 1789, he served as the sheriff of Hartford County, maintaining local order while actively supporting independence. During the war, he served on the Committee of the Pay Table and was appointed as the U.S. Deputy Commissary of Prisoners for Connecticut, overseeing the intricate logistics of prisoner affairs.

Renowned for his unwavering dedication, contemporaries described Williams as having “boiling” zeal. He often sacrificed his personal finances to support the Continental Army. Williams was deeply involved in the local war effort, helping to secure supplies and managing financial matters for the state alongside the Committee of the Pay Table. He was also known for his hospitality and large family. Even after the war, Williams remained a loyal public servant, with his home in Wethersfield serving as a hub for local Patriot activity.