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Table of Contents > Historic Autographs > Lot 24 |
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Browse the Auction in Groups of 25 Lots: |
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Lot Number: 24
Click for a Printable PageSign-in to Bid or Register to Bid Estimate Range: $4,000 - $6,000 Starting Bid: $3,500 |
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Exceedingly Rare July 6, 1798 Naval “Oath of Allegiance” to Seamen on Board the Warship Frigate “United States” |
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(AMERICAN NAVAL HISTORY) First United States Warship Frigate “UNITED STATES,” (1797-1865); One of the Six Original United States Naval Frigate Warships authorized built by Congress by Act on March 27th, 1794. “United States” was the First American Warship to be launched under the naval provisions of the new U.S. Constitution, as one of the Six Orignial United States Naval Frigate Warships authorized built by Congress by Act on March 27th, 1794. This new warship was designed by naval architect Joshua Humphreys and Captain Thomas Truxtun, was built at Philadelphia; was launched there on May 10th, 1797; and was Commissioned on July 11th, 1797, with Revolutionary War Naval Hero, Captain John Barry Commanding.The “UNITED STATES” entered the water just four months before the launching of her sister ship “Constellation” at Baltimore, and five and one-half months before the launching of the frigate “Constitution” at Boston. She was fitted out at Philadelphia during the spring of 1798, and on July 3rd, was ordered to proceed to sea under John Barry, Eqr. Commanding.” Commodore John Barry is credited as "The Father of the American Navy" and he was appointed a Captain in the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775. Barry was an Irish-American officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War, and later in the United States Navy. Barry was the first Captain placed in command of an America Warship commissioned for service under the “Continental” Flag. After the American Revolutionary War, Barry became the first Commissioned United States Naval Officer under the new Constitution, at the rank of Commodore, receiving his commission from President George Washington in 1797, and given Command of the new federal Navy’s First Warship, the frigate UNITED STATES. This historic July 6th, 1798-Dated, Partially-Printed Oath of Allegiance to the United States of American, is Signed by Six of its First Crewmen as its Seamen, five-days prior to official Commissioning (July 11th, 1797), at Newcastle County, Delaware, Choice Extremely Fine. This exceedingly rare early Federal Period Naval “Oath” document has the names of six of the First Seamen to serve on board the First Official Warship of the United States Navy, the namesake “UNITED STATES.” This official Oath reads, in full: “We, Bernard Anderson, John Allick, William Brow, James Emmett, William Phill & Lewis Vangore being duly appointed Seamen on board the Frigate United States, John Barry, Esqr, Comman’d do solemnly swear to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies or opposers whomever; and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, and in all things to conform myself, to the rules and regulations which now or hereafter may be directed, and to the articles of war which may be enacted by Congress, for the better government of the navy of the United States -- and I will support the constitution of the United States. Sworn before me, one of the Justices of the Peace of Newcastle County in the District of Delaware on 6th of July 1798 - (Signed) Joseph Hallow. This uniface document is boldly printed in black large typeset text, is fully completed in manuscript. This document measures about 7” x 8.5”, printed on very clean laid period paper typical of paper made during this period; trimmed along the bottom edge. This document records the oath made by several seamen aboard the U.S. Frigate “United States”, in part: “... do solemnly swear to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever... and that I will support the constitution of the United States.” Signed at the bottom by Joseph Tallow, a Justice of the Peace. Extremely rare and an important piece of American Naval lore. The “United States,” was the first American warship to be launched under the naval provisions of the Constitution, entered the water four months before the launching of sister ship Constellation at Baltimore and five and one-half months before that of Constitution at Boston. She was fitted out at Philadelphia during the spring of 1798 and, on 3 July, was ordered to proceed to sea. Provenance: Ex: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II from our April 2004 sale, where it realized $3,450.; to our present consignor. Barry's last day of active duty was March 6, 1801, when he brought USS United States into port, but he remained head of the Navy until his death on September 13, 1803, from asthma. Barry died childless. |
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Lot Number: 24
Click for a Printable Page Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid |
Estimate Range: $4,000 - $6,000 Starting Bid: $3,500 |
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Early American History Auctions, Inc. 1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290 Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com |
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