Scope and Content: During the Revolutionary War, rapid depreciation of currency caused pay to soldiers to become significantly reduced in value. A Jan. 19, 1779 letter (Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Massachusetts archives collection ((M-Ar)45X), v. 220, p. 442) submitted to the General Court from Massachusetts soldiers in Nixon’s, Patterson’s, Learned’s, and Glover’s brigades demanded compensation from the state for depreciation of wages. In response to pleas from these soldiers and others, the Massachusetts General Court passed Resolves 1778-79, c 446 (Feb. 6, 1779), which pledged to adjust wages for soldiers enlisted for a three-year term, 1777-1779, or the duration of the war, based on actual commodities set forth in the Act to prevent monopoly and oppression (St 1776-77, c 14 (Jan. 25, 1777)). In a letter dated Feb. 10, 1779 (Massachusetts. Council. Executive records ((M-Ar)327), v. 39, p. 75), the General Court informed the Continental Congress of the February legislation and requested reimbursement for the payments at the end of the war. (See: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Muster rolls of the Revolutionary War ((M-Ar)57X) for depreciation rolls submitted to Congress in 1787 for reimbursement.) –The Committee to Settle with the Army was directed, per Resolves 1779-80, c 791 (Jan. 14, 1780), to deduct amounts equal to payments already made to soldiers for bounties, wages, and the value of clothing and supplies provided to families. (See: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Certificates of depreciation payments to the Continental Army, 1777-1785 ((M-Ar)58X) for records of deductions for each soldier.) Resolves 1779-80, c 765 (Jan. 12, 1780) directed the Committee to Settle with the Army to determine the amount of reimbursement, by month  in which the payment was made, using tables indicating depreciation rates based on the value of commodities at that time. St 1779-80, c 29 (Jan. 13, 1780) authorized the treasurer to issue each soldier four notes (called depreciation notes: Massachusetts. Treasury Office. Certificates of Anti-Monopoly Law of 1780 (Anderson MA 20-22 ((M-Ar)1599X)) of equal value, redeemable over four years, with six percent annual interest, to pay the balances owed officers and soldiers. Those officers or soldiers still in service were paid in four parts over 1781-1784; those not in service were paid over 1785-1788. The General Court passed numerous resolves throughout 1780 to clarify the procedure of payments and to extend them to others who served in various capacities and sought depreciation money, but were not considered part of the state’s quota of the Continental Army. Clarification of eligibility was verified by Congress in some cases. –Series consists of warrants signed and approved by the Governor or Council, authorizing the state treasurer to pay the named Massachusetts soldiers the sum owed for depreciation of their wages, to be issued in the form of depreciation notes (for note issuing books see: Massachusetts. Treasury Office. Depreciation commodity notes issued, 1780 ((M-Ar)2272X) in accordance with the January 1780 legislation.  Orders were submitted by individual soldiers (or their surviving relatives), or by groups. If submitted in groups, certificates and warrants reflect the total combined payment. Occasionally, submissions include certificates which were documents signed by the selectmen of a town confirming that the person requesting payment was the deceased soldier’s heir, or, as spouse or slave owner, one entitled to the soldier’s wages.
Arrangement: Arranged in three subseries
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