Item 29: Signed Military Promotion Decree by King George II (removed to Black Box #1), 1735/6 January 20
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 29
Dates
- Created: 1735/6 January 20
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Military promotion and appointment certificate (manuscript)
Condition Note:
Good, paper is discolored yet is still intact and bears most of its stamps and seals. Ink is slightly faded yet legible.
Measurements:
12 1/8 in. x 16 in.
Description:
The following item is a royal decree written by King George II to James Cuningham Esq. on January 20, 1735/6 from St. James’s Palace, London. The decree acknowledges the promotion of James Cuningham Esq. to the rank of Major and his assignment as a captain in charge of a company within the Regiment of Foot. James Cuningham Esq. is under the command of Brigadier General, John Middleton Esq. The authors charge James Cuningham Esq. to maintain order and discipline within the ranks while obeying and executing the orders of his superiors. This document was countersigned by “Harrington,” possibly referring to William Stanhope, the 1st Earl of Harrington (referred to as Baron Harrington at the time this document was written). This document was submitted to the Secretary at War by R. Arnold (possibly referring to the Deputy Secretary at War, Arnold, Richard, 1682-1742) and submitted to the Commissary General 1735/1736 January 20 by George Huxley. Signed by King George II of Great Britain as “George R” with the “R” referring to “Rex” (King).The document contains a round official stamp, red-orange in color, while the back of the document contains a postage stamp with the letters “GR” surrounding a crown and “220” in the top right corner. This document appears to be a standard military promotion and appointment certificate template with blank spaces to allow for specific details to be added. The specifics appear to be underlined and in a different ink than the rest of the certificate. Although signed and authorized by King George II of Great Britain, this certificate was likely filled out and issued by “Harrington” (likely referring to Baron Harrington). James Cuningham may have been commissioned in the King’s 10th Regiment of Foot, 1710 January 12.
Location:
St. James’s Palace, United Kingdom
Transcription:
Front:
George R. [Signature]
George the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &ca[sic.] [etc.]. To our Trusty and Welbeloved [sic] [Well-beloved] James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e] Greeting: We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, do, by these presents Constitute and Appoint you to be Major of our Regiment of Foot, commanded by Our Trusty and Welbeloved [sic] [Well-beloved] John Middleton Esq[ui]r[e], Brigadier General of Our Forces, ~ ~ ~ and likewise to be Captain of a Company in Our said Regiment. You are therefore to take Our said Regiment as Major ~ ~ ~ ~ and the said Company as Captain into your Care and Charge, and duly to Exercise as well the Officers as soldiers thereof in Arms, and to use your best Endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline; and We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their Major ~ ~ ~ ~ and Captain respectively, And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from time to time as you shall receive from Us, your Colonel, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust We hereby repose in you. Given at our Court at St. James’s the Twentieth day of January 1735/6 in the ninth ~ ~ Year of Our Reign.
Enter’d with the Secretary at War. Rd. Arnold. Enter’d with the Commissary General Janry [sic] [January] 20. 1735/6 George Huxley By His Majesty’s Command
Harrington.
James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e], Major of Brigad[ie]r General Middleton’s Reg[imen]t of Foot.
[blue ribbon on left side] [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE
Back:
James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e]. Major. [Stamp 1 in. x ⅞ in. with crown between “G R” and below “220”]
George R. [Signature]
George the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &ca[sic.] [etc.]. To our Trusty and Welbeloved [sic] [Well-beloved] James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e] Greeting: We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, do, by these presents Constitute and Appoint you to be Major of our Regiment of Foot, commanded by Our Trusty and Welbeloved [sic] [Well-beloved] John Middleton Esq[ui]r[e], Brigadier General of Our Forces, ~ ~ ~ and likewise to be Captain of a Company in Our said Regiment. You are therefore to take Our said Regiment as Major ~ ~ ~ ~ and the said Company as Captain into your Care and Charge, and duly to Exercise as well the Officers as soldiers thereof in Arms, and to use your best Endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline; and We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their Major ~ ~ ~ ~ and Captain respectively, And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions from time to time as you shall receive from Us, your Colonel, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust We hereby repose in you. Given at our Court at St. James’s the Twentieth day of January 1735/6 in the ninth ~ ~ Year of Our Reign.
Enter’d with the Secretary at War. Rd. Arnold. Enter’d with the Commissary General Janry [sic] [January] 20. 1735/6 George Huxley By His Majesty’s Command
Harrington.
James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e], Major of Brigad[ie]r General Middleton’s Reg[imen]t of Foot.
[blue ribbon on left side] [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE [royal seal] II SHILLINGS VI PENCE
Back:
James Cuningham Esq[ui]r[e]. Major. [Stamp 1 in. x ⅞ in. with crown between “G R” and below “220”]
- Great Britain. Commissary General
- Cuningham, James
- Great Britain. Army. North British Militia. Regiment of foot, 10th
- Harrington (possibly referring to William Stanhope, the 1st Earl of Harrington)
- Huxley, George, 1686-1744
- Middleton, John, 1678-1739
- Military promotions
- Promotion Warrant
- Rd. Arnold (possibly Arnold, Richard, 1682-1742)
- Secretary at War (England and Wales)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu