1780 Rev War Receipt – Capt Patrick Maher, 3rd CT Regt & Invalid Corps, Boston For Sale

1780 Revolutionary War Receipt – Signed by Capt. Patrick Maher

3rd Connecticut Regiment / Corps of Invalids at Boston

Hartford, Dec. 13, 1780 | Rare Named Invalid Corps Document

This is an exceptionally scarce Revolutionary War–era military supply receipt, dated Hartford, December 13, 1780, and signed by Capt. Patrick Maher, formerly of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment and at this time serving in the Continental Army’s Corps of Invalids stationed at Boston.

The Corps of Invalids was a small, elite garrison unit made up of soldiers who had been wounded or disabled in service but were still capable of performing essential duties. Documents from this corps are extremely rare, especially named receipts signed by officers.

Maher acknowledges receiving one pair of mittens and one pair of shoes issued by the Selectmen of Eastford Parish (Ashford), Connecticut for his personal use as a soldier of the Invalid Corps. This document provides a vivid example of how Connecticut towns continued supporting their disabled veterans late in the war, supplying clothing during the harsh winter of 1780.

Notably, Patrick Maher does not appear in any printed rosters of the Corps of Invalids, making this receipt quite possibly the only surviving primary-source record placing him in that organization. His handwriting appears twice—once on the front as his signature and again on the reverse in endorsement—providing clear, matching confirmation of his name.

A rare and important Revolutionary War artifact with strong display value and considerable research potential.

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⭐ FULL TRANSCRIPTION (Corrected)

Front:

Hartford Decᵐᵒ 13ᵗʰ 1780

Received of the Selectmen of Eastford one pair mittins & 1 pr shoes

for my use being a Soldier belonging to the Corps

of Invalids at Boston late of the 3ᵈ Connecticut Batt.

Patk Maher

(Below the signature, repeated itemized text):

1 pr mittins

1 pr shoes

Reverse endorsement:

Patrick Maher

Recᵈ – 3ᵈ Regt – E.

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⭐ WHY THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT & RARE

1. Corps of Invalids documents are exceptionally scarce.

Only a handful of named pieces survive. Most officers in the Invalid Corps appear nowhere in published rosters.

2. This is a rare example of a named Connecticut officer transferred to Invalid service.

Maher identifies himself as “late of the 3rd Connecticut Battalion,” a regiment that fought in major campaigns including Boston, New York, Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, and Valley Forge.

3. A unique record of a soldier absent from standard rosters.

Since Maher is not listed in known Invalid Corps compilations, this receipt may be the only extant evidence of his service in that unit—making it valuable both historically and genealogically.

4. Touches multiple collecting categories:

Connecticut Revolutionary War documents

Continental Army officers

Veteran and disability history

Boston military garrison history

Supply & wartime logistics

Irish-American service in the Revolution

5. Strong display appeal.

Bold ink, clear handwriting, and a full signature make this ideal for framing.

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⭐ CONDITION

Approx. 6.5\" × 3\"

Laid paper with British watermark

Expected folds and age toning; no repairs

Very fine for a 245-year-old manuscript