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Description:
Beautifully engraved unissued certificate from the Wayne Title and Trust Company. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. The company was incorporated in 1890 and this certificate was printed in the 1890's which makes it over 100 years old.
Certificate Vignette General Anthony Wayne In 1722, the grandfather of Anthony Wayne arrived in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His youngest son, Isaac, received five hundred acres of land as his share of his fathers estate. His home on the property from the bequest was Waynesborough*, in Easttown Township, Chester County (approximately five miles from Valley Forge). It was here that Anthony Wayne was born in 1745. Wayne received a good education, and his penchant for mathematics led to his training as a surveyor. He worked as a surveyor for a number of years, which conditioned and disciplined him for physical endurance. In 1765, he was sent by Franklin and several others who owned land in Nova Scotia, Canada to survey the land and catalogue the natural resources there. He was there for a year, and returned home with accolades from his employers. At Waynesborough, he worked on developing the farm and established a tannery, while continuing his surveying. He was regarded as a leader in Chester County -- serving in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1774-1775. With the outbreak of war in 1775, Wayne raised a Regiment and was made its Colonel in 1776. He and his regiment were sent to Canada and at the Battle of Three Rivers he was wounded. His service resulted in the promotion to brigadier-general in February 1777. On September 11, 1777, the American and British forces met in battle, eventually to become the Battle of Brandywine. Wayne and his forces were located at Chadd's Ford, along Brandywine Creek, where he was supported by Proctor's artillery. The British and Hessian forces made a feint attack early in the day, without making an effort to cross the creek. As a result of faulty information received by Washington, the Americans were driven back from the fords of Brandywine by the forces of Howe and Cornwallis -- and though the Americans fought back, they were outnumbered. They retreated, fighting as they withdrew. The Americans however, held the British in check east of Birmingham Meeting House, and as night fell, Washington ordered the army to withdraw. Knyphausen's Hessian and British troops crossed the Brandywine at Chadd's Ford...where Wayne contested the advance, but his force was too small. He withdrew to the rear of General Green's troops. The American army eventually retired to Chester. From Chester, Washington wrote the President of Congress in Philadelphia: "The troops withdrew, but there was no panic, and they are in fine spirits, ready to meet the enemy...In the midst of the attack on the right, that body of the enemy, which remained on the other side of Chadd's Ford, crossed it, and attacked the division there under the command of General Wayne, and the light troops under General Maxwell, who after a severe conflict, also retired." In the meantime, Washington was trying to maneuver his troops to a favorable position to launch an attack against the British. He assigned Wayne and approximately 1500 men to harass the enemy's rear. On the night of September 20th, Wayne established camp about three miles southwest of the British lines. (Now the borough of Malvern.) The British and American forces were playing a cat and mouse game. Prior to camp, on the 18th, Washington had warned Wayne, "Take care...watch out for ambushes..." The British discovered Wayne was nearby as deserters or captured couriers arrived in their camp. Wayne was changing positions, knowing the British knew he was there. The British under General "No-Flint" Gray surprised Wayne and his forces...where a number of the pickets were massacred without warning. The darkness was a handicap for the Americans as well as the layout of the camp. The troops, without warning had no real place to retreat. The scene was confusion and chaos. General Gray had ordered his regiments not to fire (thus the nick-name "No-Flint"), figuring anyone firing their weapon would be a rebel. The British used swords, bayonets, and their firearms as clubs. They were totally brutal. The 7th Pennsylvania Regiments, at the end of the column at camp lost the most soldiers, being at the head of the attack. In total, the casualties numbered 158. General Wayne requested his own court martial, as the rumors were flying. Washington yielded to the request on October 24th. The members of the Court of Inquiry were General Sullivan, President, and Generals Muhlenberg, Weedon, Conway and Huntington; Colonels Stephens, Dayton, McClennachan, Stewart, Bradley, Davis, DeHart and Thackston. After due consideration, the court unanimously decided that Wayne "did every duty that could be expected from an active, brave and vigilant officer, under the orders which he then had. The Court do acquit him with the highest honor." Washington heartily approved the verdict. October 4, 1777: the Battle of Germantown. Wayne wrote a letter to his wife in which he gave the following comment about the battle: "Upon the whole it was a Glorious day -- Our men are in the Spirits -- and I am confident we shall give them a total defeat the next Action; which is at no great distance." The battle actually was a loss for the Americans, who were actually on the verge of victory. The army retreated to the west, camping at White Marsh, Gulph Mills and eventually Valley Forge on December 19th. Wayne sent numerous appeals during the encampment to the Pennsylvania authorities, without results. It wasn't until April that Wayne received a favorable reply. Although Waynes' home was but a few miles from Valley Forge, he preferred to take up residence closer to the encampment, so he moved in with his cousin, Mrs. Joseph W
| Status: For Sale |
Reference#: waytitandtru |
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Year:
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