An 1805 Appointment Document to Ordnance Storekeeper at Quebec City, Lower Canada
Canada, Great Britain; An 1805 Appointment Document for Richard Fleming, to Clerk of the Cheque, Ordnance Storekeeper at Quebec City, Lower Canada 1805; Masthead inscribed "John Earl of Chatham / One of His Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council / Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Lieutenant General of His Majesty's Forces and Master General of the Ordnance. / To Mr Richard Fleming", the following text inscribed: "By Virtue of the Authority to me by the King's most excellent Majesty in this behalf given upon the good Testimony and Assurance which I have received in your Loyalty, Integrity and Ability, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint you the said Richard Fleming to be Clerk of the Cheque on the Establishment of the Ordnance at Portsmouth in the room of the Henry. Hereafter promoted and to continued to in the said Office so long as I of the Master General for the time being shall think proper. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Clerk of the Cheque by doing and performing all manner of Things thereunto belonging likewise to observe and fellow such Orders and directions as you shall from time to time receive from me of the Master General of the Ordnance for the time being, the Lieutenant General and Principal Officers of the same or any other your superior Officer, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reprised in you. And for your Care and Diligence to be taken herein, you are to have and receive the Allowance of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds per Annum to be you quarterly out of the Treasury of this Office, the said Allowance to commence on the First Day of April 1805 and to be received by you so long as you shall continue to hold and execute the said Office. Given at the Office of Ordnance under my Hand and Seal this Sixth Day of April 1805 in the Forty Fifth Year of His Majesty's Reign. / By Command of the Earl of Chatham, the Master General of the Ordnance / (?): Neville / Clerk in the Office of Ordnance / 8th April 1805 / (?) Clerk of the Ordnance", with the signature of the Earl of Chatham (John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham), a 41 mm x 48 mm steel blue paper embossed seal at the lower left, the seal bearing the crowned Royal coat-of-arms and inscribed "TWENTY POUNDS" below, printed in black ink on a moisture-resistant parchment, the personalized handwritten inscriptions in black ink, 290 mm x 385 mm, three vertical fold marks, tattered edges, soiled, fair.
Footnote: Richard Fleming, Esq. is on record as having been an Ordnance Storekeeper at Quebec City, Lower Canada in 1817 and 1822. General John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC (October 9, 1756 - September 24, 1835) was a British soldier and politician. He held the position on Master General of the Ordnance from 1801 to 1806 and is best known for commanding the disastrous Walcheren Campaign of 1809. Chatham was the eldest son of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. He was two and a half years older than his famous brother William Pitt the Younger, the future prime minister.