One of my auction alerts recently lit up, for an item connected to my 6x great-grandfather, Isaac Doolittle (1721-1800).
It was a document related to inspecting saltpeter for gunpowder, which was then sold to the Continental Army. The saltpeter was produced by Enos Hemingway, inspected first by Doolittle (who had himself constructed a powder mill to supply the war effort) on 11 Dec 1776, and reinspected by Dr. Eneas/Aeneas Munson (1734-1826) on 18 Dec 1776.
I checked on each of the individuals named in the document. Dr. Munson seems to have been a grandson of my 9x great grandparents, Esther Mix (1678-1746) and Capt. Theophilus Munson (1675-1747). I found no connection to the Hemingways or the others mentioned.
I bid on this auction lot but did not win, which I'm okay with. I still have the scans of the item and the details that go with it - a fascinating snapshot into one moment of the Revolution:
The front reads:
This may Certifie A quantity of Salt Petre offered for Inspection by Enos Hemingway the maker thereof amounting to five Hundred and Eight Pound and three quarters is well and carefully Inspected and acording to my best judgment and skill the same is found to be Pure Clean and Dry free from any Corrupt mixture the said Enos Hemmingway Having made oath acording to the Direction of the Law in such made and Provided whitch Salt Petre is Raised for the use of this State Dated at New Haven this Eleventh Day of December 1776.
Isaac Doolittle Selectman.
And on the reverse:
This may Certify that a Quantity of Salt Peter offer for Reinspection by Enos Hemminway of New Haven the Maker thereof amounting to five hundred & Eight pound & three quarters which is well and carefully Reinspected & according to my best Judgement & Skill the same is pure clean & dry free from any corrupt mixture.
Dated at ye Powder Mill New Haven this 18th Day of December 1776.Eneas Munson Reinspector
Dec. 20. 1776
Rec'd on order o Treas. in full the Purchase + Premium for said Eno.Abraham Hemingway
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