[Colonial America] Manuscript Pay Order for Transporting a Transient Woman to New London, Connecticut

Killingworth, Connecticut, March 3, 1765. Single oblong sheet, 2 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (70 x 209 mm). Manuscript pay order, signed by Justice of the Peace Elnathan Stevens, requesting Connecticut Treasurer Joseph Talcott pay Killingworth Constable Nathan Griswold 11 shilling and two pence for "Transporting a Trancient (sic) woman calld. Marcy Siskil last February Sent here by a Ebz. Hill of Gilford (sic) in order to be sent to New London & by order of yr. subscribers to yr next Constable at Saybrook..." Docketed on verso, signed on same by John Pierson. Creasing from old folds.

A "transient woman" is an archaic term which was particularly common during the 18th and 19th centuries; it generally refers to women suspected or convicted of prostitution. In colonial America prostitution was relatively rare, as its practice was usually confined to port cities. Philadelphia in particular was notorious for prostitution in its "Hell Town" district, today considered to be America's first red-light district. During this period it was common for authorities in smaller communities to simply transport women suspected of prostitution to other towns, being of the mind that prosecuting them in a smaller town would be a waste of local resources.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

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How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

[Colonial America] Manuscript Pay Order for Transporting a Transient Woman to New London, Connecticut

How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

[Colonial America] Manuscript Pay Order for Transporting a Transient Woman to New London, Connecticut

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