Willett, Marinus:

$1,250 · Offered by William Reese Company

[AUTOGRAPH RECEIPT, SIGNED, ISSUED TO GENERAL JOHN LAMB FOR "SEVENTEEN HOGSHEADS OF ANTIGUA RUM..."]. A manuscript receipt for a large shipment of rum imported to New York from the West Indies. Marinus Willett (1740-1830) served in the French and Indian War as well as the American Revolution. A noted member of the Sons of Liberty, he participated in the invasion of Quebec and Sullivan's Expedition. After the Revolution, Willett served in the New York State Assembly, as sheriff of New York County (twice), American emissary to the Creek Indians (resulting in the Treaty of New York), and later as Mayor of New York City. In the postwar period, he became quite wealthy largely through land speculation, though here had invested in importing rum from the West Indies with Revolutionary War General John Lamb, who at the time was the collector of customs of New York. The order on this receipt cost Willett a grand total of £407.14S.10P.

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