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The
History Buff,17509 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 Palm
Beach, FL, 33480 |
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- George
Washington
- 1st
President of the U.S. (1789-1797)
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- Beautiuful
and historic 1789 letter all in Washintgton's hand and new to
the market
- George Washington (1732-1799). 1st President of the U.S. (1789-1797).
This letter is a rare find in that it is new to the market. In
the letter Washington is inquiring about certain of his land
holdings in the Ohio River Valley. Washington had a long association
with the Northwest Territory a part of which later became Ohio
in that he surveyed some of the territory, he was granted land
in the region in return for his service to his country and he
invested in land in that area when he received an inheritance
from his father in 1752.
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- This specific letter was written
from Mount Vernon on January 27, 1798. It is an Autograph Letter
Signed (ALS), pertaining to the threat of losing his lands on
the Little Miami River. Two pages (recto/verso), quarto, Mount
Vernon, January 27, 1798. Written to Major Winthrop Sargeant,
the secretary for the New England Ohio Company, the organization
founded in 1786 to survey and plot tracts of land in the Northwest
Territory, present day Ohio, for settlement there.
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- There letter reads in
full:
- "Mount Vernon 27th Jany
1798
- Dear Sir,
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- A few days since, a Mr. Josh
Massary (said to be a Surveyor) of the North Western Territory,
passed through Alexandria on his way to Philadelphia, and there
said to a Gentleman, without assigning reasons, as having then
asked, that I should lose my lands on the little Miami in that
Country.
Never having heard of any claim to it, or being able to conjecture
on what ground it can be jeopardized, I take the liberty of troubling
you with this address, requesting the favour [sic] of you, as
the land lye [sic] in the vicinity of Cincinnati, to make enquiry
into the matter & to inform me of the result.
I hold 3,051 acres in three separate tracts, under a military
claim. The first containing 839 acres was surveyed the 28th of
Dec 1787, and lies within a mile of the River Ohio. The second
is about seven miles up the little Miami and contains by the
Survey thereof, made the 26th of May 1788 - nine hundred &
77 acres - and the third about three miles higher up the Miami
was surveyed the day following, i.e., the 27th of May for 1235
acres - and Letters Patent were granted by the Commonwealth of
Virginia under the hand and Seal of the then Governor, Beverly
Randolph, for the same, bearing date (all) The first day of December
1790 - The number of the warrants, and on what occasion granted,
is recited in the Deeds; but I presume, for the mere purpose
of instituting an enquiry, it is unnecessary to be more particular
at present; until I learn if on what ground my sight is assailed,
or at what tribunal I am to defend that Right; for until the
Report (as coming from Massary) was made to me, I had no suspicion
of being disturbed in the property. -
Under a persuasion [sic] that you will oblige me in this request,
I shall make no apology for giving you the trouble to make the
enquiry, but will pray for your answer as soon as conv(enient).
With great esteem & regard - I am Dear Sir
Your Obed. Serv(ant) Go:Washington
Winthrop Sargeant Esqr."
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- This is a newly discovered historic
letter from Mount Vernon that reflects Washington's concerns
of putting his private life back together and it helps top establish
his long standing connection with The Northwest Territory and
what later became the state of Ohio.This area was settled in
part by veterans of the Revolution and the Society of Cincinnati,
named after the Roman general Cincinnatus, was formed by former
officers of the Revolution.
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- We have an extensive and well
documented provenance for this historic treasure of a letter
which will be provided for any interested buyer.
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- The letter is in superb
condition with a bold dark Washington signature. The only flaw
in the letter is some minor amount of mounting tape residue along
the inferior border that is minimally adherent to the first page
(recto) but not the verso and signature as shown clearly in the
above detailed scans of the letter. The letter is accompanied
by an elegant engraving of Washington suitable for framing.
- Price:$49,000
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The History Buff
17509 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 or
Palm Beach, Florida 33480 |
eMail: TheHistBuff@aol.com
Phone:
952-937-0325
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