1776 dated Pay Order signed by John Lawrence and Thomas Seymour - American Revolutionary War Autograph
Inv# CT1390 Autograph
Handwritten pay order signed by John Lawrence and Colonel Thomas Seymour for wages, etc.
Colonel Thomas Seymour (1735–1829) was a prominent American lawyer, military officer, and politician who held the esteemed position of the first Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Born in Hartford on March 17, 1735, Seymour’s academic journey led him to Yale College, where he graduated in 1755. This marked the beginning of a distinguished legal career that saw him succeeding his father as King’s Attorney.
During the Revolutionary War, Seymour’s commitment to the patriot cause was unwavering. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and led three regiments of the First Connecticut Cavalry. However, his military dedication was not without personal sacrifice. During the devastating British siege of Fort Griswold, Seymour suffered a severe knee injury while rushing to aid his brother-in-law, Colonel William Ledyard.
After the American victory, Seymour seamlessly transitioned into civic leadership. He served as a United States Attorney and became a highly influential state lawmaker. His representation of Hartford in the Connecticut General Assembly spanned eighteen terms, during which he was selected as Speaker of the House five times. Seymour’s tenure in the State Senate lasted for a decade.
In June 1784, when Hartford was incorporated as a city, Seymour was elected its first mayor. He held this position for an extraordinary twenty-eight years until his retirement at the age of 77. Seymour’s marriage to Mary Ledyard resulted in a prominent family, and he eventually became the grandfather of future Connecticut Governor Thomas H. Seymour.
Seymour passed away on July 30, 1829, at the age of 94. He left behind a lasting legacy as a pillar of early Connecticut history, having achieved remarkable success in both his legal and military careers.
John Lawrence (1719–1802) was a prominent public official in colonial and post-revolutionary Connecticut. He is best known for his long tenure as the Treasurer of the Colony (and later State) of Connecticut. Born in Boston on June 11, 1719, he was the son of Captain John Lawrence and Maryane Lawrence. He eventually settled in Hartford, where he established himself as a respected “Esquire” and dedicated civil servant.
Lawrence’s career spanned several decades of significant political transformation. During the tumultuous years of the American Revolution, he managed the region’s finances. His personal life was centered in Hartford, where he married Margaret Lawrence and raised a large family with at least twelve children. Beyond his official duties as State Treasurer, which he held from 1769 to 1789, he was deeply involved in the civic life of Connecticut’s capital. Lawrence passed away in Hartford on December 25, 1802, at the age of 83, and was interred at the Ancient Burying Ground.
Ebay ID: labarre_galleries