1783 dated Pay Order signed by Jed Huntington and Geo. Pitkin and issued to John Lawrence - Autograph

Pay Order to John Lawrence and signed by Jed Huntington and Geo. Pitkin. Front and back shown.

Jedediah Huntington (1743–1813), a distinguished American general and a pivotal figure in the Revolutionary War, hailed from a prominent family in Norwich, Connecticut. After graduating from Harvard College in 1763, he joined his father’s successful mercantile business. However, his military career took off when he joined the colonial militia. At the outbreak of hostilities with Great Britain, he swiftly ascended through the ranks of the Continental Army. Renowned for his discipline and unwavering loyalty to George Washington, Huntington played a crucial role in key battles such as the Siege of Boston, the Battle of Long Island, and the grueling winter at Valley Forge. His exceptional service eventually earned him the promotion to brigadier general.

Post-war, Huntington transitioned into a prominent career in public service and civic leadership. He was a member of the Connecticut convention that ratified the United States Constitution and served as the High Sheriff of New London County. In 1789, President Washington appointed him the Collector of Customs for the port of New London, a position he held for over two decades. Beyond his political endeavors, Huntington was a deeply religious man and a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati. His legacy is defined by his unwavering dedication to the birth of the American Republic and the commercial prosperity of his native Connecticut.

Capt. John Lawrence (1719-1802), who served as treasurer of the Colony and subsequently the State of Connecticut from 1769 to 1789, is the signatory of this document. During the war, he held the position of commissioner of loans for the nascent nation. 

George Pitkin (1709– 1806) was a clerk of the superior and supreme courts for many years, was commissioned captain in 1768, lieutenant-colonel in 1774, colonel in 1775, and commanded the 4th regiment of minute-men, with which he marched to Boston on hearing of the battles of Concord and Lexington.

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