1814 CT Direct Tax Receipt Col Joshua Huntington w/ Nicoll Fosdick War of 1812 For Sale

Rare and historically important 1814 War of 1812-era Federal Direct Tax receipt from Norwich, Connecticut, paid by Revolutionary War officer Colonel Joshua Huntington and signed by future U.S. Congressman Nicoll Fosdick.

This original manuscript-and-print receipt documents payment of a federal Direct Tax under the Act of Congress of August 2, 1813, one of the earliest nationwide direct taxation programs enacted by the United States government during the War of 1812.

Dated August 12, 1814, the receipt records payment of $13.05 by:

for Direct Tax assessed upon the property of:

of Norwich, Connecticut.

The document is boldly signed by:

Collector for the Fifth Collection District of Connecticut.

This is an exceptional crossover artifact connecting:

• Revolutionary War history
• Early American federal taxation
• War of 1812 financial history
• Connecticut political history
• and an important New England family lineage.

RECEIVED this 12 day of Augt 1814 from Col. Huntington
the sum of Thirteen Dollars five Cents for Direct Tax upon the property of Joshua Huntington in the town of Norwich in the Fifth Collection District in the State of Connecticut, under the act of Congress passed the 2d August, 1813, to lay and collect a Direct Tax within the United States.

DOLLARS: 13.05

Signed:
Nicoll Fosdick Col.

(for the Fifth Collection District in the State of Connecticut)

Additional manuscript notation:
$95.62

Prominent Norwich, Connecticut merchant, Revolutionary War officer, and civic leader.

Joshua Huntington served during the American Revolution beginning with the Siege of Boston and later campaigns surrounding New York in 1776, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel within the Connecticut militia. Following the war, he became one of Norwich’s leading commercial and political figures and later served as Sheriff of New London County.

Huntington belonged to one of Connecticut’s most influential early American families. The broader Huntington lineage included:

• Samuel Huntington, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Connecticut,
• major New England merchants,
• Revolutionary military officers,
• and prominent Federal-era civic leaders.

His family papers and records remain preserved within major historical and archival collections.

By the time this receipt was issued in 1814, Huntington was an established elder statesman of Norwich society, making this document a direct connection between the Revolutionary generation and the federal financial policies of the War of 1812 era.

Important early American politician, merchant, War of 1812 officer, and federal revenue official.

At the time this receipt was issued, Fosdick served as Collector for Connecticut’s Fifth Collection District under the controversial Direct Tax Acts enacted to finance the War of 1812. During the war, he also served as a Major in the United States Army.

Fosdick later became:

• Presidential Elector voting for James Monroe in 1816,
• member of the New York State Assembly (1818–1819),
• U.S. Congressman in the Nineteenth Congress (1825–1827),
• and later Collector of Customs for the Port of New London.

His autograph on official War of 1812-era federal taxation documents is scarce and highly desirable.

The Direct Tax of 1813 represented one of the earliest major federal taxation efforts in United States history and was enacted to finance the War of 1812. The tax assessed land, homes, and other property throughout the nation.

In Connecticut and broader New England, these taxes were politically controversial due to widespread opposition to the war, making surviving federal taxation documents from this period especially collectible today.

This document uniquely combines:
✔ Revolutionary War association
✔ War of 1812 federal taxation
✔ Early U.S. financial history
✔ Norwich, Connecticut provenance
✔ Huntington family association
✔ Signature of future U.S. Congressman Nicoll Fosdick
✔ Strong manuscript eye appeal

Very good condition for 1814 with strong ink, crisp handwriting, and excellent overall legibility. Minor expected handling wear and light edge wear from age. Reverse shows normal period ink transfer.

Particularly desirable to:

• Revolutionary War collectors
• Connecticut historians
• Early American taxation collectors
• War of 1812 collectors
• Congressional autograph collectors
• Huntington family genealogy researchers