French and Indian War archive featuring an important and lengthy claim petition written entirely in Washington’s hand. This one-page 9 x 14 petition was submitted to the Council of the Colony of Virginia after the French and Indian War, “In behalf of himself and other Officers and Soldiers, who were to share the 200,000 acres of land promised by Proclamation.” In the extensive text, Colonel Washington defends the rights of his men to their promised land. He mentions them by name, including his aide-de-camp George Mercer. The petition bears a pair of third-person seldom-seen full signatures, “Col. George Washington.”
The petition reads, in part, “At a Council held November 6th 1772, The Memorial of Col. George Washington in behalf of himself and others of the Officers and Soldiers, who were to share the 200,000 acres of land promised by Proclamation issued by then Lieut. Gov. Robt. Dinwiddie Esq. was this day laid before the Board & considered; whereby it appears that of the twenty surveys allowed by a former order of the Board, thirteen have not been completed by the several persons there mentioned; whereupon it was ordered, that the following Patents Issued, viz To George Muse, Andrew Lewis, Adam Stephen…for Fifty one thousand three hundred and two acres. To Col. George Mercer, for his own claim, those of his Brothers and of John Hamilton & Mark Hollis; for thirteen thousand five hundred & two acres…To Col. George Washington, one Patent for Ten thousand and nine hundred and ninety acres; another for Four thousand three hundred and ninety five acres; another for two thousand four hundred and forty eight acres; and another for two thousand three hundred and fourteen acres; Being for his own share of 15,000 acres, & in part of his purchases of 5,000 acres from George Muse, & of 600 from Sergeant Brickner.”
Also included are two other documents relating to the land. A one page document, written in another hand, and dated December 15, 1769 - three years earlier in the petition process. The Council recommends that further investigation be undertaken regarding “places particular’d in their petition, so as not to interfere with prior settlements or surveys actually and legally made.” This document goes on to make clear why the aforementioned memorial required three more years of preparation. “It is advised that Col. Washington should apply to the President & masters of the College requesting them to nominate & appoint a Person properly qualified to survey the said land with all possible expedition, signifying to them that their compliance herein will be agreeable to this Board; and that he give public notice in the gazette requiring every officer and soldier or their representative to exhibit their respective claims properly attested to him…that the whole may be laid before the Board for their final determination.” Document is endorsed on the reverse by Washington, “Order of Council, 15th Dec. 1769, 200,000 acres of Land petition’d for.” Washington was able to assemble the offered memorial document for the Board, based on the property requests made to him in the intervening years by his men.
The second accompanying document is written and signed by Declaration of Independence signer John Blair, who was Clerk of the Council in Virginia. The Order of the Council, held December 16, 1773, at Williamsburg (one year after the date of Washington’s memorial document) relates to various petitions and counter-petitions of French and Indian War veterans. Document measures 8 x 12.5 and is endorsed on the reverse in Washington’s hand “Order of Council, 16th Dec., 1773.”
Conditions of individual pieces are as follows: Washington’s manuscript: three lines of horizontal toning along professionally repaired folds on reverse, not affecting either Washington signature (both of which are lightly underlined in pencil), professional restoration to edges, a few trivial spots of paper loss along repairs, light edge wear and chipping. The two accompanying documents both have professional repairs to folds, and light toning, with a small ink spot to one of Washington’s dockets, with second document having show-through from text under Washington’s other docket. All writing is crisp, bold, and legible, with the overall condition rating very good to fine.
Though rarely thought about in such terms, Washington was a British citizen. It is with that bloodline that this correspondence originates, with the future Father of our Country fighting for his rights—rights that he feels he is constantly denied. The root of the issue was his desire to purchase land and buy land rights from fellow soldiers…requests that were never approved. Washington’s personal land investments were often considered a loss. Leaders in London were extremely hesitant to approve land grants and used delay tactics whenever possible. It was the belief of the British that a move westward would provoke Native American tribes, disrupt the fur trade, and, most notably, hurt British commerce and manufacturing. In April 1773, the English government forbade land grants without special orders. These documents are a precursor to his eventual realization that the interests of the Thirteen Colonies conflicted with England—setting the stage for a revolution! An outstanding, most interesting small archive. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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