US Colonial Currency, Delaware: Ten Shillings, January 1, 1776 (Fr#DE-79)

[Quant.Geek]

US Colonial Currency, Delaware: Ten Shillings, January 1, 1776 (Fr#DE-79)

Graded PMG-64 Choice Uncirculated. The images were getting way too big, so I cropped them 

[Ukrainii Pyat]

An interesting by story on the signatures on the note - Boaz Manlove, the last signer, was a known Tory and was soon run out of the colony and his property expropriated by the new government in Delaware - it was valued at £2000 and he was believed to have fled to Nova Scotia.

[Figleaf]

Boaz Manlove became a Justice of the Peace for Sussex County on March 20, 1767 and served in that office until April 10, 1773. He was also Sheriff of Sussex County during those years and was considered a member of the "court party" one of the political factions in the colony at the time.

It was as the struggle for Independence began that he achieved his greatest notoriety. He started on the patriot side. On July 23, 1774, he was a leader of a meeting protesting taxes and the Boston Port Act, and he was appointed to a committee established to provide relief to the Bostonians. This show of support for the patriot cause led to his becoming one of three men, one from each county, named to sign a 30,000 pound issue of paper currency by the Delaware Assembly.

He only signed about half of the issue before deciding to cast his fortunes with King George III. The Delaware Assembly ordered his arrest in February of 1777, but by that time he was already in hiding. After evading several efforts to arrest him, Manlove, with fellow Tories, Thomas Robinson and John F. Smyth, fled to the British ship "Preston" in the Delaware Bay in March 1777.

An "Act of Free Pardon and Oblivion" passed by the Delaware Assembly on June 26,1778, specifically exempted Boaz Manlove and 45 other Tories from pardon for their deeds. It also provided for state confiscation of their property and its sale to raise revenue for the American cause. His property was sold for 2000 pounds and he may have removed to Nova Scotia, along with other Loyalist exiles.

Source: this page

The other two signers are Thomas Collins and John Mckinly.

Peter

[Quant.Geek]

All those Tories that moved to Canada didn't really help us when we tried to "liberate" Canada during the War of 1812 or during our cry of "Manifest Destiny" and the "54-40 or fight" during the mid 1800s.  But all that is behind us and we are now great allies; where we can say Canada is the 51st state      (an American humor, no offense to our Canadian members)...

[Figleaf]

How ungrateful, when they are forgiven and their properties are confiscated completely free of charge to harbour any grudge. They deserve the Nova Scotia climate.

Peter

[Quant.Geek]

As a side note, we were damn close to taking Canada during the Revolutionary War.  In the battle of Quebec, Arnold's brilliant strategy and sacrifice just went in vain (yes, that Arnold).  Even though Arnold eventually turned on us, I commend his foot he lost so bravely during the Battle of Saratoga 

The Boot Monument (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Monument)

[Figleaf]

I must admit that this is the first time I see a boot with shoulder epaulettes. Makes you wonder what happened to what was in between.

Lateral thinking: is it pro-American or anti-American to eat eggs Benedict?

Peter

[Quant.Geek]

The Boot Monument is a dedication to Benedict Arnold due to his devotion and brilliance in the battle.  Everything else, is "treacherous" and hence not represented on the monument.  Even though he was wounded, his leg survived and is buried with him in Longon, England.  As for Eggs Benedict, it is an American cuisine, but not healthy for you due to the poached eggs...

[Ukrainii Pyat]

If you were to study the American Revolution in depth you would find that only about 35-40% of the population were in favour of independence and striking it out on their own - the other portion say about 40% were completely ambivalent to the outcome of the effort and approximately 20% were diehard British loyalists.  That the American Revolution succeeded has to do a lot with plain dumb luck, good timing and conflicts in Europe with Spain and France and all the goings on in the German States ie Hannover was ruled by George III.  The revolutionists were blessed to have a few truly great minds on their sides, Jefferson, Franklin and John Adams.