Shortly After The Patriots In Philadelphia Decide To Remove All Provisions That Could Fall Into British Hands, A Committee Is Formed “To Enable Them To Prosecute The Arduous Work For Which This Board Was Instituted”

(PHILADELPHIA IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION). ADS. 1pg. 8” x 6 ¼”. May 7, 1777. No place [Philadelphia]. An autograph document signed “John Young Secy” stating: “At a meeting of the Committee of Fifty May 7, 1777 On motion. Voted that a Committee be appointed of this board to assist the Commisarys – the better to enable them to prosecute the Arduous works for which this board was instituted. Messrs John Lisle, Robert Smith & Edward Evans were unanimously chosen.” Philadelphia’s Committee of Fifty was chosen in April 1777 to remove all the provisions and stores in the city so that they did not fall into British hands. In early 1777, Washington was uncertain of the British plans, but he suspected they involved capturing Philadelphia. In September, following Washington’s defeat at Brandywine, the British began an eight month occupation of the city, wintering in relative luxury while the Continental Army suffered at Valley Forge. There were some prestigious citizens on the Committee of Fifty, including the painter Charles Willson Peale. The verso states “Copy of the Vote of the Committee of 50 appointing assistant commissary.” The document has a few vertical folds, light chipping to the margins and is in very good condition. Most unusual Revolutionary War content!