AMERICAN REVOLUTION OATH OF ALLEGIANCE PRINTED BY Hall & Sellers 1778 York Co Pa

Description

AMERICAN REVOLUTION . Revolutionary War-dated partly-printed Oath of Allegiance printed by Hall & Sellers in York on June 13, 1777 and filled out and signed by Fred ???? on July 17 1778 for Continental Army soldier George Newman: “I Do hereby CERTIFY, That George Newman Hath voluntarily taken and subscribed the OATH Allegiance and Fidelity, as directed by an ACT of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed the 13th day of June, AD 1777. Witness my Hand and Seal, the seventeenth Day of July AD 1778. No. 582.
This present Oath was issued at a time when the British occupied New York with colonial fears as to where Howe would next land his forces with Burgoyne marching Southward with a sizable army from Montreal. Those in Pennsylvania feared the battle would soon be in their backyards with Philadelphia under direct threat. Interestingly, this Oath was printed the day before the Continental Congress approved the new flag designed by Betsy Ross.
The document is one page, measures 6” by 4”, and in good condition with two folds. There is some light water stains and a short 1/4” tear above the word “Hand”, near the center. This is a very rare document. The few other that have sold were printed in Philadelphia by John Dunlap. This is by Hall & Sellers in York County. The press used was the first press west of the Susquehanna River in 1777. There is two words on the back but not sure what it says. Guaranteed original.