Description:

Revolutionary War
Washington, DC, May 14, 1833
Elijah Hayward 1833 Certified Secretarial Copy of 1801 Thomas Jefferson Land Grant
MD

[Thomas Jefferson]. Elijah Hayward. A secretarial manuscript copy of a land grant originally issued on May 2, 1801, by Thomas Jefferson as then-president. Boldly signed and certified at verso as a true copy by Elijah Hayward as Commissioner. 1p, on lined, heavy, rag-content wove paper measuring 21.25" x 16.75" when unfolded. Flattened folds with areas of paper loss. Separation at central horizontal fold with partial tape repair. Chipping and small tears at edges. Expected age toning and scattered foxing. Soiling and isolated browning at verso. In near very good condition.

The original document granted land in the Northwest Territory of the United States by President Thomas Jefferson to two Revolutionary War veterans, both part of the Virginia Line: John Robertson (1743-1798) and David Williams (1750-1831). Lieutenant Robertson served with the 10th Virginia Regiment (1777) and was a Prisoner of War during the American Revolution. Lieutenant Williams served with the 8th Virginia Regiment (1776).

In part: "in consideration of military service performed by John Robertson (a soldier for the war) and David Williams (a Lieutenant for three years) to the United States on the Virginia Line...unto John Hardin a certain tract of land containing Two hundred and fifty acres, on part of two military warrants...John Robertson, who assigned the same to John Harrison, who assigned the same to said John Hardin...David Williams, who assigned the same to John Harrison, who assigned the same to said John Hardin..."

At verso: "General Land Office / 14th May 1833 / I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Patent in the Records of the Department of State transferred to this Office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & caused the seal of this Office to be affixed at the City of Washington on the day & year above written / [Signed] Elijah Hayward / Commissioner." The faint impression of a seal appears at left of Hayward's statement.

Elijah Hayward (1786-1864) was a lawyer in the U.S. State of Ohio who represented his county in the Ohio House of Representatives, sat on the Ohio Supreme Court for a short time, and was Commissioner of the United States General Land Office. He was a noted genealogist and historian who would spend weeks at a time copying the records of Plymouth Colony and towns of Massachusetts. Hayward was elected a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1854.

The warrants for Revolutionary War service were issued under acts passed in 1788, 1803, and 1806. The 1788 act gave free land in the public domain to officers and soldiers who served during the Revolutionary War. The law provided a scale, so that a private or noncommissioned officer would be entitled to 100 acres of bounty land, while a brigadier general received 850 acres. A 4,000 square mile tract was located in the Northwest Territory and was set aside for these land warrants. This area came to be known as the U.S. Military District of Ohio. Originally the lands in this district were to be distributed by January 1, 1800, however additional time was needed to grant warrants to soldiers with late applications or uncompleted claims. Congress passed the act of 1803, which was later amended by the act of 1806, to extend the time limit.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11" (folded)
  • Medium: MD

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