Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
Manuscript Document, 7-1/2” x 12-1/4,” signed by 22 men of Grafton, Mass. May 19, 1777 1 p. Two years after the Lexington alarm of April 19, 1775, some of Drury's original company of militiamen remained under his command to guard the town of Grafton, Massachusetts In full, “"We the subscribers volentarily Engage under Capt, Luke Drury Being appointed by the Committe & Selectmen of Grafton to guard the stores belonging to this State in this Town So Often as he shall Judge Belongs to Our Town untill we shall Recive Further Orders from the Committe & Selectmen of s.d Town Meaning the stores stored in Nicholas Browns store in Grafton.NB Everyman to Cum with arms & ammunition. Compleat Grafton May 19.th 1777.” this is followed by 22 signatures. (Asaph Sherman, Aaron Kimball, Daniel Grout, John Sherman, Benja Goddard, Moses Cutler, Zadock Putnam, Hahum Stone, James Putnam, Thomas Axtell, Jr., Stephen Eagen, Mathw Adams, Elijah Drury, Elijah Brooks, Solomon Brooks, Joseph Ferrygrin, Jonathan Pierce, Elishor Brigham, Henry Prentic, Joseph Batcheldr, John Sherman, Benja Goddard, Asaph Sherman). The listing continues on the verso. Lower left quadrant re-attached, lower right quadrant lacking but most likely blank, some text missing on verso. After the war, Drury became deeply involved in Shays' Rebellion, a 1786-1787 tax revolt led by farmers in western Massachusetts. The uprising was quashed, and Drury imprisoned as "a person dangerous to the state." He was eventually released on good behavior. Drury remained active in state and local politics, serving terms as constable, deputy sheriff, tax collector, assessor, selectman, and state legislator.
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