The Ordinance of July 13th, 1787.
37
pioneer fathers, that in all the slow
and tedious processes of
building up, in cherishing organic ideas
and giving them
vitality, in supporting their Nation and
moulding its charac-
ter, in defending its life in time of
extremest dangers, they
have borne their full share of patriotic
service, and may now
pass that nation over, with a clean
record to posterity, send-
ing its ideas and principles onward in
their mighty mission of
dominion from sea to sea, and from
yonder beautiful river
(Ohio) to the ends of the earth.
WM. P. CUTLER.
ORIGIN OF THE OHIO COMPANY.
PETITION OF OFFICERS IN THE CONTINENTAL
LINE OF THE
ARMY.
[NOTE.-This valuable historical
document, referred to in the foregoing
paper by Mr. Cutler, has often been
printed, but frequently in an imperfect
form. The names of the petitioners,
though referred to by historical writ-
ers, have never before been published,
and are here printed in the belief
that the list will be interesting and
valuable, not only to residents of Ohio,
but to all citizens of the Northwest.
The list of petitioners here given was
copied from one in the hand-writing
of General Putnam, in the library of
Marietta College, and was then care-
fully compared by Dr. Andrews, of the
Editorial Committee, with his certi-
fied copy of the original names in the
State Department at Washington.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.]
THE original contract made by the Ohio
Company with
Congress was for 1,500,000 acres, for
which they paid down
as closing the contract $500,000. For various reasons they
found it impossible to make up the
remaining moiety of the
same amount. In 1792, Dr. Cutler and
General Putnam
were authorized by the Company to effect
a settlement with
Congress and secure a title to the lands
already paid for
The matter was referred to a Committee
of the House, who,
in their report, say:
38 Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.
"The said Ohio Company laid its
foundation in an ap-
plication to the United States in
Congress assembled by the
officers of the late army, a copy of
which marked number 1
is herewith presented to the
House." We are thus enabled
to trace to a true historic basis the
beginnings of that organ-
ized and systematic plan of settlement
which was consum-
mated at Marietta, April 7th, 1788. This
document number
1, referred to as to the
"foundation" of the "Ohio Com-
pany," is in the following words:
"To His Excellency the
President, and Honorable Delegates of the United States
of America in Congress Assembled:
" The Petition of the subscribers,
Officers in the Continental Line of the
Army Humbly Showeth
"That by a Resolution of the
Honorable Congress passed September 20th,
1776, and other subsequent resolves, the
Officers (and Soldiers engaged for
the War) of the American Army, who shall
continue in service till the es-
tablishment of Peace or in case
of their dying in service, their heirs are en-
titled to receive certain Grants of
Lands according to their several grades to
be procured for them at the expense of
the United States.
"That your petitioners are informed
that the tract of country bounded
north on Lake Erie, east on Pennsylvania,
southeast and south on the river
Ohio, west on a line beginning at that part of the Ohio which
lies twenty-
four miles west of the mouth of the
river Scioto, thence running north on a
meridian line till it intersects the
river Miami which falls into Lake Erie,
thence down the middle of that river to
the lake, is a tract of country not
claimed as the property of, or within
the jurisdiction of any particular State
in the Union.
"That this country is of sufficient
extent, the land of such quality, and
situation such as may induce Congress to
assign and mark it out as a Tract
or Territory suitable to form a distinct
Government (or Colony of the United
States) in time to be admitted one of
the confederated States of America.
" Wherefore your petitioners pray,
that, whenever the Honorable Con-
gress shall be pleased to procure the
aforesaid Lands of the natives, they
will make provision for the location and
survey of the lands to which we
are entitled within the aforesaid
District; and also for all Officers and Sol-
diers who wish to take up their lands in
that quarter.
"That provision also be made for a
further grant of lands to such of the
Army as may wish to become adventurers
in the new Government, in such
quantities and on such conditions of
settlement and purchases for public se-
curities, as Congress shall judge most
for the interest of the intended gov-
ernment, and rendering it of lasting
consequence to the American Empire.
"And your petitioners, as in duty
bound shall ever pray.
" June 16, 1783.
Petition
of Continental Officers. 39
NAME. RANK. STATE.
John
Greaton......... Brig. Genl............. Mass.
Elias Dayton
......... Brig. Genl............. Jersey.
R.
Putnam.......... Brig. Genl ............ Mass.
H. Jackson
..........Col., 4th Reg ..........
"
David
Cobb..........Lt. Col., 5th Reg.......
"
Saumel
Mellish........Lt., 3d Reg .. ......... "
Benj.
Tupper..........Col., 6th Reg .......... "
Wm.
Hull...........Lt. Col., 6th Reg ....... "
Moses Ashley
........ Major, 6th Reg ........ "
Japheth
Daniels .......Capt., 6th Reg
........."
Eben Smith
......... Capt., 6th Reg........ "
Benj.
Haywood.......Capt., 6th Reg......... "
Samuel
Frost.........Capt., 6th Reg......... "
John
Holden...........Lt., 6th Reg
...........
Jos. Miller
...........Lt., 6th Reg ...........
Jos. Balcom
......... Lt., 6th Reg........... "
Jedr.
Rawson.........Ensign, 6th Reg ....... "
Ebenr.
Ballentine .....Sur. Mate, 6th Reg ..... "
A. Morrill
............ Major ................. N. Hamp.
Peter
Clayes..........Capt., 6th Reg......... Mass.
Ephraim
Emery .......Lt., 6th Reg...........
"
Josiah Smith
..........Lt., 6th Reg........... "
A.
Tupper...........Lt., 6th Reg........... "
J. W
ales.............Lt., 6th
Reg........... "
Andrew
Garrett .......Lt., 6th Reg ........... "
Elisha
Foster .........Ensign, 6th Reg ....... "
Asa Graves
..........Ensign, 6th Reg ....... "
Elisha
Horton ........ Ensign, 6th Reg....... "
Jeremiah
Lord ........Ensign, 6th Reg ....... "
Sam'l Leslie
Scammell..Ensign, 6th Reg....... "
Nathan
Goodale.......Capt., 5th Reg......... "
James B.
Finley .......Surgeon, 5th Reg ...... "
Ralph F.
Bowles ......Lt., 1st Reg .......... "
Benj. Pierce
..........Lt., 1st Reg ........... "
Joseph
Williams ......Capt., 3d Reg .......... "
Samuel
Whitwell...... Surgeon, 3d Reg ........ "
Tertius
Taylor........Lt., 1st Reg........... "
40 Ohio Archaeological and Historical
Quarterly.
NAME. RANK. STATE.
John
K. Smith ........Capt., 6th Reg......... Mass.
Jesse
Hollister ........Capt., 1st Reg......... "
John
Mills ..... .... Capt., 1st Reg.........
"
John
Stark ...........Brig. Gen.............. Hamp'ire.
Wm.
Scott........... Major......... .. .
"
Benj.
Tallmadge ......Major, 2d R'g Lt. Drag. Conn.
Elijah
Wadsworth ....Capt., 2d R'g Lt. Drag.. "
Simeon
Jackson.......Capt., 6th Reg......... Mass.
Aaron
Ogden.........Capt .................. Jersey.
Samuel
Reading....... Major ............ "
Jonathan
Holmes ..... Capt .................. "
Cyrus
D. Hart........Capt .................. "
Edmund
D. Thomas... Lt................... "
Abraham
Appleton.... Lt ................... "
L-----
Dalsey .........Lt. and Adjt........... "
John
Peck ...........Lt. ..
................. "
Wm.
Shute .......... Ensign ................ "
Samuel
M. Shute...... Lt ................... . "
Jos.
Buck ............Lt.................... "
Samuel
Hendry .......Capt ................. "
Ben't
Osmun .........Lt.................. "
Moses
Sproule ........ Ensign .......... "
Jno.
Reed ............L..... ....... "
Frank
Luce.......... Ensign...... ..... "
Wessel
T. Stout....... Lt.................... "
John
Bishop .......... Ensign ................ "
Wm.
Tuttle .......... Ensign ................ "
George
Walker .......Lt.................... "
Wm.
Kersey ........ Lt .................... "
John
Ruecastle .. ......Lt................... "
Ebenezer
Elmer.......Surgeon...............
"
Alexander
Mitchell,... Capt ................. "
John
Blair ........... Lt. and Pay M ......... "
Wm.
Helms.......... Capt .......... ..... "
Samuel
Conn ......... Lt.................... "
Abner
Brooks ........ Ensign ................ "
John
Holmes .........Capt ......... ........ "
Petition
of Continental Officers. 41
NAME. RANK. STATE.
Wm. Piatt............ Capt ...... ........... Jersey.
Absalom
Bonham ..... Lt .................... "
Jacob
Hyer........... Ensign ................ "
Eph.
Whitlock ........Lt. Adjt ..
............"
Rich'd
Cox........... Major .. ........ ....... "
Thos.
Lansdale ........ Major ................. Maryland.
Walker
Muse.........Capt .................. "
Horatio
Clagett. ......Capt ................. "
E.
Spurrier...........Capt .................. "
Thos.
Bowie ..........Lt.................... "
Wm.
Bruce ..... .... Capt .................. "
John
Sears .......... Lt.................... "
Henry
H. Chapman... Ensign ................ "
Robt.
Halkerston ......Lt.........
............ "
Ezekiel
Haynie .......Surgeon .............. "
Wm.
Watts ..........S. Mate ............... "
Walter
Dyer .........Lt ................... "
Jno.
Hartshorn....... Lt.......... ........
"
Ivory
Holland ........Lt., 5th Reg........... Mass.
Joseph
Smith.........Lt., 5th Reg........... "
Pelatiah
Everett.......Lt., 5th Reg........... "
Sylvenus
Smith .......Capt., 5th Reg......... "
Park
Holland .........Lt., 5th
Reg........... "
Samuel
Finley........Surgeon, 7th Reg......
"
J.
Farwell............ Capt .................. Hamp.
Archibald
Stark....... Lt.................... "
Joseph
Mills ..........Lt ................... "
Caleb
Stark ..........Lt. A. D.-Camp ....... "
Ebenr.
Stockton .......Surgeon............... "
Jonathan
Perkins ......Lt. .................. "
Benj.
Ellis ........... Capt ................. "
Josiah
Munro . ....... Capt .................. "
J.
Boynton........... Lt. and
Adjt........... "
Nathan
Weare ........Lt.......... ....... "
Oliver
Baron ..........Lt . ................. "
Bezaleel
Howe .......Lt ......
............ "
Robt.
B. Wilkins ....
Lt.................... "
42 Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.
NAME. RANK. STATE.
J. Cilley.............
Lt.................... Hamp.
Daniel
Livermore ..... Capt.................. "
David
Allen..........S. Mate ............... "
Moody
Dustin ........Capt .............. "
Jere
Fogg ........... Capt............... "
David
McGregore .... Capt .................. "
W. M.
Bell . ..........Capt ................ "
John Dennett
....... Capt .................. "
Samuel
Cherry ........ Capt ................ "
Lemuel
B. Mason .....Lt ................... "
Joshua
Merrow........ Lt .... ... "
Caleb
Robinson....... Major ......... "
James
Carr......... Major ................ "
Joseph
Potter.........Capt.. ............... "
Israel
Evans......... Chaplain ............ "
Henry
Adams ........Surgeon, 6th Reg....... Mass.
Ezra
Newhall.........Lt. Col................ "
N.
Rice ..............Major ................ "
John
Blanchard ....... Capt ........... "
Simeon
Larned.......Capt ................. "
Wm.
Moore ..........Capt .................. "
D.
Holbrook.. Capt., 4th Reg
........ "
Joel
Pratt ..........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
John
Davis...........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
Oliver
Rice ...........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
Robert
Williams......Lt., 4th Reg........... "
Africa
Hamlin........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
Wm.
Shepard ........Ens., 4th Reg .......... "
R. S.
Howe.......... Ens., 4th Reg.......... "
Moses
Knap.......... Major, 5th Reg........ "
Joshua
Benson .......Capt., 5th Reg...... "
Samuel
Chapin........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
George
Reid .........Lt. Col. Com'dt........ Hamp.
Billy
Porter......... Major, 7th Reg......... Mass.
T.
Turner........... Capt., 7th Reg......... "
Rufus
Lincoln ....... Capt., 7th Reg ......... "
W.
Mills ............Capt., 7th
Reg......... "
Petition of
Continental Officers. 43
NAME. RANK. STATE.
Z.
King..............Capt., 7th Reg......... Mass.
Gam. Bradford .......
Lt., 7th Reg........... "
Luke Day..........
Capt., 7th Reg......... "
Wm.
McKendry......Lt., 7th Reg........... "
James
Sawyer.........Ens., 7th Reg ......... "
George Beale
.........Lt., 7th Reg ..........."
Isaac G. Graham
......S. Mate, 7th Reg....., "
Azariah Egleston
......Lt., 1st Reg ..........."
Ephraim Hunt........Lt.,
4th Reg .......... "
John Williams
........Capt., 1st Reg......... "
Fredrick
Frye........Ens., 1st Reg .......... "
Nath'l Cushing
........Capt., 1st Reg ........."
Eben Brown
.........Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Benj.
Wells...........Lt., 1st Reg........... "
C. Marshall .........
Capt., 1st Reg ......... "
Ben.
Morgan.........S. Mate, 1st Reg....... "
Daniel Lunt .........
Capt., 1st Reg......... "
Joseph Fish .........
Surgeon, 1st Reg....... "
Adl. Warner.........Lt.,
1st Reg........... "
Benj. Jones
Porter.... Sur., 4th Reg......... "
Daniel
Shute.........Surgeon, 4th Reg ...... "
Elijah Vose
..........Lt. Col., 1st Reg....... "
Lem. Trescott
........Major, 7th Reg........ "
Abraham Williams....
Capt., 2d Reg ......... "
Wm.
Torrey..........Lt. and Adj., 2d Reg... "
Hezekiah Ripley
.....Lt., 2d Reg ........... "
Wm. Taylor
..........Lt., 2d Reg........... "
Silas Morton
..........Lt., 2d Reg........... "
Samuel Myrrick
.......Lt., 2d Reg........... "
Jacob Leonard
........Ens., 2d Reg.......... "
M.G. Houdin.......
.Capt., 5th Reg......... "
Joseph Killam
........Capt., 5th Reg......... "
Wm. Eysendeau
......Lt., 5th Reg ........... "
Marlbry Turner.......
Lt., 5th Reg.......... "
Nathan Leavenworth
..S. Mate, 8th Reg ...... "
John Hart............
Surgeon, 2d Reg....... "
Joshua Danforth
......Lt., 2d Reg........... "
44 Ohio
Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.
NAME. RANK. STATE.
John
Warren........ Lt., 5th Reg........... Mass.
Alexander
Oliver ......Ens., 5th Reg ......... "
Jonathan Wing
.......Ens., 5th Reg ......... "
John Burnard
........ Major, 5th Reg ........ "
Benj.
Gilbert......... Lt., 5th
Reg........... "
Moses
Carleton .......Lt., 5th Reg........... "
Zibeon Hooker
.......Lt., 5th Reg ........... "
Daniel McCay
........Ens., 5th Reg ........ "
Jonathan Felt
.........Capt., 5th Reg......... "
John Yeomans
........Lt., 4th Reg........... "
Isaac
Frye. ..........Capt.................. Hamp.
Asa Sinter
............Capt .................. "
John Paterson
........ Brig. Genl............ Mass.
J. Brooks............Lt.
Col. Com't 7th Reg. "
Caleb Clap
.......... Capt., 4th Reg......... "
Levi
Holden.......... Capt., 6th Reg......... "
J. Huntington
........ Brig. Genl ........... Conn't.
Heman Swift
.........Col., 2d Reg........... "
Jos. A
Wright........ Major, 3d Reg......... "
Eben
Gray...........Lt. Col., 3d Reg........ "
Leml. Clift
...........Capt., 1st Reg ......... "
Nathan
Beers........Lt. and P. M., 3d Reg.. "
Ebenr.
Frothingham...Lt. and Q. M., 3d Reg. "
John Rose
.........Surgeon, 3d Reg.......
"
Joseph
Clark.........Ens., 3d Reg..........
"
Eneas
Munson........S. Mate, 3d Reg .......
"
Aaron Keeler
........ Ens., 3d Reg .......... "
John Hobart
..........Lt., 3d Reg ...........
"
Wm. Linn
...........Lt., 3d Reg ......... "
Stephen
Betts......... Capt., 3d Reg ....... "
Roger Wells
..........Capt., 3d Reg .......... "
Abner Cole
.......... Ens., 3d Reg.......... "
Daniel
Bradley ........Lt, 3d Reg........... "
Jacques
Harmon ..... Ens., 3d Reg.......... "
Ezra Selden
..........Capt., 3d Reg ......... "
Samuel
Hait.........Lt., 3d Reg ........... "
Richard
Douglass .....Capt., 3d Reg ......... "
Petition
of Continental Officers. 45
NAME.
RANK. STATE.
Joshua
Whitney.......Lt., 3d Reg........... Connec't.
John
Trowbridge ......Lt., 3d Reg .......... "
George
Cotton........Ens., 1st Reg.......... "
Hezekiah
Hubbard ....Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Joshua
Knapp........Ens., 1st Reg .......... "
Eben
Wales..........Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Reuben
Sanderson....Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Silas
Goodell .........Lt., 1st Reg ......... "
0.
Goodrich..........Ens., 1st Reg.......... "
Wm.
Higgins.........Lt. and Q. M., 1st Reg. "
John Noyes
..........Surgeon, 1st Reg ....... "
Pownall
Deming ......Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Wm.
Walmsley.......Ens., 1st Reg.......... "
John H.
Buell........Capt., 1st Reg......... "
Wm.
Judd...........Capt., 3d Reg......... "
Charles
Miller ........Lt., 1st Reg........... "
Libburt
Loomis.......Lt. and Adj., 1st Reg.. "
Charles
Fanning ....Lt. and P. M......... "
Samuel B.
Webb ......Col., 3d Reg .......... "
Daniel
McLane ...... Lt., Artillery .......... Mass.
H. Knox
............ Maj. Gen ............. "
John
Crane...........Col., Artillery ......... "
Wm. Perkins
........ Major, Artillery ........ "
John Liswell
........ Lt., Artillery.......... "
Charles Knowles......
Capt,, Artillery ....... "
Florence
Crowley.....Lt., Artillery.......... "
Nathaniel
Donnell..... Capt., Artillery ........ "
James
Hall...........Capt., Lt. Artillery..... "
Thomas Vose
.........Capt., Artillery ........ "
Abijah
Hammond..... Lt., Lt. Artillery.......· ."
Wm. Moor
...........Lt., Artillery .......... "
John
Callender........ Capt., Lt. Artillery..... "
Samuel
Cooper........Lt. and Adj., Artillery.. "
John
Doughty........Capt., Artillery ........ N. York.
Eben
Huntington .....Lt. Col., 1st Reg....... Conn't.
Nath.
Holbrook .......Lt...................
Mass.
Reuben
Lilley... Lt....
................ "
46 Ohio Archaeological and Historical
Quarterly.
NAME. RANK. STATE.
Eben
Sproat.......... Lt. Col. Com't, 2d Reg. Mass.
Jacob
Town..........Lt., 2d Reg ......... "
Cornelius
Lyman......Ens., 2d Reg.......... "
R. Bradford
..........Capt., 2d Reg......... "
Jotham
Ames.........Lt., 2d Reg ........... "
John Hurd
......... Ens., 2d Reg.......... "
Robt.
Oliver...... Major, 2d Reg........ "
Robt. Walker
........ Capt., 2d Reg.......... "
J. Hill
......... Lt., 2d Reg........... "
N.
Thaacher.......... Lt., 6th Reg........... "
John
Whiting.........Lt., 2d Reg ........... "
Hugh Maxwell
........ Lt. Col., 8th Reg..... "
Silas
Peirce .......... Capt., 8th
Reg......."
Thos. Foster
..........Lt, 8th Reg....... "
Edward White
. . . . . .Lt., 8th Reg........... "
Joseph Crook
.........Lt., 6th Reg ........ "
Joseph
Leland.... . Lt., 8th Reg.......... "
Wm. Hildreth
........Lt., 8th Reg.........., "
Francis
Tufts.........Lt. and Adj., 8th Reg. "
James
Bancroft .......Lt., 8th Reg .......... "
Jeduthun
Baldwin .....Col., Engineers....... "
Edward
Phelon...... Lt., 4th Reg.......... "
David
Humphrys ......Lt. Col.............. Conn't.
J. Trumbull
..........Lt. Col., Sec. to the Com-
mander in
Chief..."
W. Barber
......... Major and Asst. Ins. N
Army............. Jersey.
W.
Colfax...........Capt., 2d Reg......... Conn't
Of the above
names 155 are from Massachusetts.
34 are from
N. Hampshire.
46 are from
Connecticut.
235 are from
New England States.
36 are from
N. Jersey.
13 are from
Maryland.
1 is from
New York.
285