RARE 1777 REVOLUTIONARY WAR Continental NAVY - John Deshon Navy Board For Sale

Title: 1777 Revolutionary War Continental Naval Document: John Deshon & Samuel Elliot Interest
Date: June 19, 1777
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Provenance: Ex-Collection of Frank Kravic (Co-author of The Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution)
Historical Overview:
Offered is a crisp, authentic 1777 Revolutionary War manuscript receipt representing the high-stakes naval logistics of the American Revolution. Dated June 19, 1777—just weeks before the official instructions were issued to the Navy Board of the Eastern Department—this document records a payment of £10.16s from Samuel Elliot Jr. (Massachusetts Naval Agent) on the account of John Deshon (Connecticut Naval Agent and later member of the Continental Navy Board).
The Signatures & Associations:
• John Deshon: A pivotal figure in New England’s maritime defense, Deshon was appointed by Congress to the Navy Board of the Eastern Department in 1777, overseeing the construction and manning of Continental frigates.
• Samuel Elliot Jr.: The primary financial liaison for naval affairs in Boston during the early years of the war.
• Joseph Barrell (Signatory): This document appears to be signed by the prominent Boston merchant and financier Joseph Barrell, who was a key figure in outfitting American privateers and supply ships.
Context:
This receipt is likely associated with the sloop Ranger (commanded by Capt. David Latham), which was utilized by the State of Connecticut to run the British blockade and secure vital shipments of salt from the West Indies. Unlike the famous man-of-war of the same name, this vessel was the "workhorse" of the New England supply chain, keeping the Continental Army fed and the fortifications at New London supplied.
Condition Report:
• Dimensions: Approximately 2-1/2” x 7-7/8”.
• Material: Period hand-laid rag paper with a visible vertical chain line.
• Ink: Original iron gall ink, remains dark and highly legible.
• Overall: Excellent condition for its age. Minor period folds and a clean irregular bottom edge consistent with 18th-century paper cutting practices.
Why this belongs in your collection:
Documentary evidence of the Navy Board of the Eastern Department is increasingly difficult to find. This piece connects two of the most important naval agents of the Revolution and carries the prestigious provenance of the Frank Kravic collection.