Document Carried by Benjamin Montanye, Post Rider for George Washington

James W. King's great-grandfather Benjamin Montanye, George Washington's post rider, is mentioned on pp. 9-10 and is the subject of Appendix B. At least one document Montanye carried during the Revolutionary War survives, pictured below. This correspondence dates to December 26, 1776, at which time Montanye was in the employ of New York's Committee of Safety and was entrusted with transporting funds as well as correspondence. (In this case, he transported the equivalent of about $185,000 in today's USD.) Foremost among the interesting signatures here is that of Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut. A partial transcription appears beneath the image.

In Committee of Safety for the State of New York—Fishkill Dec. 26th 1776

Ordered that the Treasurer of this State transmit by Benjamin Montanye the sum of eight hundred and forty pounds, five shillings & four pence New York currency, reported and resolved on the 24th inst. to be sent to his Honor Governor Trumbull to discharge the accounts of the transportation of inhabitants and stock from Nassau Island; and his Honor the Governor is requested on receipt thereof to pass and return by the said Benjamin Montanye a receipt for the same.

Recd. December 30th 1776 from P.V.B. Livingston by the hands of Gerard Bancker eight hundred and forty pounds five shillings and four pence New York currency pursuant to the above order.