1865 Certification for Oath and Parole – Samuel Watts (Virginia Politician) For Sale

1865 Certification for Oath and Parole – Samuel Watts (Virginia Politician)
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Buy Now

1865 Certification for Oath and Parole – Samuel Watts (Virginia Politician):
$395.00

Offered for yourconsideration is a small document issued from the “PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE,” at “Portsmouth,Va.” on “May 12th 1865”. The body of the document states that “This is to Certify, That Samuel Watts aged 65 occupation noneresidence Portsmouth Va has taken andsubscribed the Oath and Parole required by General O ders, Nos. 31 and 49, fora Loyal Citizen of the United States, residing in State ever in rebellion, or who hassympathized with the Seceding States.”. The document is signed at theconclusion by “J. L. Cunningham” in his capacity as “Maj. 118th N. Y. Vols. Inft. andProvost Marshal.”. The document bears no design or text on the verso. Thispiece appears to have been an emergency (or quick) printing, as the ink uptakeisn’t very strong and the text was accomplished on light-blue lined white paper(similar to modern notebooks). Documents of this type are rarely encountered onthe current collector’s market, especially those relating to more well-knownindividuals. Worthy of further research.

John L. Cunninghamenlisted on August 20, 1862, at Plattsburg, New York. He was commissioned as a1st Lieutenant into Company “F”, 118th New York VolunteerInfantry on September 10, 1862, though he was transferred that same day toCompany “D”. He was promoted to Captain on August 13, 1863, and to Major onSeptember 16, 1864 (at the same time transferring to Field & Staff). Hisrecords indicate that he was wounded, but the date, location, and severity arenot noted. Cunningham was mustered out on June 13, 1865 at Richmond, Virginia.

During its term ofservice, the 118th New York Volunteer Infantry saw action at thesiege of Suffolk, the Bermuda Hundred Campaign, the battles of Cold Harbor, SecondPetersburg, the Crater, Chaffin’s Farm, Fort Harrison, Fair Oaks, and theDarbytown Road. The regiment lost 6 officers and 93 enlisted men killed ormortally wounded, 188 enlisted men who died of disease, 12 officers and 288enlisted men who were wounded and recovered, and 9 officers and 133 enlistedmen reported as missing.

Samuel Watts was born on November28, 1799 in Portsmouth, Virginia. A practicing attorney, Watts was elected tothe Virginia House of Delegates almost continuously between 1833 and 1850,apparently as an ardent Whig. Watts was elected to the Virginia Constitutional Conventionof 1850, though as a conditional Unionist, he declined his nomination to theVirginia Secession Convention in 1861. He served briefly as an aide-de-camp toMajor General Walter Grogan during the Civil War, but resigned due to hisadvanced age. After the war, Watts served on the Board of Visitors at the Universityof Virginia and on the General Assembly from Norfolk County. Samuel Watts diedin Portsmouth on May 17, 1878.

The currently offereddocument exhibits signs of expected period use, followed by relatively goodlong term storage. Toning is noted across the entire surface, with severaldarker areas present at the edges and on the verso. Numerous vertical folds canbe seen, three of which have adversely affected the integrity of the paper. Inaddition to the folds, other signs of period use include wrinkling, minortears, ink smears, minor erosion, and scattered foxing. The aforementioned inksmears are primarily located at Cunningham’s signature, with the erosion beingassociated with the same issue. The lower edge is slightly ragged, while theremaining sides appear relatively straight. Measuring 3 x 7½ inches, thisdocument would make a nice addition to any collection of passes and paroles.

Free shipping on thislot!
Buy Now

Titles of Distinction

Orders of Distinction