Willett, Marinus S., Colonel in the New York Militia

A good group of approximately 30 letters, family documents, and portrait images, as listed below.

condition of each constituent piece is noted within the cataloguing
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Including an eyewitness account of General Washington at the battle of Monmouth.

Marinus S. Willett (1740-1830) of Jamaica, Long Island, fought with the British in the Seven Years War, and with the approach of the Revolutionary War was commissioned Major by the Provincial Congress of New York. Serving at Fort Schuyler, he was ordered to report to General Washington on the conditions of the northern frontier. His letter written to his friend Heinlock Woodruff, is a stirring acount of the Battle of Monmouth. After the war, Willett served as Sheriff of New York County. For many years he was a close associate of Aaron Burr, and even occasionally loaned money to support Burr's lavish lifestyle. After Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in their famous duel, Willett found his reputation tarnished by this association.

"Regimental Book". Manuscript, 23 pages written (5 5/8 x 8 3/4 in.; 142 x 222 mm), Albany New York, 21 May 1781, consisting of the arrangement of officers, and a series of tables including "Return of Ammunition and Stores Delivered to the Different Companies in Colonel Willett's Reg[imen]t Fort Plain 1781," and those devoted to each company noting delivery of supplies such as sheets, canteens, copper kettles, axes, pails, cartridges, flints, and sheets of paper. Contemporary wrappers, in a maroon straight-grain morocco solander case; backstrip mended. — Marinus Willett. 2 letters signed ("M Willett"), each 1 page (9 x 7 and 8 x 7 1/2 in.; 228 x 178 and 204 x 190 mm), New York, 15 March 1790 & 4 January 1802, the first to Gerard Bancker (1740-1799), New York State Treasurer, the second to Aaron Burr (1756-1836), Vice President of the United States; inlaid. — Marinus S. Willett. Autograph letter signed ("M. Willett"), 3 pages (12 x 7 in.; 305 x 178 mm), New Windsor, NY, 7 July 1778, to Heinlock Woodruff, surgeon at Fort Schuyler in Rome, NY, with Woodruff's response signed, 3 pages (12 7/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 328 x 196 mm), two portraits of Willett laid in; both letters heavily browned, seal and fold tears, 2 leaves with detached fragments still present. "Here you would see a Horse Galloping who had lost his rider and there a bespattered rider who had lost his horse — but to ride along the line and observe the gallantry of the officers and the persevering Magnanimity of the private Soldiers — with the God-like Washington at their Head amidst continual peals of Cannon and cracking of musquet — what a sight was this my friend? Yet it is a sight with which I have been blessed, nor would I have missed it for ten thousand times ten thousand such perfusions as surround Fort Schuyler. Yes I have hardly been preserved from adoring Gen'll Washington ..." — Marinus S. Willett. 12 documents and letters signed or counter-signed, 1781-1786, acting as Sheriff of New York County, various sizes, all (but one) inlaid. — Marinus S. Willet. 2 Autograph letters signed ("Marinus Willett"), 3 pages and 1 page (9 5/8 x 7 1/8 in.; 245 x 180), Fort Renssalear, 28 June & 14 July 1781, to Governor Clinton, with the Governor's draft reply at bottom and over onto the address page; formerly folded, tiny seal tear. On the situation of the frontier and the unmet needs of the army. With a portrait, a later transcript, and 3 images laid in — Marinus Willett. Indenture, with Helena Dickson, 1 page on vellum (17 x 27 in.; 430 x 685 mm), New York, 30 January 1787, with 8 related documents from his tenure as Sheriff of New York County. — Andrew Willett (d. 1621). Engraved portrait, removed from a book and mounted. — 4 further family documents, 1712 - 1808.