USA > Ohio > Ohio in the time of the Confederation > Part 10
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That one major-general, (who shall be the com- mander in chief) and six brigadiers general, be ap- pointed by the United States in Congress assembled, and furnished with blank commissions for the in- ferior officers (who are to be chosen by the first ad- venturers out of their number,) and that every officer shall take an oath of fidelity to the United States :
That in order to enable the settlers to defend themselves and the country against all invaders, they be furnished by the United States with artillery suit- able for that purpose, and ammunition for the said artillery ; all other necessary articles to be provided by the first adventurers at their own expence :
That fort Pitt be the place of rendezvous for the first adventurers; and that they meet there on or before the first day of May, one thousand seven hun- dred and eighty-six:
That being met they chuse the necessary officers, under the rank of brigadier-general; to whom the major-general (or commander in chief) shall deliver suitable commissions ; having first administered to such officers the oath of fidelity to the United States ; a certificate of which, together with the names of the officers so chosen, shall be transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, and deposited among their files :
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That the commander in chief, the brigadiers gen- eral, and the officers chosen as above, shall before they depart from fort Pitt, meet in council, and de- termine the route or routes to be taken by the first adventurers, and the places at which the necessary fortifications shall be erected :
That if any settlers shall be found upon the land granted to Nathaniel Sackett and his associates, such pre-occupants having made improvements, or cultivated the land upon which they have settled, shall be considered as being of the company of the first adventurers, and have a preference given them respecting the land improved or cultivated as afore- said; provided they shall take an oath of fidelity to the United States, and be subject to the government hereby established; and that no person be allowed to remain there who shall refuse to take such oath; the said oath shall be required and administered by the commander in chief :
That the said commander in chief and brigadiers general, together with such other field officers as shall be chosen as aforesaid, have power to exercise government generally within the said tract of land; to grant lands, and to treat, from time to time as occasion may require, with the native Indians for the safety and well-being of the settlers, but not for the purchase of lands.
That your memorialists apprehend, that a grant of land upon the foregoing plan will answer the end proposed, and greatly promote the public good : They therefore
PRAY, That a grant of the tract above de- scribed, to the said Nathaniel Sackett and his
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associates, conformable to the plan aforesaid, may pass the great seal of the United States. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
NATHANIEL SACKETT,
in behalf of himself and his associates. New-York, Aug. 22, 1785.
The above Memorial was laid before Congress.
67
Remarks on the Memorial.
The United States in Congress Assembled, on the 15th day of October 1783. "Resolved, That it will be wise and necessary, as soon as circumstances shall permit, to erect a district of the western territory into a distinct government, as well for doing justice to the army of the United States, who are entitled to lands as a bounty, or in reward of their services, as for the accommodation of such as may incline to become purchasers and inhabitants."
The time is now arrived when such a measure to be both "wise and necessary," as circumstances not only permit, but seem loudly to call for it; because the British are fast settling and fortifying their
67 We omit the portions of the document relating to alleged British activity to fill the American Niagara frontier with settlers favorable to her interest and to Indian unrest in the West making it necessary to plant a colony there as soon as possible. It is to be remarked, however, that the Ohio Company used no such arguments as these to gain the favor of Congress; also it is plain that the Sackett peti- tioners counted without their host when they prophesied that England would abandon the lake posts as soon as possible and thus render the frontier more open to Indian raids. The sanity of General Putnam's view of the danger from England along the Great Lakes (Doc. xi) comes out clearly when compared with the Sackett idea as here expressed.
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frontiers in our neighbourhood, and offer very great encouragement to settlers. Our posts, now in their possession, will probably be hastily evacuated as soon as they are prepared for it, and our frontiers exposed to the incursions and depredations of any banditti who may chuse to invide them.
It is therefore in contemplation immediately to form a respectable frontier settlement, composed of persons whose attachment to the United States has been evidenced by suitable conduct duing the late contest with Great Britain. The situation which has been thought of is supposed to be peculiarly favour- able to the purpose, as it includes the two war paths from Lake Erie into the country, viz. between the Pickaway Town and the Waters that fall into that Lake, and between the Black Walnut Creek and the waters that fall into the Lake. These two important passes being in our possession, and properly forti- fied, the interior country will be immediately ren- dered secure, and the value of the lands therein very greatly enhanced; - here the hardy soldier may reap the reward of his past labour, and in doing it will render further essential services to his country.
The advantages which will arise to the United States from the proposed establishment are many, and too obvious to need being mentioned: All that led Congress to determine, that the measure would be "wise and necessary," are among them; and the expence to the union will be no more than a few pieces of artillery, and some ammunition.
With respect to the plan, it must speak for itself; it is supposed to be the best which circumstances will admit of. As the situation of the first adven-
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turers will be an exposed one, it is necessary they should be prepared for defence; and that mode of government seems most suitable which is most ener- getic, and can most expeditiously call into action the force and vigour of the state. A military one is pre- ferred as such; but although this is proposed at the first outset, it is only through necessity, and will be supplanted by civil institution, more friendly to free- dom, and compatible with republican principles, as soon as circumstances will permit.
To The Honourable
The United States of North America in Congress assembled, The Memorial of the
Subscribers hereunto ;
Respectfully Sheweth,
That your Memorialists having seen the copy of a Memorial, bearing date the 22d August 1785, which they understand has been presented to your Hon- ourable House, by Nathaniel Sackett, (which said copy is hereunto annexed,) praying for a grant of a tract of land, lying between the river Ohio and Lake Erie, for the purpose of forming immediately a re- spectable settlement thereupon; beg leave to repre- sent it as our opinion, That such a grant will be pro- ductive of essential good consequences to the United States, by securing the interior country from hostile and rapacious incursions; encouraging and making more easily practicable a settlement of that country, greatly enhancing the value of the lands there which will remain the property of the United States, and
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thereby rendering them more speedily a more pro- ductive fund for the discharge of our national debt, and other public purposes. Under this impression, your Memorialists
Pray, That a grant to the said Nathaniel Sack- ett and his associates, may pass the Great Seal of the United States, agreeable to the prayer of their Memorial above-mentioned; and your Memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.
September 29, 1785.
Signers Lancaster
William Crawford
William Miller
Jacob Myar
Alexr Grant
John Davis
Robert Creight
Benjamin Vernon
John Crawford
Abraham Henry
John Michael
John Stover
Samuel Taylor
Walter Brady
William Johnston
Nath1 Rutter
John Taylor
Jas Dunlap
George Taylor
Isaac Richardson
Peter Reilly
Per Elm-r
Wm Henry
Robt Hamilton
Chester
David Watson
Jno Culbertson
Court
Signers
Signers
Montgomery County
Amos Sturgis Cpn
1 Mordai Morgan Jnr
13
Isaac Rees
2 John Cross 14
John Sturgis
3 Jn:o Nelsom 15
Wm Moore
4 Isaac Moore
16
John Elliot Lt
5 Saml Evans
Rees Moore
6 Tobias Rambo 17
Edward Woodman CI
7 Jesse Roberts
18
Ellis Pugh Carpentr
8 Thos Rossiter Jr
19
William Elliot
9 Jonatn Phillips
20
Moses Coates jr
10 Elisha Evans
22
Robert Jones
11 Saml Holstein
23
Griffith Rees
12 John Eastburn
24
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Signers
Thos Vose
Jona Maynard Stephen Bliss
Daniel Jackson
Henry Brockhouse
Peter Fowl
Joseph Bliss
Saml Snow
Josiah Jackson
Nath1 Crane
Willm Warren
John Spring
Nath! Sherman
Thomas George
Thos Patten
Henry Stow
Signers
Taken at Fredk Town
Mountjoy Bayly member of assembly
Recompence Stanbury
Joshua Dowe
Jonathan Hutchings
Jona Morris
David Hutchings
Peter Grosh
Jonathan H. Oshorn
Th:º Beatty high Sherrif
Wm King
Elijah Beatty
Henry Osborn
Henry Bartin
Wiliam Duglass
Ezekael Beatty
James Clark
Thos Beatty Junr
George Robertson
Isaac Morriss
Samuel Clark
Hanary Handman
Joseph Halsey Jr
William Bentley
Thomas Thomson
Benjamin Stiles Captain 68
Andrew Thompson
Benjamin Stiles Jury Captain Isaiah Stiles
Joseph Coles
Jonathan Coles
Capt John Darby
Joseph Junr Coles
Thomas Nesbitt
Henry Line
Benjamin Baldwin Major
Hezekiah Stiles
Ebenezer Lyon
Richerd Scuder
Icabod vallentine
Abner Stiles
Ezekiel Clark
68 The associate of John Cleve Symmes who in 1788 came to the Miami and acquired 30,000 acres near the present Lebanon, Ohio.
Wilhellum Poimel [?]
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XXIX
PETITION OF DELAY AND ASSOCIATES FOR WESTERN GRANT (1785)69
To the Honourable
The United States in Congress assembled The memorial of Henry Delay of Harrison County State of Virginia, John Holes of Essex County State of New Jersey, Cornelius Ludlow of Morris County State of New Jersey, Benjamin Stiles and Henry Enocks both of the County of Washington and State of Pensilvania. -
Humbly Sheweth,
That whereas from various informations received of the proceedings of the Indians in the Western Territory of the United States it is greatly to be feared that danger will arise to the said States un- less suitable measures are spedily adopted for Coun- teracting the apparent designs of our Enemies and it is supposed that a settlement established by Con- gress on said frontier will effectually secure to the United States a great part of that extensive terri- tory, it is therefore proposed -
That a tract of Country Beginning at the grant given to the inhabitants of Post Vincent7º from thence Running up both sides of the Wabash River extending to the grant given to the Indians so as to include one hundred miles in breadth. That the tract of Country above described be given to the Settlers as an encouragement to settle in said Coun- try on as reasonable terms as Congress may pre- scribe -
69 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 41, ii, 538. 70 Vincennes, Ind.
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And as the situation of the first adventurers will be an exposed one that they should be entitled to [blank] Acres of land as a reward for settling said Country. And for the better enabling the first ad- venturers to guird and defend themselves and their Country from the Enemy and to increase its popu- lation it is therefore petitioned that no person be allowed the privilege of purchasing any of said Country for the space of five Years but those who become settlers on the land.
That all such as are willing to become immediate settlers in that Country shall meet together next spring at any place that Congress may appoint as a place of rendezvous and there to come under mili- tary direction and march into the Country in a body -
That Congress appoint a certain Gentleman whom they shall think proper as Commander in Chief of the Company of said adventurers also appoint such other officers under him as they shall judge expedi- ent to Conduct a plan of that importance-
That the first adventurers be Governed by mili- tary law until such an establishment is made upon the land as will admit of a change after which the inhabitants shall be governed by the civil law - which is more friendly to freedom and Compatible with republican principles -
Whereas one main object of the proposed settle- ment is to form a barrier against encroachments of the Enemy and to secure to the United States the lands Comprehended within those limits we there- fore humbly request that Congress provide the first adventurers with one Years provision ammunition
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and artillery suitable for that purpose all other nec- essary articles to be furnished by the first adven- turers at their own Expence -
That no person be admitted to settle in said Coun- try who cannot give satisfactory testimonials of his attachment to the American cause during the late struggle for Independence.
Should it be thought wise and necessary to form a settlement on the foregoing plan may it please Congress to publish it in the papers that each State may have an equal opportunity of settling-
Your memorialists apprehand that their request being granted will greatly promote the public good and answer the end proposed -
Your memorialists therefore as in duty bound shall ever pray
[Indorsed:]
Nº 26- Mem Henry Delay John Hole Cornelius Ludlow Benj. Stiles
Henry Enocks read 27 Dec™ 1785
XXX
HUTCHINS TO CONGRESS (1785)71
Sir
Accompanying these few Lines your Excellency will receive a plan and Remarks of that part of the
71 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 225.
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Western Territory through which an East and West Line has been run agreeable to an Ordinance of Con- gress of the 20th of May last. - The plan was Copied from the original by M' William Morris surveyor appointed by Congress from the State of New York. The justice I owe to that Gentlemans merit and abil- ities, as well as for the active part which he took in forwarding of, and assisting in, the Astronomical business of the Geographers Department when in the Western Territory, will I hope be admitted as a sufficient apology, for my having taken the liberty of mentioning his Name on this occasion.
I have the honor to be with the greatest respect
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant
New York 27th Decem™ 1785 Tho : Hutchins His Excellency the President of Congress. [Indorsed:]
Letter 27th Decr-1785 Thomas Hutchins with a plan & remarks upon part of the W. Territory -
XXXI
EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS TO THE WESTERN INHABITANTS (1785 ?)72 [Quotation from petition]
"Petitions, Remonstrances, and decent Representa- tions, have been disregarded. Your Bills of Credit, 72 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 48, 289. This
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your vacant Lands, your produce, and your all, has been iniquitously extorted from you, and disposed of, not for an equal and general good; but to depress you, and aggrandise a few; this same spirit of in- equality and injustice, has caused the loss of Fleets, of Garrisons, and of armies, in fine, it has been the fruitful source, of all your misfortunes, and all your disgraces."
"Turn your eyes to the events of 1776. That mem- orable era produced a declaration of Independence, and a Confederation, which when expounded liber- ally, are, or ought to be, the Basis of all the sub- ordinate Institutions. They assert and define your Rights, -Study and learn them well, cherish the principles as an immense blessing, as a peculiar gift, bestowed on the favourites of Heaven."-
[Reply]
Good and legitimate Government, will protect in- dividuals against the frauds and oppressions of one another, as also, it will protect the public against the encroachments, and depredations of public enemies : And with equal truth it may be added, that it is also the duty of Government, to protect a man against himself, that is to say against his own passions, fol- lies, and vices; How far the government you have brief extract from the pen of an unknown spokesman for the Govern- ment gives evidence that more petitions were received from the west- ern people - evidently breathing anarchical sentiments - than are recorded in the minutes and papers of Congress. The writer's op- timism in believing the Ordinance of 1784 to be a cure-all for the evils complained of, is noteworthy. The slow, toilsome process by which good forms of government were worked out by hard-thinking men in the face of all manner of criticism and crackerbox-oratory, leading to the Ordinances of 1784, 1785, and 1787, is freshly em- phasized by such declarations as this.
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lately submitted to, has produced these ends, your own feelings and recollections will furnish ample in- formation-It is needless now, to spend your time in idle complaints, having tasted the bitter Cup of aristocratical domination [as colonies of Great Brit- ain], the way for your deliverance is pointed out, the outlines of a generous and beneficial Compact * is held out to you, it depends on your virtue, and good sense when you will receive the Blessing. [Indorsed:] Extracts from an address
to the Western inhabitants
XXXII
ACCOUNT OF SOIL AND TIMBER IN THE SEVEN RANGES (1785 ?) 73
A brief account of the Soil and Timber in that part of the Western Territory through which an East and West Line has been Surveyed-agreeable to an Ordinance of Congress of the 20th of May 1785
* The articles expressed in the act of Congress of April 23, 1784. 73 From the Papers of the Continental Congress, no. 60, 229. It is probably impossible for us to imagine with what interest many men awaited the reports of the surveyors who first entered the region west of the Pennsylvania line concerning the character of the soils found and the growths upon them. Trees, generally, were the guides to good soils, the nut-bearing trees being notoriously indicative of superior soil. It was from such material as is afforded by this document that prospectors and associates in land companies derived their material for prospectuses. Often this material was jealously guarded as state secrets, as witness the Ohio Company which de- clared that surveyors' reports were not public property ; surveyors were not allowed to keep copies of their surveys or observations thereon (vol. i, 69).
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Ohio in the Time of the Confederation
Beginning on the North bank of the Ohio River, at a point due North from the Western termination of a Line which has been run as the Southern boundary of the State of Pennsylvania.
For the distance of Forty six Chains and Eighty six links West from the above mentioned Point, the Land is remarkably rich, with a deep black Mould, free from Stone, excepting a rising piece of ground on which there is an improvement of about 31/2 Acres, where there are a few Grey and Sand Stones thinly scattered. The whole of the above distance is shaded with large black and white Walnut Trees, also with Black, Red and an abundance of white Oaks, some Cherry Tree, Elm, Hoop-Ash, and great quantities of Hickory, Sassarfrax, Dogwood, and in- numerable and uncommonly large Grape Vines pro- ducing well tasted Grapes of which Wine may be made. All the Hills in this part of the Country seem to be properly disposed for the growth of the Vine. Near the termination of the above mentioned meas- urement is a thicket of Shoemack, Hazel and Spiece bushes, through which a passage was cut for the Chain-carriers. The first of these Bushes produces an Acid berry well answering the purposes of sower- ing for Punch, the Hazel yield an abundance of Nuts, and the Spice bushes bear a berry, red when ripe of an aromatic smell, as is also the Shrub on which it growes; the berry is about the size of a large Pea, of an Oval shape possessing some Medicinal virtues, and has been often used as a substitute for Tea by sick and indisposed persons.74 The Dogwood, the
74 Land companies (and the United States was now about to be- come such) always emphasized if possible that the regions offered
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bark is used by the Inhabitants and is said to be little inferior to Jesuits bark in the cure of Agues; the Tree produces a berry about the size of a large Cranberry when ripe, but something longer and smaller toward the Ends, excellent for bitters; and decoctions made of the budds or blossoms have proved very salutary in several disorders, particu- larly in Bilious complaints.
The whole of the above described Land is too rich to produce Wheat, the aforementioned rising ground excepted, but it is well adapted for Indian Corn, To- bacco, Hemp, Flax, Oats & and every species of Garden Vegetables, it abounds with great quantities of Pea Vine, Grass, and nutritious Weeds of which Cattle are very fond, and on which they soon grow fat.
Thirty three Chains and fourteen links from the first measured distance, completes one Mile from the Meridian or Place of Beginning. This last dis- tance is high dry Land excellent for the production of Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, and Tobacco, it would also yield good Indian Corn, but not so abundantly as the very rich Lands before described. It is cov- ered with Black, Red and White Oakes, Hickory, Bass-wood, Slippery Elm, Hornbeem, or Iron Wood, Mulberry, Sassarfrax, and some Sycamore the latter on a Brook near to the End of this distance, where there is a great plenty of sand stone excellent for Edge Tools. Here are pea vines, Grass, and a vari-
for sale were perennial apothecary shops, their soils bearing all plants and roots necessary to health and longevity. For a detailed descrip- tion of the Ohio plants useful as medicine see Hulbert and Schwarze, Zeisberger's History of the Northern American Indians, 157-170.
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ety of other vegetation well answering the purposes of fattening Horses, Cows, and Hoggs.
For twenty two Chains and thirty seven links fur- ther than the completion of one Mile, the Land is extraordinary good, and in some places it is too rich for Wheat, where fine Meadow may be made. It is Timbered with large Locust, Black Walnut, Mul- berry, Hickory, Elm, White Ash & and is pretty free from brush or underwood; and towards the End of this distance, where there is the best of Wheat Land, is an abundance of Hickory and White Oaks.
At Twenty One Chains further the Line crossed over the summit of the End of a Ridge which is about 90 feet high, bearing N 45° E very narrow and com- posed of a light thin Soil, Shaded with Birtch, Hick- ory, Oaks, Dogwood, scrubby Chesnut and Maple, there are also great quantities of small Grey and Sand Stones dispersed over its surface ; but the Land between the above last mentioned distance and this Hill, is abundantly fertile, well adapted to the cul- ture of Indian Corn, Wheat & and is covered with Black and White Oaks, Hickory, ash, Black Walnut, Mulberry, Shoemack and Grape Vines, and in sev- eral places it is tolerably free from brush or under- wood.
At Six Chains and sixty links further than the top of the above mentioned Hill is a Brook in which are great quantities of sand Stone, this Brook runs about S 20° W through a narrow fertile piece of low Land fit for Meadow, producing Maple, Hickory, Ash, Sugar Tree, Mulberry, poplar and Beech.
At Fourteen Chains and forty links further the Line reached the top of a steep narrow Ridge, its
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perpendicular heighth nearly 170 feet, the East side, like the East side of almost all the other Ridges in this part of the Country, is very fertile, several parts of it is entirely faced with sand stone, some very large of an excellent grit, and shaded with Oaks, Hickory, Poplar, Mulberry, Chesnut, Dogwood, Grape Vines, Pea-vines, Spikenard, sweet Brier, Rasberry Brier, and Golden Rod, the latter when timely used, and properly applied has been found very officacious in curing the bite of the most ven- omous Snake.
The Soil on the top of the last mentioned Ridge may justly be said to be composed of about an equal proportion of black mould and Sand, and tho' the soil appears to be light yet it is fit for the culture of Indian Corn, Wheat, Flax, and Melons in great perfection. The summit of this part of the Ridge is almost entirely free from large Trees, but there are an abundance of young small Aspen saplins and scrubby dwarf Oaks on it; this place carries an ap- pearance of having been formerly cleared, or more probably, the destruction of the Timber has been occasioned by the frequent burning of the Woods, and that a new growth has succeeded.
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