EARLY AMERICAN NAVAL COMMISSION.

EARLY AMERICAN NAVAL COMMISSION.
SAMSON, SIMEON. 1736-1789. Manuscript document signed ("Simeon Samson," "H. Goodwin," "John Otis," "Perez Morton"), appointing Simeon Samson to take command of the Armed Brigantine Independence, 1 p, 464 x 372 mm, Watertown, in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, April 17, 1776, "a true copy," signed by the above, some minor foxing, unobtrusive tears at folds, mounted (on tabs) and framed.

VERY RARE EARLY AMERICAN NAVAL COMMISSION ISSUED TO SIMEON SAMSON BY THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE NEW CONSTRUCTED BRIG INDEPENDENCE. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress on February 7, 1776, approved the building of 10 ships, scaling it back to 5 ships a week later for lack of materials, and by July the armed brigantine Independence built in Kingston was ready to sail, along with the sloop Tyrannicide and the brig Rising Empire.

The present commission for Captain Simeon Samson is dated April 17, 1776, and noted as "a true copy," signed in holograph by Samson, as well as by Goodwin, Otis and Secretary Perez Morton. According to James Thacher, Samson's was the first Naval appointment for a "captain in the service of the country" (Thacher, History of the Town of Plymouth, p 203). While that may be overstated, it is certainly one of the earliest naval commissions, and any naval commission in service of the colonies is exceedingly rare.