Help with Translation and ID

[MJMartin]

I need a little help with translation and watermark identification. Any help would be appreciated. I picked up a group of documents that were all awarded to the same person, 6 documents total. The cool part is that they are all pre 1900 and some very early Meiji reign! This gentleman was right in the thick of Meiji Restoration.

First, this certificate for fulfillment of military service and extension of service is reported to be from 1869. I have no doubt they are telling the truth, but what is the number symbol they are using? I have never seen it before. The document has the pawlonia watermark in the upper right hand corner.

[MJMartin]

Second part...

Two of the other documents have this unique watermark in the center of the document. They are both for pay increases for this man, dated 1883 and 1886. Any ideas about what they mean or stand for?

Thanks!

[Paul L Murphy]

The first document shown is from Meiji 20. The very old form of 20 is written like this but you only see it on early documents from Meiji period. The watermark says Imperial Department (Konoe-kyoku).

Lovely docs.