Commission appointing Daniel Parke Custis Lieutenant and commander of milita for New Kent County, Virginia. The commission is signed by Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie, dated December 13, 1754.

Custis was a wealthy planter and politician who owned several properties including one in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was the first husband of Martha Dandridge who married George Washington after Custis's death.

The commission was displayed in the Clash of Empires exhibit, an NEH supported exhibition at the Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, from May, 2005 to July, 2007.

Recto

Robert Dinwiddie, Esq^r; His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor & Commander in Chief of the
Colony & Dominion Virginia -

To Daniel Park Custus Esq^r:

By Virtue of the Authority and Power to me given by His Majesty, as Commander in Chief
of this HIs Colony and Dominion , I, reposing special Trust & Confidence in Your Loyalty, Courage & Conduct, do
hereby constitute and appoint you the said Daniel Park Custus to be Lieutenant of the County of New Kent
& Chief Commander of His Majesty's Militia, Horse and Foot, in the said County of New Kent - And I do give
unto you full Power and Authority, to Command, Levy, Arm, and Muster, all Persons which are or shall be
liable to be levied & listed in the said County. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of
Lieutenant and Chief Commander of the Militia, by doing & performing all, and all Manner of Things therewith
belonging, particularly by taking Care that the said Militia be well provided with Arms and Ammunition as
the Laws of this Colony directs : And that all Officers & Soldiers be duly exercised and kept in good Order and
Dicipline. And in Case of any sudden Disturbance or Invasion, I do likewise impower you to raise, order,
and march, all, or such Part of the Militia, as to you shall seem meet, for resisting and subduing the
Enemy ; And I do hereby command all the Officers and Soldiers of His Majesty's Militia, in the said County,
to obey you as their Lieutenant, or Chief Commander, and you are to observe and follow such Orders
and Directions, from Time to TIme, as you shall receive from me, or the Commander in Chief of this
Colony for the Time being, or from any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Dicipline of War.