militia company concerning the election of its commanding officer. In part: "...At the meeting of the militia Company Feedinghills Capt. Burbank asked Permission and upon his Desire was accordingly Dismissed...Voted that this Company should stand as the Militia Company, 3rdly Voted that the fist Chosen Officers Vis--- Capt. Bernard Leonard Lt. Burch Leonard 1st. Lt. Saml. Flowers & Ensgn Jesse McIntre and all Hon. Commissioned. Officers to stand as there were first Chosen...". Light soiling, otherwise very good condition. Together with an interesting D.S. 2pp. 8vo., West Springfield, [Mass.], [c. 1774], a simple yet revealing document of a Massachusetts militia company shortly before the outbreak of the American Revolution. The document lists twenty-eight men listing those present and absent, and for those present, critical equipment each lacked. Typical listings include: "...Benjamin Bennett no ball cartridges Marvin Rising no ball cartridges and spare flint...Henry Stebbins Russel no gun or knapsack flints power and ball...J Russel Warner no powder and balls...William Foster defunct of all...". This was unfortunately typical of many of the companies which turned out for the Lexington alarm the following year. Nine of the members are listed as absent or having abandoned the company which was another unfortunate circumstance of these volunteer corps. This company, under the leadership of Captain Enoch Chapin, marched on April 20, 1775 in response to the Lexington Alarm. Small loss at bottom left corner, otherwise very good condition. Two pieces.