Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 69
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
George III era New York Hudson River land deed
George III era New York Hudson River land deed
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Description:

George III of England King 1738 - 1820 Elegant and neatly preserved George III era New York Hudson River land deed, likely offering Native American land



Partially printed George III era land deed on parchment, 21.5" x 12.5". Dated "the Twenty Second date of August, one thousand seven Hundred and Sixty eight", and signed by Sir Henry Moore as "H. Moore", Baronet Captain General and Governor in Chief. Overall toned with a touch of light rubbing. Original cord and ribbon present, along with the large heavy clay raised relief disk, 4.5" in diameter. Near fine with slight staining to verso.

A wonderful example of a George III era land deed, granting a large two-thousand-acre parcel of land on the west Side of the Hudson River in the County of Albany, an area that once no doubt belonged to, and was occupied by, the Mohawk Indians. The deed granted the land to Prevost, a colonist with the 60th Regiment of Foot, with no indication of any monetary exchange for granted ownership. The 60th Regiment was raised in North America, included many foreign and colonial Protestants, and engaged in the forest tactics prevalent in North America. Prevost fought in the French and Indian war, and then later fought in the American Revolutionary war as a Brigadier General.

The deed states:

"George The Third, by the Grace of God ... confirm unto "our loving subject Augustine Prevast ... Gentleman being a reduced subaltern officer having served in North America during the late war and last belonging to our Sixtieth Regiment of Foot, All that certain tract of parcel of land situate lying and being on the West side of Hudsons River in the County of Albany within our province of New York, Beginning at the south West corner of a tract of land surveyed for Colonel Augustine Prevost and runs thence West Seventy Nine Chains and ones Rod then North two hundred and sixty five chains; then East Seventy nine chains and one Rod and then South two hundred and sixty five chains to the place where this tract first began containing two thousand acres of land and the usual allowance for highways ..."

As North American colonists, eager for land, began to spill over the Appalachian Mountains in the 1750s, British concern and Indian anger over the expansion increased. During this era, King George III declared all lands west of the Appalachian Divide off-limits to colonial settlers. The edict forbade private citizens and colonial governments alike to buy land from or make any agreements with natives; the empire would conduct all official relations. Furthermore, only licensed traders would be allowed to travel west or deal with Indians. Theoretically protecting colonists from Indian rampages, the measure was also intended to shield Native Americans from increasingly frequent attacks by white settlers. The crown effectively promised to protect native lands from encroaching settlers and then turned around and offered the land to their own constituents as payment for their efforts in the war.

All nations have their creation stories, where myth and history merge, and the creation story of the United States is no exception. Earlier colonists and Dutch settlers created land conveyance contracts in English using based on concepts that were foreign to Native Americans, and which would result in their unknowingly "selling" their land. Here we have a classic example, where the British Crown offered Native American land as payment to a military Colonial, thus depriving their former Revolutionary War allies of ancestral land. This would end up being merely the beginning of the end for the Native Americans, as at the start of the Revolution despite American entreaties and assurances, the Indians had worried (and the British had warned) that the Americans were only interested in taking their land. Their worries and warnings were well founded.

A fantastic piece of history in excellent condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000