LOT #11

18th Century Bounty
For  Silk

  MANUFACTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

Manuscript Document Signed. Mansfield, Connecticut, July 28^th 1792. 1 p. 8" x 3".

The first silk mill in the United States was constructed in Mansfield, which played an important role in the manufacture of thread and other textiles.

This rare document provides evidence of the bounty to encourage production of the luxurious textile: "Sir, Pay to Mr. James Bennet Two shillings lawful money a Bounty on twelve Ounces of Raw Silk manufactured the present year according to Law, and charge the State…" Signed by CAPTAIN STORRS and Cons. Southworth. On the back also signed by A. Kingsbury, comptroller.

White mulberry trees were introduced in Mansfield, Connecticut in 1760, and without the stimulus of a bounty this town soon became an active center of silk culture. In 1783, Connecticut came to the aid of the industry with an act which offered a bounty of ten shillings for every hundred mulberry trees and three pence for each ounce of raw silk. This was repealed in 1784, by an act which provided for a bounty of two pence per ounce of silk, to be paid out of the duties arising from the importation of foreign goods into the state, as established by another act passed at that session. The Connecticut bounty had little effect except in the vicinity of Mansfield, where considerable sewing silk was produced. It expired in 1794, but the silk industry continued to prosper, as is evident from the reports of the national census of 1810.(From: Industrial Bounties and Rewards) In Fine condition.  $400. up